Many college applications such as Emory University will include questions described as “optional.”

Emory’s Optional Essay: Please write exactly five sentences that best describe you.

Does this really mean that you can skip this question? Yes and No

Yes. If you skip this optional question then it will save you that extra hour that you may have spent doing something else that you enjoy. Senior year is already busy enough without responding to extra essay prompts.

No. When you see the word “optional” think “opportunity” instead. A rule of thumb here may be to consider if responding to this essay prompt will provide an opportunity for you to share new information to complement your application. It really should be new information that doesn’t appear anywhere else in your application portfolio. If your response to this “optional” essay does indeed provide new, insightful, non-redundant information about you, then consider this optional question as an opportunity to confirm why you should be admitted! Happy writing!