Optional Essays - Why X vs. other topics Forum

[Rh1no]

At schools like Penn and Michigan that offer a bunch of different optional essay topics (and waitlist overqualified people), what do you think the difference would be for someone hovering around the 75%ile between submitting the Why X essay or choosing another topic? (i.e. Describe a time when you excelled as a leader or were particular frustrated etc. etc.) I already submitted my apps to these schools doing alternative prompts but I was just wondering if anyone has any insight on whether they will YP people that don't submit the Why X essay even if they submit one of the other optional ones.

[Companion Cube]

Zero to none.

Unless you were an Olympic bobsleder or something the subject of your PS literally doesn't matter at all as long as it says something positive about you.

[Rh1no]

Thanks, but I'm specifically talking about schools that have prompts for optional essay questions aside from the personal statement.