3 Reasons to Write an Optional Essay

Is the optional essay really optional?

It depends, experts say.

“For some prospective business school students, the optional essay is a chance to explain any shortcomings in your application,” Lana Silanteva, an mba.com featured contributor and the Co-Founder and Head of Verbal at 700+CLUB, says. “For others, the optional essay can help set you apart from other applicants and strengthen your candidacy.”

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently highlighted a few situations where an optional essay might make sense to include.

WEAK GRADES

An optional essay can help explain academic shortcomings, such as a low undergraduate GPA.

“Briefly explain the situation in the optional business school application essay and focus the balance of your essay on looking forward,” Blackman says. “Show what you have done recently to prove your skills and intelligence. For example, if you have a new, higher GMAT score or took classes in calculus or statistics, you have a solid case for improved academics.”

EMPLOYMENT GAPS

If you have month-long gaps in your resume, an optional essay can provide some explanation as to how you spent that time.

“Did you use that time off to volunteer in Guatemala or care for an ailing parent? Perhaps you used the time away to focus on an entrepreneurial dream, unencumbered by the 9-to-5 grind,” Blackman says. “Ideally, you can point to additional education, training, volunteering, or traveling that you engaged in while unemployed.”

ADDITIONAL INFO

While your application as a whole should tell a full-picture story of yourself, there may be situations where additional information can be included in an optional essay.

“If you are a reapplicant, the optional essay is the ideal place to explain what you have done to strengthen your case for admission since your last application,” Blackman says. “Think of things such as receiving a promotion, which would signal career development and leadership. Even if you don’t have a clear-cut story to describe, you can use this space to explain how you have improved your thinking, career goals, or fit.”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, mba.com

Next Page: Harvard Business School announces new fund for educational diversity.