Claire1016

I was just wondering how much supplemental essays are weighed in the admissions procress. I've been working really hard on my supplements, but I definately put them off for way too long and I'm getting frantic over them. How important are they in comparison to the common app essay? I feel my essays are good, but I'm not sure if they really pop. If it matters, I had to do supplements for Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Bates, and Villanova.

Swedefish

I think the "Why Bates?" essay is more important for Bates than the common app essay.

mikemac

Often they are the make-or-break factor for kids on the fence. Common essays can be used for any school; pay another app fee and off goes another app. Adcoms are very interested in who really wants to attend their school. And supplements are a great way to infer it. A kid who blows off an optional supplemental is telling you something, so is one that has done a mediocre job compared to the common essay. By contrast a kid who wants nothing more than to get in will spend all the time they can to make the supplement shine, welcoming one more chance to put their case forward.

haldir380

You're not gonna get a better answer than what mikemac provided. They show increased interest in their school. If they are written well, they can only help you, not hurt you.

geek_mom

Heh... if I copied mikemac's answer and presented it as my own, do you think I'd get caught? And if so, what's the worst thing that could happen to me?

(mikemac's answer rocks. Like haldir said, there's no better answer.)

dieulinh312

If the optional supplemental essay I write is not so good, should I submit it?

tkim113

i am curious about this also

thefool

Another possible point to consider is that if you are near the top of an applicant pool, then the supplementary essays might be the difference between paying full tuition and getting a nice merit based scholarship.

I would think that a bad essay shows less incentive than no essay at all, but that is a debateable point

(sorry for reviving a dead thread, but it was featured so I figured that people are still likely to see it)

nicole5178

Do the supplemental essays. Everywhere I didn't do the supplemental essays for, I was rejected, and I regret not doing them..

DSI

^^Pfff, flawed and unsound arguement.

How is this: I only got into the one school I did not write an optional essay for (which, by the way, is true). Now what? And, just to strengthen my case, several people from CC claimed to not have written optional essays and still got in.

Optional is just that -- optional. Do not think "Oh it cannot hurt doing mediocre on the option." Think of it as "A medicre optional essay is an eyesore and can only give the admissions officers a chance to second-doubt your eligibility."

Moral? If it is not great, do not waste the readers' time.

TheyCallMeCC

so...am i the only one who 'recycles' my main supplemental essay? i've used the same one for about 4 colleges, which is working rather well. but is this looked down upon if they find out it wasn't originally written for their school? sorry if i'm not making much sense, it's really late here : P

julienyu

Yes, a lot of people have told me that it is. I'm also recycling my essays, but we should just make it sound a bit college-specific. Don't let them find out.

verbosely

I thought it was too, but recently I spoke with a Yale rep who told me he didn't care. Sometimes, he's able to tell that the essay is based off another school's prompt, but if they want you, they don't care. Obviously, this may be school specific and it's always better to be safe, so spend some time on those supp. essays!

panky14

Any other ideas on the optional sections?

I'm still curious to here opinions about the merit of no essay vs. mediocre essay..

Specifically, Why Duke? and Why Notre Dame? (Both are optional I believe)