<p>i didnt do it...my common app essay was kind of creative and autobiographical so i did not think that this optional essay would show anything new</p>
<p>I didn't do it. Step into the shoes of an admissions officer. What does pg 217 of an autobiography (future or past) tell them other than you can write creatively? Almost nothing. Unless you have an incredibly insightful idea you want to incorporate into this essay, it's absolutely worthless. Maybe it makes it look like you're more interested in U Penn bc u took the time to write an extra essay? Yeah... that's probably it.</p>
<p>i did it. it was kind of a stretch. :/</p>
<p>I did it cuz I need all the help I can get with my low GPA and scores.</p>
<p>As soon as I read the words "optional" my mind was settled.</p>
<p>I did it and really enjoyed writing it. It's just another opportunity to help the person reading your application get to know you, why not do it? I think there were definitely some elements in that essay (humor, etc.) that weren't present elsewhere in my application.</p>
<p>I did it and also enjoyed writing it, mine was a very somber and sort of dramatic piece. Pretty much all of my essays are written in a creative writing sort of style, and this one was too, but my other essays were definitely bouncier and happier, while this one kind of has an effect on you and stays with you for a while.
Hopefully it'll help me get in :/</p>
<p>I did -
1 - I loved it
2 - I have a 590 and 650 on SAT II's - is this gonna kill me btw?</p>
<p>i did it - turned out to be really good i think, projected myself in the future and showed them what i could see myself doing as a future career/why i would love it...</p>
<p>@ilovebabypink - its questionable, hopefully admissions love it as much as you did - lol, otherwise it's not lookin too hot</p>
<p>I did.</p>
<p>In my essay, I was dying of cancer and writing my autobiography. page 217 was basically about me being in a doctor without borders in another country and what I did to try to improve the lives of the people in the community.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation as disgradius. I started writing one at the last minute, realized how horrible it was, and decided to send in my app without it. But I think my Why Penn and Common App essays are pretty good and show enough of my creative side, so I hope they will suffice.</p>
<p>And it's a real comfort knowing I'm not the only one who decided to skip it. :)</p>
<p>i had a tennis essay written kinda humorously and since my others were all kinda serious, and I had this essay used for like 4 other colleges, I tweaked it (a LOT and obviously I cut down like 200 words and it became better - weird how that works out); thing was I also did the 1C dualdeg essay too...Penn has every big thing I've written. WHoo.</p>
<p>TO hcvops: i did the same thing actually :)--> well, from a mother's pov anyways. lol</p>
<p>After writing 22 essays for other schools and the non-optional Penn ones, what do you think I did when I saw "Optional?"</p>
<p>And to everyone:</p>
<p>Why did you assume it was futuristic? I thought it was that way at first but then I thought about it and realized maybe it was meant to be written now. As in, page 217 was on or before the day you wrote the page. Just a thought!</p>
<p>I did it, but extremely unconventionally. I hope it pays off.</p>
<p>And to poisondart90: Would you have a 300 page autobiography of interest if it was your life to-date?</p>
<p>With some of the crazy s*** I've done I think someone could write a 300 page biography. I wouldn't write it myself but then again I'd never even write one if I were bored to death when I was 100 after living a crazy life. I can't flatter myself that much...</p>
<p>what poisondart90 said is true enough. I keep journals from when I was 8. I have 1 filled out each year. Sure you can.</p>
<p>wow im glad i didn't write it bc if i did i was gonna write about tennis lol but i mainly diddn't write it bc im not the best/creative writer n didn't wanna mess up my apps</p>
<p>I did. I talked about my family history.</p>
<p>I loved my 217. I'm glad they offer it.</p>