<p>There was already a thread on this (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/832646-optional-essay-write-not-write.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/832646-optional-essay-write-not-write.html</a>).</p>
<p>If your essay feels forced or if you were writing it for the sake of writing it and it really doesn’t add anything about your personality, then it might be better not to submit it. If it actually does say something and you feel it’s okay, I don’t think it could hurt you (unless you talked about a love for Hitler, have spelling mistakes, problems with syntax etc…).</p>