Optional Essay - Good to call out weaknesses?

[guest]

Admissions Consultants,

For the optional essay, is it a good idea to draw them to our weaknesses, such as a low gpa or GMAT score? Is it good to place this extra emphasis on this score and try to mitigate the score by highlighting our strengths?

Or is it a better idea to just use the optional essay to elaborate more on strengths we have not addressed in the other essays, and completely ignore mentioning our low gpa/gmat?

How do admissions view this essay?

Thanks

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

Almost always, this space should be used for candidates to explain problem areas in a contrite and brief manner. You should explain what happened (whether you had a bad grade, a bad year, a gap in your academic career, a brief stint with a company that did not work, etc.) and take responsibility so that the AdCom can understand your experience and get past it. This is not the place to paste in a solid essay from another school! In very unusual circumstances, if there is something absolutely extraordinary that simply did not fit within the school’s essay questions, then you might use this space to discuss a strength. We make a recommendation for a candidate to use a space in that way, once or twice each year. It is very rare.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
MBA Mission Insider’s Guides: www.mbamission.com/store.php

Admissions Consultants,

For the optional essay, is it a good idea to draw them to our weaknesses, such as a low gpa or GMAT score? Is it good to place this extra emphasis on this score and try to mitigate the score by highlighting our strengths?

Or is it a better idea to just use the optional essay to elaborate more on strengths we have not addressed in the other essays, and completely ignore mentioning our low gpa/gmat?

How do admissions view this essay?

Thanks