Every fall, I find myself responding to one question more than any other: The college says this is “optional” – how do I know if I’m really supposed to do it?
The world of “optional” in college admissions has expanded far beyond “test optional” – the optional submission of SAT or ACT scores. Working through an average-length college list of 8-12 schools, a student might be confronted by any number of “optional” aspects of the application. Among them:
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- Optional resume
- Optional supplemental essay(s)
- Optional test scores
- Optional upload of your “unofficial” high school transcript
- Optional Common App essay
- Optional “my space” page to include “anything else that might add to your application”
And even after the student submits the application, they might be confronted by a new list of “optional” credentials in the application portal. Among them:
- Optional completion of a Self-Reported Academic Record (or STARS)
- Optional “getting to know you” video, through Glimpse or another platform
- Additional optional supplemental essays
- Optional alumni interviews
With so much noise and confusion, how should students make rational decisions about what to do? How can they decide what’s worth their time? How can they eliminate what can be avoided? And, how can they make choices that won’t negatively impact their decision?
My advice is simple:
Complete the optional items that genuinely help you tell your story, and skip the ones that create more stress than benefit.
To break it down even further, try a “decision tree” with these three questions:
Is this an “easy” ask for something I already have in hand?
Will doing this allow me to shine?
Can I complete it thoughtfully without getting overwhelmed?
Let’s take the optional resume as an example…:
Some students have a resume that is easily accessible and on hand. These students should go ahead and upload their most recent resume document. Other students might not. For these students, will the resume they write simply repeat the required Activities List? If so, then it doesn’t provide any additional context to allow the student to shine, and therefore they should skip it. However, should a student have additional context to provide that the Activities List did not provide the space to cover, then the resume should be made and uploaded.
What about the optional alumni interview…:
Students definitely don’t have an interview “on hand” for an easy upload. However, for almost all students, an opportunity to have a conversation (in person or on zoom) with an alumni of the college would be a wonderful opportunity to shine and show their personality. Students can next ask, “Would this 30-45 minute conversation cause me great stress and anxiety?” and if the answer to that is “no” or “only a little bit,” then they should go ahead and sign up for that interview.
In conclusion:
No doubt about it, “optional” options add to the stress, chaos, and confusion already woven into the college application process. When you are confronting whether or not to submit an optional item, think carefully about the value-add and the “cost” of your time. Check in with your counselor or other trusted adults to see what they think. Keep in mind that in this, as with most things, there is no single “correct” answer that applies equally to all students. Just do your best and trust yourself!