Is it worth taking, especially after frying your brain with math and reading for two hours, AND paying the extra fee? Will any of the officers bother reading them?
Admissions officers don’t get to look at your tests… They just see the score. Writing scores on the ACT are often required even though it’s “optional.” Is imagine SAT will be similar.
They definitely won’t read them, but I suspect top schools will require the essay (for its score, not to peruse its content).