<p>Hi. I think my application is more than complete, but my counselor said I won't get in without writing the optional essay. The one thing my application doesn't really get across is that I love writing. I guess you can sort of tell from my common app essay that creative writing is definitely one of my strengths, but I was just thinking,
Is it an awful idea to submit a poem, or a short story for my supplement essay?</p>
<p>My daughter did a fairly creative thing for her supplement. I’d be cautious about sending a poem, however, unless maybe it’s the “Dangerous Dan McGrew” type. Not all readers will feel up to the task, which means you’ll lose your opportunity to communicate something.</p>
<p>@oxoxhawja3xoxo - Plenty of people get in without writing an optional essay. If you feel it strengthens your application, then by all means include an essay. My daughter felt she had said all she needed to say and decided not to write one and still got in. She had asked around during a campus visit and found a mix of people who did and didn’t. I suspect it is to your advantage to submit a strong essay, but I doubt Harvard is rejecting otherwise qualified students simply because they did not include this essay. Write it if you have something important to say. It’s optional, not a requirement.</p>
<p>There are so many elements that need to come together to gain admission to the most selective schools. If there was something available to me that could enhance my chance of admission I would do it.
With our own experience and in conversation with other students and families it is clear to me that it is the combination of many things that leads to the admissions decision. Was your essay authentic, did it portray you completely, is there anything else you would like known about you that conveys depth and passion?</p>