<p>What is the point of the optional paragraph in the USC application? I’m debating whether or not I should write something in for it. It shouldn’t affect my admission either way if it’s optional, right?</p>
<p>I don’t think it would unless you didn’t cover any special talents or circumstances/experiences in other parts of the application in a lot of detail. In that case, you should definitely do it.</p>
<p>If you can add something that isn’t included elsewhere in your application then I think it can have a positive influence on your admission. Just my personal opinion of course. If you think your application provides a pretty compete picture of you as an applicant, then I wouldn’t worry about it.
I think my son used this paragraph to explain why he chose to transfer to a performing arts charter school for his senior year of high school, which might have seemed like an odd choice for someone applying as an engineering major.</p>