The Harvard supplement essay, as it's known,
is completely optional
—you may, but do not need to, write this essay and submit it with your application. Also, this essay also has no word limit, though if you do write it, it's best to stick to a typical college essay length (i.e., somewhere around 500 words).
Do supplemental essays really matter?
Admissions Officers Can Learn More About You
While other application components like course rigor and grades are undeniably important, they don't give admissions officers much sense of your personality. Consequently,
supplemental essays can serve as a window into who you are and your character
.
Is a writing supplement optional?
Writing. Supplement. In our opinion,
nothing is optional
. If you fail to complete a part of an application that is available to you, but optional, then you are simply giving away your edge.
Can optional essays hurt you?
You should write the optional essay if you actually have something
substantial
to say about it. … They can smell a weak, insincere, or forced essay from a mile away. Submitting an essay that's not “real” will hurt you more than simply forgoing the essay at all.
Are optional supplemental essays really optional?
Optional essays may help schools differentiate between students with similar qualifications. … In addition, a strong “optional” essay gives the admissions officer more information to consider in their decision. However, there is at least one exception to the “rule” that
optional essays aren't really optional
.
Should I answer optional college essays?
If a college says the essay is “optional,
” you should still send one
. It can only help you. The reason essay optional schools include that option is so when they are deciding between students with similar qualifications, they can look to see if there are other possible factors to judge.
Do colleges read your essays?
Yes,
every college essay is read if the college has asked for it
(and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college's review process. It will be anywhere from one reader to four readers.
Should I do the writing supplement?
While the Common Application and the Universal Application each have a required essay, many colleges include their own school-specific essays, known as writing supplements. Supplemental essays give admissions officers the chance to get to know students, and they're also great gauges for demonstrated interest.
What do you write in an optional essay?
The most common optional essay will ask,
“Is there's anything else we should know about you?
” If you choose to explain any negative circumstances with this response, make sure to address the big picture and how you overcame and succeeded, and why it won't happen again.
How important are the supplemental essays?
They're your chance to demonstrate that you know what makes
the school special
and that you're excited to attend that particular institution. Good supplementary essays both highlight what a good fit you are for a college and flatter the college by discussing its unique strengths.
How do you end a supplemental college essay?
The end of a supplement is your last chance to make your point. You may not have a lot of space but set aside at least a short sentence to bring everything together. If you have more than 250 words to work with,
commit at least two sentences to the conclusion
.
Do college essays matter that much?
At the top 250 schools,
your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application
. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.
Can college essays hurt you?
However,
a weak college application essay can severely hurt your chance of admission
. College application essays that are not well-written signal to the admissions committee that you are not fully prepared for their program. They are also disrespectful.
How important are optional law school essays?
Law School Expert generally recommends that applicants complete optional essays
if the question applies to them
. If a school provides an opportunity to explain your interest in that school, you would be remiss to ignore it.
What essays do you have to write for law school?
Most law schools require
a personal statement
. Others may allow a diversity statement and/or an addendum. Submit ALL statements that apply to you. Tell an interesting, informative story and personal story about yourself in 700-1400 words (double- spaced).
Can an essay alone get you into college?
No matter how gorgeous your prose is,
you can't get into college based on the strength of your essay alone
. “No-one ever gets into college because you write a great essay,” Heaton says. … And even Joan Didion herself wouldn't get into college on her writing skills if she had lackluster grades or scores.
