hulaboy9614
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2014
- Messages
- 8
How crucial is it to write something in the 3rd optional essay? If I left it blank would it look bad?
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+1
Stop messing around here for a night or two and write your best essay
Yes--you lose points for not writing the "optional" essay. It's used to identify people who will put the time and effort into writing something and to give them a better chance than those who just say, "Eh, I don't feel like it."
I don't believe this.
And Pima, you are certainly a recognizable and prolific poster. Your insights are noted. Fortunately, there are quite a few kids out there still, that come from a family not affected by divorce, no major health issues, no significant school problems, plenty of friends, and a happy outlook on life.
To embellish something minor to sound life changing, while fulfilling the 3rd essay might enable a check in the box. It could however look trifling when compared to a genuine hardship or disastrous event.
The more I learn about the admissions process the more I suspect that there are major quals they look for, and I seriously doubt the number of essays has a thing to do with it.
The Rice Krispies/Cable TV illustration was meant as an over the top example of a ridiculous "hardship." Thanks for all the info about the process as it applied to your family. That says a lot about YOU!
I'm going to disagree and say that I would not come grasp at straws just come up with something to fill the space here. I personally think it looks worse to list something as a hardship that is trivial. I don't think it shows lack of motivation if you do not fill it out. DD did not complete it last year and was awarded her scholarship early in the cycle. Our Navy Scholarship Coordinator reviewed the application for both her and my DS and did not encourage either of them to fill it out.