Whether or not to submit the optional essay....

Stratocaster
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:19:00 +0000

How important is it to send it? Included in my “Why Penn” essay basically a statement which acknowledged that I used to avoid work and rely on my natural ability, but recently I have started doing the required work (my senior grades are really really good… the other 3 years are not incredible, my test scores are really really good). I wrote my optional essay, but I don’t love it. I don’t really like the topic, and I’m worried its not great.

But I’m worried that if I don’t do the optional essay, it could discredit my statement that I am now willing to work hard.

Whadya guys think? Also, would it be a huge mistake to include that bit in my “why penn” essay?