<p>I've heard that, in many cases, optional essays really aren't optional yet sometimes people get accepted without them. I'm applying to Yale ED and have been stewing over the optional essay for a while. I honestly can't think of what else I'd like them to know about me. I love my general commonapp essay and think that reveals a lot of out-of-the-ordinary stuff about my personality, think my activity short answer pinpoints my passion as well as a difficult situation that surrounded it, and I know the colleges can gage all my curricular info, including my academic interests, from my recs and transcript. What more do they need to know?! I'm applying RD to Yale. Honestly, I feel like my app is complete, but I know the optional essays are usually recommended.</p>
<p>If you feel the app is good and complete, do not try to add anything to it unless the school obviously wants another essay (i.e. if it says "we strongly encourage," you should do it). Don't worry about it.</p>
<p>If you feel like you have nothing to add then don't. Better to send it in now, than to add something that perhaps isn't so great.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks.</p>
<p>Hey I just want to make sure about something. I'm applying to Yale RD as well. The two essays they mention on their website ARE the common app and optional essay right? Am I completely missing something? I'm trying to get all my essays in for my RD schools, and since Yale has the earliest deadline of them all, I want to make sure I'm done with it. I sent in the common app essay a while back (all I have left is the optional essay which I intend to write). Am I right, or are are there other Yale specific essays that I'm not aware of? Thanks and good luck to you all! :)</p>