... encourage you to write those essays (Of course, unless it reduces ... ). Although they are "optional", these essays give you an edge because ... don't complete the optional essays are more likely to be ...
@"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?
With your softs, you'd probably get in at a few on your list. I'd say GT and Cornell/Berkeley are your best bets. Your essays should be tiptop, though.