"Optional" Secondaries

[after_the_flood]

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Hi all,

So I was starting to think about secondary prompts. Last year's prompt from Baylor is as follows:
"Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat AMCAS application information."

Is it an unstated rule that these types of prompts must always be filled, regardless of whether they're referred to as optional?

 

[hoihaie]

no, if you have nothing to say, don't say

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

I was considering using those prompts for my diversity essay, but IDK.

 

[Dr Stephen T Colbert DFA]

Optional essays are truly optional.

 

[ChrisMack390]

From the point of view of an adcom, I am sure its preferable to not read anything than read BS that is just there to fill space.

 

[LChristmas]

I look at it as an optional practice in sports. You're not going to lose any points by leaving it blank, but you are forgoing an opportunity to gain some points and add some color to a black and white process. Do your best to write something meaningful. As others have stated, though, don't just write something for the sake of filling empty space.

 

[justadream]

I look at it as an optional practice in sports. You're not going to lose any points by leaving it blank, but you are forgoing an opportunity to gain some points and add some color to a black and white process. Do your best to write something meaningful. As others have stated, though, don't just write something for the sake of filling empty space.

Anything that has potential for positive also has potential for negative.

Not everyone can write an above average extra essay (in fact, by definition 50% of people will write below average essays). Thus, for the lower 50%, the essay kind of has a net negative effect.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Completely separate but PENN for undergrad is famous for its "optional" essay that many people feel compelled to write because they don't think its optional. Well years back when we were applying a Penn ADCOM came to our high school(like a million other schools did) and someone asked this. He basically said "more times than not people who answer this optional prompt end up writing an essay that does more detriment to their application than the times it helps them. If we are saying this prompt is optional we aren't particularly interested in you answering it just for the sake of it. If we really wanted your answer to something, we wouldn't make it optional. Only answer it if you really think there is nowhere else in the application you can address what you will write in that essay. And he said many times, if you really think there is the only place to answer it, you probably aren't thinking hard enough". Now, I have absolutely no idea if any med school views that prompt the same way Penn Undergrad Admissions views theres. Undergrad admission and Med School admission aren't exactly similar. But it was answer he said that basically really surprised all of us and got us thinking so I thought I'd share. At the very least, thinking you are doing yourself favors by just answering the prompt for the sake of answering won't help you.