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Should I submit optional essays for schools where I am over the 75th for GPA and at the 75th for the LSAT?

Could help for $$$

Ok, thanks. If they don't specify the length of the diversity statement, what should be the max length?

i'll just chime in on the other side....i did not write a single optional essay (for reach, targets, or safeties). i did not get into my reach, got into targets, got substantial $ from safeties

icouldbuyu wrote:Should I submit optional essays for schools where I am over the 75th for GPA and at the 75th for the LSAT?

Do you have something to say or are you just writing them because they will help with scholarships/YP? If you write something that comes across as insincere because the school is just a safety to you I would say don't bother.

bdubs wrote:

icouldbuyu wrote:Should I submit optional essays for schools where I am over the 75th for GPA and at the 75th for the LSAT?

Do you have something to say or are you just writing them because they will help with scholarships/YP? If you write something that comes across as insincere because the school is just a safety to you I would say don't bother.

This. If you have something to say - write the essay. Don't write it just for the sake of writing it.

icouldbuyu wrote:Should I submit optional essays for schools where I am over the 75th for GPA and at the 75th for the LSAT?

I would do it; best not to chance being YP'd.

I decided not to write them because they were still a work in progress. My PS was outstanding and I didn't want to open the possibility of the diversity statement being disappointing relative to my PS. Also I wanted to get the safeties in as soon as possible. I'm writing the optional essays for all my reach schools. I'm a borderline student at Cornell, so I'm hoping my PS and now complete DS will put me over the top. I also wrote a great "why Cornell" essay.

icouldbuyu wrote:I decided not to write them because they were still a work in progress. My PS was outstanding and I didn't want to open the possibility of the diversity statement being disappointing relative to my PS. Also I wanted to get the safeties in as soon as possible. I'm writing the optional essays for all my reach schools. I'm a borderline student at Cornell, so I'm hoping my PS and now complete DS will put me over the top. I also wrote a great "why Cornell" essay.

Was this "outstanding" PS about your modesty and humility by any chance?

dakatz wrote:

icouldbuyu wrote:I decided not to write them because they were still a work in progress. My PS was outstanding and I didn't want to open the possibility of the diversity statement being disappointing relative to my PS. Also I wanted to get the safeties in as soon as possible. I'm writing the optional essays for all my reach schools. I'm a borderline student at Cornell, so I'm hoping my PS and now complete DS will put me over the top. I also wrote a great "why Cornell" essay.

Was this "outstanding" PS about your modesty and humility by any chance?

I'm quoting what the writing center at my school said. Also I had an editor at the NY Times proofread it; he was so impressed that he offered me a job. Is your PS about being a smart ass?

icouldbuyu wrote:

dakatz wrote:

icouldbuyu wrote:I decided not to write them because they were still a work in progress. My PS was outstanding and I didn't want to open the possibility of the diversity statement being disappointing relative to my PS. Also I wanted to get the safeties in as soon as possible. I'm writing the optional essays for all my reach schools. I'm a borderline student at Cornell, so I'm hoping my PS and now complete DS will put me over the top. I also wrote a great "why Cornell" essay.

Was this "outstanding" PS about your modesty and humility by any chance?

I'm quoting what the writing center at my school said. Also I had an editor at the NY Times proofread it; he was so impressed that he offered me a job. Is your PS about being a smart ass?

Wasn't the topic per se, but I made sure the subtle intonation was in there. Thanks for asking. Well hey, at least now I can rule out the possibility that this outstanding PS was about your ability to pick up on a joke.

Me --> Penn $$, NYU $$, Michigan (WL). Guess which one I didn't do the optional essays for.

I got into a super reach school for which I didn't do the optional essay. And I got waitlisted from a safety to whom I submitted a sincere and specific optional essay. Go figure.

dakatz wrote:I got into a super reach school for which I didn't do the optional essay. And I got waitlisted from a safety to whom I submitted a sincere and specific optional essay. Go figure.

Which safety if you don't mind me asking?

HeavenWood wrote:

dakatz wrote:I got into a super reach school for which I didn't do the optional essay. And I got waitlisted from a safety to whom I submitted a sincere and specific optional essay. Go figure.

Which safety if you don't mind me asking?

W&M. Made it sort of an optional essay/DS fusion that I thought gave the whole essay a very personal and specific touch, as opposed to "I really like your new facilities" BS. Same happened with Fordham (though it was a "Why Fordham" essay, as opposed to a school-requested optional essay)

cinefile 17 wrote:Could help for $$$

TITCR.

The only reason to apply to safeties in the first place is to (1.) have an admission on lockdown and (2.) roll the dice on getting some $. It takes an hour at most to write these essays, and at the very least they'll keep you from getting YPed.

Yes, I got WL'd at most schools I was overqualified for.

Cupidity wrote:Yes, I got WL'd at most schools I was overqualified for.

I did too. When BosTTTon College WLed me, I wrote them a LOCI which said only You can't fire me. I quit.

Cupidity wrote:Yes, I got WL'd at most schools I was overqualified for.

I see you were waitlisted at BC. We're practically numbers twins. I spent a lot of time on the optional essay, but now I'm worried!