<p>I’ve finished all my other essays, and with a week left until ED, I think I should start on my optional essay. The problem is, I have no idea to write. Do I go “Hi, my name is __<strong><em>. I am a _</em> year old senior at </strong> High School. My hobbies are ____<strong><em>, _</em></strong><strong><em>, and </em></strong><strong><em>. I have </em></strong> siblings, and I raise turtles for fun”, or are the admission officers looking for something deeper?</p>
<p>If I were the admissions officer, I would look for something much deeper. Actually, not “deeper” per se, but something that can help me to know more about you. What you have there are all irrelevant. They already know that you’re a senior at whatever high school, and all the other information, except the raising turtles part. The thing is, why would they want to know that you raise turtles for fun? It’s not like you are going to work on turtles in college or do research on them. Show off a new side of you. Specifically, a new quality/attribute/interest that is of use to the college campus/community, or will be beneficial to your success in college and beyond.</p>