If you have to ask, then you’ll have doubt and assume if you get rejected, it’s why.
Some take schools at their word. Others believe optional is required.
Some really might not be appropriate for all people. For example, one may be catered to only certain groups such as first Gen or a low income household.
But if it’s an essay that can be done by all, you should do it — for no other reason than not wondering - what if I would have - if you get rejected.
This is the reason it is typically a bad idea to apply to 15-20 colleges - it is very difficult to put the time/effort/energy into that many applications. If a student is very interested and invested in a college then that student will write the essays.
My boys submitted every essay, whether it was optional or not. Why not put forth your top effort when applying? Does a kid get in here and there who doesn’t write the optional essay? Sure. But why give the impression that you aren’t “into a school”? Like another poster said you are selling yourself.
I am not sure what you are referring to when you say 2/3 for each school. You have to do the required ones. Let’s look at the ‘optional’ supplements.
First up NU…they encourage you to answer at least one and no more than two of the following. 200 words is not that many, if you can only write 100 or 150 words that is ok and BETTER than not choosing to complete these.
The NU supplements are more important to NU than the common app personal statement which they do not require,so you can repurpose that because they aren’t going to read it. They directly say on their website you can repurpose your common app essay and use it in their one required essay, or in the ‘optional’ supplementals.
The following questions are optional, but we encourage you to answer at least one and no more than two. Please respond in fewer than 200 words per question:
Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?
Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?
Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?
Duke asks you to pick 0-2 of the following if you feel you have something to add. I am certain you can find something to add to your app by answering two of these questions. Having a solid answer to any of these that is less than 250 words is ok and like above, better than choosing not to complete them.
We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional for all 2023-24 applicants. Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application. Five optional questions are available – a maximum of two can be selected. Please select 0 – 2 optional essay topics. (250 word limit for each)
We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.
Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating**.**
We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.
Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community. Apply - Duke Undergraduate Admissions
mwfan again…If you are feeling inundated with essays, consider dropping some apps.
Thanks for this guys! I decided that I may as well do all of the optional essays. Thing is, if they are required, why are they calling them optional!!!
Similarly, for macalester I only did 1 of the 2 prompts, will this impact my admission? I can do the second prompt, I just felt like doing one because I’m familiar with macalester having grown up near the school.
The prompt I did was talk about how I would use the MSP area to further my education.
Yes they are optional and some may or will get in without.
At the same time, when they review your app, they may see someone who did the bare minimum and hold it against - either in the way of admission or merit.
No one truly knows but most third parties you read and folks on here equate optional to be the same as you need to do.
They (the schools) know people who half a$$ it are probably spreading themselves to many schools.
They are looking for kids who want to be there.
Even schools that send kids free apps and say essays are waived - my kids did the essays.
Why leave yourself asking - what if ? should the decision not go your way.
Thanks for the advice everyone! I am writing all of the optional essays. I am finalizing my northwestern application right now and I decided to apply to the school of education and social policy. But, I heard that its more competitive than the college of arts and sciences…should I keep my choice or switch to Artsci?
Actually, it’s not, and it’s an EXCELLENT choice considering your EC strengths because that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Keep your choice, do not second-guess yourself, do not switch.
thanks so much! additionally, I don’t think my essays showed any insight into why I want to study social policy. I talked a lot about the black poetry society and what i’ve learned reading poems from black authors, my experience dealing w/mistreatment in my community, and talked about northwestern’s location for the optional essay. Is this going to be a negative thing? There wasn’t much space to write about your goals or include anything about my interest in policy, although they can tell through my extracurriculars.
It may be too late but use the “additional information” box to develop the relationship between your ECs and your interest in policy. You need to make that interest explicit (and show an analytical ability in linking activities and academic field.)
Do you know whether your GC expanded on that in their letter of rec? (Contact them to ask if need be). If not, a good thing would be for her/him to add this to the midyear report that is likely to go out with your 1st semester grades.
Btw I hope these F/D-looking grades due to missong assignemrments have been brought back to As.
I hope those grades are changed too! I submitted a grade petition due to a variety of other circumstances too and am waiting to hear back from the dean.
In my essays, I added at the last minute a paragraph describing my interests in social policy.
My school makes me submit my midyear report though, so I will see if my counselor talked about the policy work that i’ve done in her rec! I think she did though.
As of now, I’ve shifted my focus and am submitting my last 4 applications! Thanks so, so much for your help, everyone!
Update, grade petition went through, instructor apologized bc the grade was due to an error on her part calculating, and now i can submit my mid years to yale and other schools!! I have 2 schools left (macalester and usc), and had my cornell interview/conversation a few days ago! also am getting my northwestern interview scheduled.
Also just got an email that I can submit the Georgetown writing supplement by the 15th…removed gt off my list because my 26 act wasn’t getting me in, but I looked at the essays and they’re all reusable so I’m going to shoot my shot. Trial running this I guess even though a 26 is surprisingly average for my school.
