<p>For MIT, do you think the "optional" essays are expected, or are they actually optional? Did anyone who got accepted EA not submit the optional essay(s)?</p>
<p>They're really optional.</p>
<p>Definitely optional...</p>
<p>question: should i put in an additional essay about why i'm applying to MIT (I'm intl), or should I put in a list of my major software and tech projects?</p>
<p>which will have more impact?</p>
<p>I would think that you can do both. Additional essay under the first optional and a resume/list under the second optional.</p>
<p>Why you want to go to MIT would definitely have more of an effect. You probably can submit both, but a list of project names is quite honestly, probably going to be pretty boring to an admissions officer. Impressive maybe, but you've probably impressed them already with your SAT scores, etc. If you're already a strong applicant, you definitely want to appeal to the "match" idea for it to make a difference in your decision. They can fill filing cabinets with information on people who've done a bunch of projects in high school, so you want to stand out from that pool to begin with.</p>
<p>-Laura</p>
<p>optional if you're not that serious about going there</p>
<p>no, they really are optional. i didn't do any supplementary essays, only one extra rec letter.</p>
<p>i didn't do any supplementary essays - instead, i sent in some (er, non-article) stuff i'd done for the school newspaper and was proud of, which i wasn't able to talk about much in the required essays.</p>
<p>plus, i read somewhere that chances are, if they're short on time, they won't read the additional essay. so i honestly think don't bother, unless you already have the extras written.</p>