Should I write Virginia tech's optional essays?

College Essays
1

The deadline is coming up and I am swamped!

Virginia tech is a safety school for me. With a 33ACT and a 3.9GPA I should have the stats to comfortably get admitted.

That being said I do not want to get complacent.

The only reason that would compel me to spend significant time writing these essays is showing interest to guarantee admissions and scholarship money.
Because Virginia tech is a safety school I am hoping it will offer me good merit aid. I am not sure if application essays are factored into that.

A big thing keeping me from doing this is 250-word essays actually intimidate me. Even though I am a very concise writer I have struggles simplifying my argument/evidence during my thought process and usually come up with an essay good for more than 250 words. I would take a 650-word prompt over a 250 one any day.

An idea is I could submit my “comfort” zone essay from my GT app that is 149 words and would fit comfortably inside of the VT “Tell us a story from your life” prompt.

I am willing to write to 1-2 more prompts if they are necessary for merit aid.

2

Virginia Tech cannot be considered a safety school because of acceptance rates.
Do the essays - no school likes to be treated like you consider yourself a shoo-in.
If on top of it you want merit aid…

I think you know the answer to your question.
When essays are recommended, always treat them as ‘required unless you’re a special case’ (IE., your parents just donated a million or you signed a letter of intent.)
Yes you can use the GTech prompt.

3

At the onsite information session they said they cared how much time an applicant put into the application. In essence suggested the optional are not so much optional. Also, do not judge the college of engineering admittance stats by the general for the university…vast difference.