What is an optional statement?

Are optional essays really optional?

No. An optional essay is not expected to be completed by every applicant. It is just something colleges offer to students dedicated to giving more insight to themselves. It is a way to show their characteristics to admissions officers in a unique way.

What are the optional statements for law school?

Typically, optional essays might ask you to articulate why you are applying to that school (“Why School X”), or they might invite you to discuss parts of your background that would contribute to the diversity of the incoming class (a “Diversity Statement”).

Is optional personal statement the same as the Common App essay?

Throughout this guide, "Common App Essay," "Common App personal statement," and "personal statement" are used interchangeably. Secondary or supplemental essays: These are the essays that schools can choose to have you write on top of the core Common App Essay.

Can a bad college essay negatively affect my application?

Weak essays get skimmed. If a student's essay isn't great OR good, the admission officer will probably just skim past the essay and move right on to your transcript and your test scores to evaluate your candidacy for admission. Bad essays don't get read.

Do colleges really read the Common App essay?

Usually one to two admissions officers read an essay. Some colleges do not look at essays. Some colleges will choose only to look at your GPA, Course Rigor and SAT/ACT scores. If you GPA and Test Scores are high enough, they may not feel that and essay is necessary.

Is a personal statement optional?

Even if a college does NOT require the Personal Essay, you may opt to submit it to that college. You are allowed unlimited edits to the essay after your first application submission.

Is it OK if your personal statement is short?

Get straight to the point – A good personal statement isn't just informative, it's also succinct and concise. So try keeping it between 100 and 200 words for maximum impact (N.B. personal statements for university will be longer).

What if my personal statement is too short?

If you are really struggling with the length of your personal statement then don't panic - get it reviewed by someone who is familiar with the application process (a careers adviser, a tutor) and they should be able to spot areas that you have either missed out completely or that you need to expand upon.

Can you get into Harvard without optional essay?

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.

How do you write an optional essay for a low GPA?

Offer context for a low GPA.

For example, own that you were not mature enough to focus on academics early in college, and then offer an example of how you are now ready for rigorous academic work. Consider taking a quant class for academic credit to demonstrate you can master the topic with an A or B grade.

Should you submit a college essay if not required?

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.

What are colleges not looking for in essays?

College essay topics to avoid also include anything that's highly personal or a delicate subject. For example, avoid doing an essay that provides too much detail on an illness, disability, or injury, especially a severe one.

What two mistakes students make when writing their college essays?

Can colleges reject you for being too good?

While there is some anecdotal evidence that overqualified students get rejected, these students aren't usually turned down because of their better-than-average grades or test scores. Most likely, the overqualified student isn't the right fit for a school or they haven't shown enough interest to admission officers.

What do colleges want in a personal statement?

A personal statement shares information beyond what admissions committees have already seen in your other application materials (transcripts, resume, etc.). This is your chance to show colleges your personality, strengths, and what matters most to you.

How long should an optional college essay be?

Meanwhile, let's define what is an optional admissions essay. Typically, those essays are only 200 to 250 words long, and these word counts are more likely to be strict restrictions than suggestions or guidelines. But each school will have a different exact policy.

Do all colleges require a personal statement?

Many colleges and universities require a college admissions essay as part of the application process. These personal statements allow students to describe their academic achievements, their strengths, and other personal aspects that can help admissions officers see them as unique individuals.

Can a good personal statement get you into law school?

Law school personal statements are important because they can turn what would have otherwise been a certain rejection into an offer of admission. They help admission committees get to know you in a way they couldn't from other pieces of your law school application.

What is the word limit for the Stanford optional essay?

There is a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each essay. The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus.

Do law schools care about personal statements?

The personal statement, one of the most important parts of your law school application, is an opportunity to highlight your writing ability, your personality, and your experience. Think of it as a written interview during which you get to choose the question.