<p>I mean considering it's 150 words...how meaningful are admissions officers expecting it to be?</p>
<p>Does anyone know how much it really counts in the admissions process as a whole? As in a lot, fair amount, or little to no effect.</p>
<p>Hate to say, but it depends on what you write, right? And how your application as a whole stands up to others. I wouldn't just toss it off, in other words. At this stage your grades are pretty much fully set, test scores recorded, teachers and counselors are going to write what they write, too late for most students to get a new EC of any weight... what you <em>can</em> control at this point are your essays, long, short, supplemental. They are all an opportunity to present yourself, so why not take full advantage of them?</p>