chernbabychern

On the Common App, there isn't a little yellow dot indicating that the essay is a required part of the supplement, and I think the Common App allows you to submit the supplement without the little autobiography essay. Has anybody heard, is this essay "optional"?

hholmes65

i'm pretty sure that the essay is NOT optional. even if it is, it would be worthwhile to submit one.

mhc48

I'm convinced that after you've met basic admissions criteria (and in some cases even if you haven't quite), the essay is the most important part of the Colgate application. In my daughter's year a number of people in this forum mentioned that the brief handwritten congratulatory note on their admissions letter referred to their essay.

Colgate's essay is always more challenging (and quirky) than the typical "why ____ college" or "how will you contribute to _____", indicating that they are looking for you to and giving you a chance to, show something unique about yourself or your way of thinking which will set you apart either in your personality, ability or approach. Why would you want to squander that opportunity?

whirlybird

The fact alone that they ask you such an (admittedly strange) question shows that Colgate is looking for something different: they don't want to see just your Common App essay and your grades... they want to literally give you a test of creativity and self-evaluation and see how you do.

I agree with mhc48. Colgate makes sure their essay is very different from others because 1) doing a good job shows your interest in the school, and 2) they want to challenge you.