Whether to write the optional essay (especially Stanford)

[dchen]

Hi,

I've done some reading recently in a few books / forums (including MBAMissions' Jeremy's recent piece on this), but am still debating myself, and wondering if I can get more viewpoints.

two questions:
1. I am asking 2 of my professional recommendations from the same company I'm in now but a different office. I was thinking of including a short 400 character explanation for this (basically I worked with the recommenders for much longer), since basically I only changed to this niew branch 2 months ago. Or should I just not write it? It's the same company but different place.

2. If I have no extenuating circumstances apart from #1 above, what are people's thoughts on whether to write the optional essay (e.g. on my senior thesis, something I mentioned briefly but did not focus on) in particular for Stanford? From harvard's instructions, my guess is not to include it if not necessary. From Wharton, same thing since it says "extenuating circumstances". But do people have thoughts on Stanford?

Thanks so much.

[Kaneisha Grayson]

Hi DChen,

Let's look at the reasons Stanford lists for why you should write an optional essay and I have highlighted the reasons that I think support WHY you should write the essay.

- Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance
- Explanation of why you do not have a Letter of Reference from your current direct supervisor or peer. You just said that you are getting your recommendation from someone who is not your current direct supervisor. Just give them a short explanation for why you chose the recommenders that you did.
- Explanation of criminal conviction, criminal charges sustained against you in a juvenile proceeding, and/or court-supervised probation
- Explanation of academic suspension or expulsion
- Any other information that you did not have sufficient space to complete in another section of the application (please begin the information in the appropriate section). I think this is the place where you are trying to squeeze permission to write about your thesis. This could definitely count here, but I recommend that you just leave the thesis out. It seems like you are using the optional essay as a place to be like, "Oh yeah! And I did this great thing too!" when you really do have enough place to discuss that if it's important enough. If it wasn't important enough for you to discuss in detail in your application, it's probably not going to be the deciding factor for the AdCom of whether you get in or not.
- Additional work experience that cannot fit into the space provided
- Additional information about your academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

So I say, yes, write the optional essay to explain your recommendation situation, but don't use it as a place to throw in last-minute information. Consider yourself lucky that you have no other extenuating circumstances!

Good luck!
Kaneisha

[dchen]

Thanks, Kaneisha!

You hit the nail on the head as to which of the intructions I was following - i.e. the recommendation choice, which I imagine will just take up a few lines.

The second point was the one I was more concerned about - I have mentioned my thesis elsewhere and I do feel like, as you said, it probably does not merit an entire essay. I think I am feeling a little paranoid because the essay max is 10 pages and I wasn't sure if I would seem lazy by not including anything.

Also, the wording of it seems different from Harvard/Wharton (i.e. which state extenuating circumstances).

For those 2 schools I mentioned, do you view them the same way - i.e. definitely do not include anything extra apart from the recommendation choice (if no extenuating circumstances)?

Harvard: Use this section to include any additional information that you believe is important for the MBA Admissions Board to have in evaluating your application, but that you were unable to include because of the constraints of the online application. Please limit your additional information to the space in this section. Do not send HBS any additional materials (e.g., additional recommendations, work portfolios, etc.), as they will not be considered in your application and will delay processing of your application

Wharton: If there is any other information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance), please feel free to include that information here. Please do not include additional essays