Optional Essays (DS vs. Why X?)
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 6:55 pm
Hi all,
Getting ready to pull the trigger on apps, but I'm a bit torn on whether I should submit a DS or Why X for schools that offer only 1 supplemental essay but give multiple prompts. This is primarily about Columbia, Penn, Duke, and UVA, all of which present this limited option. My feeling thus far is that I'll stick with a DS unless I have a truly compelling reason for wanting to go to X school, other than the obvious reasons everyone wants to go there. Yet I know it's somewhat conventional wisdom that Penn places a lot of weight on a Why Penn essay. Any thoughts on how to best proceed?
Getting ready to pull the trigger on apps, but I'm a bit torn on whether I should submit a DS or Why X for schools that offer only 1 supplemental essay but give multiple prompts. This is primarily about Columbia, Penn, Duke, and UVA, all of which present this limited option. My feeling thus far is that I'll stick with a DS unless I have a truly compelling reason for wanting to go to X school, other than the obvious reasons everyone wants to go there. Yet I know it's somewhat conventional wisdom that Penn places a lot of weight on a Why Penn essay. Any thoughts on how to best proceed?