High school seniors in the midst of college application season often find themselves grappling with a crucial question: “Should I do optional college essays?” It’s tempting to skip over these “optional” sections, especially when your plate is already full with mandatory essays, schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and the looming stress of graduation. However, understanding when and why you should tackle these optional essays can significantly impact your college admission prospects.
The Temptation to Skip: Is It Ever Okay?
Let’s face it—senior year is busy. Between maintaining your GPA, preparing for standardized tests, and managing other college application requirements, finding extra time to write an optional essay can feel overwhelming. Some college applications, such as those from Emory University, include optional questions like:
“Please write exactly five sentences that best describe you.”
On the surface, skipping this question seems like a reasonable time-saving decision. After all, Emory even states that “if you choose not to submit this essay, it will not affect your admission decision.” So, why not take them at their word and save yourself the trouble?
Why Skipping Might Not Be the Best Choice
While it’s true that not submitting the optional essay won’t automatically count against you, opting out may also mean missing a golden opportunity to stand out. When you see the word “optional,” think “opportunity” instead.
College admissions are more competitive than ever, and optional essays offer you an additional platform to showcase what makes you unique. In a sea of applicants with similar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, these essays allow you to present new, insightful, and non-redundant information that might not be evident from other parts of your application.
For example, Emory’s optional essay prompt about describing yourself in five sentences isn’t just about completing another task. It’s an opportunity for you to highlight aspects of your personality, character, or experiences that haven’t been discussed elsewhere. It’s a chance to confirm to the admissions committee why you should be admitted.
The Rule of Thumb: When to Write the Optional Essay
The general rule of thumb is that if responding to the optional essay provides an opportunity to complement your application with new information, then you should absolutely take the time to write it. Here’s why:
- Provides Additional Context: The optional essay allows you to add context to your application. Perhaps there’s a unique aspect of your background, a challenge you’ve overcome, or a passion that drives you—things that are not fully captured in the rest of your application.
- Showcases Your Writing Skills: Even if the essay is short, it’s another opportunity to demonstrate your writing ability. Strong writing skills are crucial in college, and an optional essay lets you show the admissions committee that you can communicate effectively.
- Demonstrates Your Interest: Completing the optional essay shows that you’re genuinely interested in the school. It indicates that you’re willing to go the extra mile, which can be particularly important at competitive institutions where demonstrating interest can be a deciding factor.
- Sets You Apart: Optional essays can set you apart from other applicants who chose not to complete them. In a competitive admissions process, every little bit helps, and your optional essay might just be the extra nudge that sways the decision in your favor.
When It Might Be Okay to Skip
There are situations where it might be reasonable to skip the optional essay:
- Redundant Information: If your response to the optional essay would simply reiterate information already covered in your main essay or other parts of your application, it might not be worth writing. The key is to provide new, valuable insights.
- Quality Concerns: If you find yourself stretched too thin, resulting in an essay that isn’t well-written or thoughtful, it might be better not to submit it. Admissions committees can tell when an essay is rushed, and a poorly executed optional essay could do more harm than good.
Final Thoughts: The Optional Essay is Not Really Optional
So, should I do optional college essays? The answer is yes—if you can use it as an opportunity to enrich your application with additional insights, showcase your writing ability, and demonstrate your genuine interest in the school. Remember, in the highly competitive landscape of college admissions, every chance to stand out should be taken seriously.
In conclusion, while the term “optional” might suggest that it’s okay to skip the essay, viewing it as an “opportunity” can make a significant difference in your college application process. Use this chance to further highlight what makes you unique, and you might just find that it plays a pivotal role in your acceptance to the college of your dreams. Happy writing!
