<p>I was looking at the Harvard application supplement and saw where it listed some additional essay topics. It made me wonder if anyone chose NOT to submit the optional supplement essay. I certainly plan on writing a supplement essay, but I was just curious if anyone who got accepted chose not to submit one</p>
<p>Yes, I can think of someone right now from College Confidential who stated that she did not submit an optional essay but was nevertheless admitted.</p>
<p>Interesting. It makes sense though. I’m guessing that they would rather see one great essay over two decent to average essays</p>
<p>Haha, but you’re right. Most people did submit two essays :P.</p>
<p>I know several kids who didn’t bother submitting the optional essay. I submitted the second essay only because I had already written it for my University of Michigan application.</p>
<p>I didn’t submit the optional essay and I was admitted! I was a bit worried, as it seems like most people do send in an optional essay, but writing’s not my strongest suit, so I just sent the common app essay (my strongest essay) & let the rest of my application stand out more.</p>
<p>I didn’t submit the optional essay because I wanted to provide an additional sample of writing (the writing was quite plain and workmanlike. More textbook than Hemingway, too.) I submitted the optional essay because I had life circumstances (major surgeries/months and months in a body cast = fun times) that I thought would add to my application, but was not cheerful, well-written, or make-me-seem-likeable enough that I wanted it to be my main essay.</p>
<p>I only submitted the second essay because it was an extra essay I used on other colleges’ required supplemental essays.</p>