Are you doing the optional creative essays for your back up schools?

Comments

• 1 Like

  ajcarlton5 Alum Member

  December 2017 36 karma

  Someone once said to me that you might be able to write yourself in but you can most certainly write yourself out... Think about that when deciding whether or not to do it and I'm sure you'll know what to do. If it is only going to help your application, then do it. If it's going to do any less than that then don't.
• Cant Get Right Yearly + Live Member Sage ⭐ 🍌 7Sage Tutor

  December 2017 27900 karma

  A lot of time, the optional essays are actually "optional" essays and they really do expect serious applicants to write them.
• Alex Alum Member ⭐

  December 2017 23929 karma

  I plan to write them all. Like @"Cant Get Right" said above, they are "optional" but I think any serious candidate should write them. That's the general advice from admissions professionals, too.
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  December 2017 8392 karma

  Ditto to the guys above. Even at safety schools, I especially want to maximize scholarship money so I'll do as much as I'm able.
• jack.igoe Member

  December 2017 544 karma

  @"Alex Divine" @"Leah M B"
  Do you guys mean that you're writing one optional essay for all of your schools? Or do you mean that you're writing all of the optional essays for each school?
• 1 Like

  Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  December 2017 8392 karma

  @"jack.igoe" said:
  @"Alex Divine" @"Leah M B"
  Do you guys mean that you're writing one optional essay for all of your schools? Or do you mean that you're writing all of the optional essays for each school?

  I intend to write one general diversity statement that I’ll use for all schools, but otherwise will likely write them all separately. Not every school has a bunch of optional essays. I’ll probably only write a Why X essay for a few schools that I am very interested in attending and have something in particular to say. But if there are unique prompts for additional essays (like the one you mentioned), I’d write them.
• Seeking Perfection Alum Member

  December 2017 4428 karma

  I'm writing/have written at least one optional essay for all my schools and multiple if I feel they are applicable.

  I don't want any of my schools thinking of themselves as backup schools. That's how I wind up hanging out on their waitlists instead of being given a scholarship offer.
• marcosmcqueen Member

  December 2017 241 karma

  I, too, have written all of the optionals. My take is that I would like every app to be successful. A school isn't a very good backup if I get rejected. My goal is to make each application as good as possible. Period.
• studyingandrestudying Core Member

  December 2017 5254 karma

  First idea is yes, write them. Admissions chose to include them and this is likely a good message for us to take and use in ways that benefit our applications.
• Alex Alum Member ⭐

  December 2017 23929 karma

  @"jack.igoe" said:
  @"Alex Divine" @"Leah M B"
  Do you guys mean that you're writing one optional essay for all of your schools? Or do you mean that you're writing all of the optional essays for each school?

  I'm writing all of the optional essays for each school. I think with all of the information online you can research and find great reasons to attend each school. They can make a big difference from what I can tell
• _oshun1_ Alum Member

  January 2018 3652 karma

  I didnt do it for pepperdine and I just got accepted with 25k/year from them (: not going to go there but it's a nice lil confidence boost and makes me realize this is all just a numbers game and i need to get my lsat score up
• 1 Like

  westcoastbestcoast Alum Member

  January 2018 3788 karma

  I think writing optionals can help against Yield Protection, especially in schools where your numbers are above the 75th percentile