Are there any distinct advantages to submitting optional...? Forum

[CardozoLaw09]

Essays if a particular school's application process has the option of doing so? Or does it generally make no difference?

[Swimp]

If you're a borderline candidate, you should do everything you can to make yourself attractive.

If you're potentially "overqualified" and want to avoid yield protection, showing extra interest could accomplish that.

[rinkrat19]

Some schools care a lot more than others. Some schools see that you made the effort and jumped through all the hoops--even the optional ones--as evidence that you actually WANT to go to their school.

Northwestern cares, for example.

[mcs268]

My take on it, is that if you haven't said what they ask on the optional essays in other parts of your application, you need to write that essay. My personal statement for each school incorporates the Why X for each school so for schools that have an option Why X, I'm not bothering writing that essay since it would be superfluous.