求助NN分析，Optional Essay的问题

EileenPrince

大家好，我准备申MSF～很多学校有一篇optional essay，比如这几个学校：

UR: Share any information that you think is important in the evaluation of your application, including any concerns you think the Admissions Committee may have regarding your application.


UMD: Please use this essay to provide the admissions committee with additional information that will assist us in evaluating your candidacy (for example, an explanation for gaps in employment history or an undergraduate degree grade point average that is less than 3.0).


Vanderbilt: a. You are strongly encouraged to provide an additional statement to clarify and explain any of the following: gaps of more than three months in full-time employment, lack of recommendation from your current or most recent supervisor, limited full-time work experience (ignore if you are a recent undergraduate), poor academic performance, weak test scores, academic misconduct, violations of the law, or anything else you think is important for the Admissions Committee to know about you that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application. Applicants reactivating a previous application submitted within the last two years should provide their additional statement here. b. You may provide in the space below any additional information you would like for us to consider that would strengthen your application.


然后我想问问学校是只想看到申请人写“解释型”的essay么，比如GPA较低，转专业，木有实习之类的么？如果我写点别的、非解释型的内容，学校会不喜欢么？除了解释缺陷，还可以写点哪方面的内容“锦上添花”么～


有木有前辈可以分享一下自己当时optional essay写了哪些内容呀？感谢 ><

EileenPrince

顶一下。。。

MO`MO`

顶个~~

xyolandas

“As we've seen, there are two basic categories for optional essays-the bad and the good. The bad encompasses all the "clarification" and "extenuating circum- stances" topics; the kinds of things you're likely to discuss only because failing to will raise admissions officers' suspicions. The good is everything else-the purely discretionary topics that you choose because they will tell the schools something new and important.

Whichever category you choose, remember that it's only human nature for the readers to approach your optional essay with slightly less gusto than they read your first, so be as direct and concise as possible. Since you are giving them an unrequired essay on an "invitation-only" basis, you should spend at least as much time on it as on a required essay. The added quality you give it can resus- citate the readers' waning attention and overcome their natural skepticism about an "extra" essay.”

quote from "Great application essays for b-school"

EileenPrince

多谢回复～那我列出来的这几个学校都算是bad那类的么。。。我觉得想罗村这个就不好判断呀

wxl19910202

Whichever category you choose, remember that it's only human nature for the readers to approach your optional essay with slightly less gusto than they read your first, so be as direct and concise as possible. Since you are giving them an unrequired essay on an "invitation-only" basis, you should spend at least as much time on it as on a required essay. The added quality you give it can resus- citate the readers' waning attention and overcome their natural skepticism about an "extra" essay.”