neo656 wrote:
spiceguy wrote:
Hi Folks,
Am I supposed to submit optional essay if I chose former direct supervisor and not the current direct supervisor?
'If you are not selecting a direct supervisor as your recommender, please address why in the optional essay.' does not address former and current supervisor difference.
Thanks.
I think won't do any harm if you write a line or two to explain the choice.
I used the space to highlight my ECs, since there was no other space allocated for them.
I applied in R1 - didn't use a current supervisor (used a former), and didn't explain it anywhere. Also, DO NOT use the optional essay to talk about your ECs (unless they will SIGNIFICANTLY enhance your candidacy). The AdCom explicitly said not to do that when I visited, they want you to talk about it in the interview (or essays).