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[MaxPlancker]

1) There are no stats on this. I think many applicants feel pressured to come up with a half-adequate response for optional questions which may send the wrong impression.
2) Slightly but not overly so. You should be able to go in more detail than provided on the AMCAS
3) There are no key areas. The best things to write about are the reasons why you think the school is a good fit. Don't try to write about what may or may not impress people the most. Write genuinely.

 

[Glandzburg]

As far as general wisdom goes regarding secondaries:

1) Is it common to not write optional essays?

2) Is it acceptable to be somewhat repetitive, especially in questions regarding "what are your hobbies" and "what are you doing this year"? Considering I addressed these in my primary application to a decent extent already.

3) What key areas should one focus on when writing "why here" secondaries. For example, should I elaborate on their mission, location, etc.?

Thank you

1) If you have something valuable to say, say it. But don't write a poorly thought out response just to fill the space.

2) That's fine. Try to put a different spin on it or provide more details if you just merely touched on it in your PS.

3) I don't think there is a single answer for this. Location alone seems like a poor reason to me; show them that you actually did a bit of research about their institution.

 

[LizzyM]

1. If you have nothing to say in an optional essay, leave it blank and save me the time of reading something that could have been been left blank.
2. "What are you doing this year" is the place that adcoms go to find out what someone who has already graduated is doing now. Don't make me dig through your experience section looking at dates. Ditto for hobbies. Assume that some schools want some reviewers/interviewers to be blind to your grades and scores but may supply the secondary to some reviewers/interviewers so the duplication isn't a bad thing.
3. The purpose of this question is for you to look at what the school has to offer and try to find something that you like about it. Schools want to know that you will pick them if they pick you and that you will be happy with the opportunity if it is the only one you have. (See, "can I turn down this offer and reapply in the next cycle").

 

[nwts]

As far as general wisdom goes regarding secondaries:

1) Is it common to not write optional essays?

2) Is it acceptable to be somewhat repetitive, especially in questions regarding "what are your hobbies" and "what are you doing this year"? Considering I addressed these in my primary application to a decent extent already.

3) What key areas should one focus on when writing "why here" secondaries. For example, should I elaborate on their mission, location, etc.?

Thank you

1) A very few "optional" essays should always be filled out (For example, I think there are a few that ask "Why our school?" as an optional. Clearly, if you feel you have no pertinent answer this question you have no business applying to that school, so you should definitely answer if you're going to apply to that school), however the vast majority are actually optional. It is not to your advantage to scramble to come up with something to say if you have nothing relevant to add. For example, for the question: "Is there anything that is not in any of your other application materials that the admissions committee should know?" absolutely do not answer unless there is actually something important they should know. Don't just rack your brain for any random thing to say. That just wastes the time of the person/people reading your application.

2) Being somewhat repetitive (as in talking about the same activities and experiences) is totally fine, but you don't want it to be completely identical to your primary. Try rephrasing or focusing on different details.

3) There are no specific areas you should focus on. You should focus on providing an answer that is true for you. If you just go through their website and try to pick out something that they brag about, but that thing doesn't really do anything for you, it will probably be pretty obvious when someone reads your application. Obviously you don't want to talk about something that is extremely trivial (like the fact that you like their cafeteria or something), but focus on answering with the reasons that are actually true for you, not what you think they want to hear.