#Essay Tip | Optional Means Optional!

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The optional essay is not meant to be a trick question. There are three situations where you would need to use the optional essay. You either have something unusual and/or problematic in your application, you have something to share that didn’t fit anywhere else but you feel it’s definitely worth mentioning because it strengthens your profile, or you need to provide context for something the adcoms may not know about. If there are no holes in your application and you have all your points covered, pat yourself on the back and skip the extra essay. There are no disadvantages to not filling out the optional essay and not everyone needs to do it!

Most applicants will find value in completing the optional essay if he or she has:

- Poor academic performance in a specific class, semester or overall
- Low verbal, quantitative or overall GMAT score
- Lack of a professional reference because of the candidate’s desire not to disclose a potential departure
- Absences from work / college or gaps in the resume
- Academic probation/suspensions, firings or criminal records
- Extenuating medical / health / family issues

Remember the optional essay is an opportunity for you to explain things that the admissions committee will likely notice anyway and, by proactively addressing the topic, you will have an opportunity to confront the issue head on. Most importantly, this is not the time for making excuses or sharing heart-wrenching sob stories.

If you find yourself needing to put together an optional essay here are some quick tips to remember. First, keep your essay concise and direct. Being short and sweet with your response means focusing on providing evidence to mitigate the issue at hand. Give examples of your abilities and skills that demonstrate to the school your ability to succeed in a tough MBA program and become a desirable candidate for recruiting. Also, highlight any development or growth the experience was a catalyst for.

Secondly, avoid repetition. This section should focus on new material and not wasting the admission committee’s time with information you have already covered in other parts of your application. This is not the place to repackage your strengths or, even worse, introduce new weaknesses to your application.

Remember – optional means optional!

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Bhavik