I plan on using this section to clear up some things that 1. I might not have enough room for 2. Are unexplained otherwise 3 are important but weren’t able to be explained somewhere else in the application. What constitutes a “helpful” additional information section? Also, what sort of examples of additional information are not helpful and don’t need to be included?
Keep it brief but also nail down anything that needed to be said. I used the section to describe some of the courses that had an impact on me. For example, my Humanities letter came from one of my teachers, Dr. Kandel, who taught three courses over the interval of my Sophomore - Senior years (“Humanities 1 Honors”, “Humanities 2 Honors”, and “Classical Literature Honors”). From the names alone, they may sound generic, so I used the space to show how these courses impacted my appreciation of the arts and culture of Europe and how it improved my critical thinking skills.
A different example is that I took and completed AP Macroeconomics as an online course through FLVS with an A; however, I will not receive credit until May after the exam. As a result, “AP Macroeconomics” would not appear on the official transcript sent to MIT. Thus, I explained this very briefly in the Additional Information Section as not to avoid confusion. One more example: I linked a website that I worked on for a group research project. I showed the website to my interviewer but felt I should include it in my application for the Admission Officers to view. I did not mention the large research project anywhere else in my application because, not only did I have so many other things to talk about, but the Large Research Project was a major segment of my interview.
EDIT: What doesn’t need to be included? Practically anything that you feel wouldn’t be useful for the admission officers to get a better picture of who you are. Be as brief as possible but make sure you explain anything that you want the admission officers to know when reviewing your application.
@obitosigma Just be myself huh? Hm, where have I heard that before? Maybe all this “applying sideways” stuff is true. No, but seriously, thanks for the helpful advice. With luck, we might just be in the same class next year.
But additionally, just to ease my anxiety, I’ll propose some examples and, if you would be so kind, tell me if you think they are helpful to admissions.
Example 1: Just clearing up some transcript things like explaining why I couldn’t take a year-long math course senior year and why there was a year gap in my Arabic studies. I think this is useful and fine. It limits confusion.
2: I care about music a lot, band, orchestra, jazz band, section leader in each, state awards, blah blah blah, ( they already know that stuff) but I didn’t get a chance to talk about why it means so much to me, and I think it’s very important to what I am. Good place to talk about it?
3: Additional culture background information- My parents are first generation Americans, and I, before the civil war broke out, spent my summer times (the whole summer) in Syria, I talked about these experiences a lot in the interview, so I don’t know If I would be wasting the office’s time. Thoughts?
Sure. Sometimes the school profile provides a list of rigorous courses (like AP, IB, and post-AP), but often, the school profile does not provide any indication of what courses are available. So if you took the most rigorous math course in your school Junior year, then explaining would have to be done.
@obitosigma To the best of my knowledge, the number of AP courses offered is a mandatory question in the secondary school report. I’ve seen it in past PDFs, and it’s common in SSRs of other schools (again, according to publicly available PDF documents.)
I would list few explanations of ‘Why I couldn’t.’ If you must, and you sound like it is critical to you to do so, do it briefly and without personal excuse. I would suppose fleeing a civil war, or being in the midst of it, would pretty much offer up an incredible, powerful, reason for many gaps to be present in your student profile.
That you are applying, have engaged in and had success in your musical side, which you state will be noted and visible, is reason enough to let those instances speak for themselves. No need to say ‘Why I didn’t get a senior year invitation to large music hall,’ or anything like that.
It sounds like you have a legitimate reason to draw admission committee members’ attention to the Additional Comments section, but don’t dwell on, and draw their attention to, all the reasons you are not/have not/ could not.
Remind them, if your other essays do not address it already, of all you have done in your student life, and all you are now grateful to be able to continue to do, having your life and your liberty.
Good luck to you.
@Waiting2exhale I’m thinking the same thoughts in terms of the “have nots/ could nots.” I feel I’m walking a tight line with providing useful context and making excuses. I’d like to believe that my comments align more with the “context” group of additional information. I’ll keep such statements brief.
In terms of music, the plan is to go with something (vaguely) along the lines of “I participate in music because of … and that has affected me …”
Since the application suggests using the additional information section if there is need to address culture further, I think it’s a fine idea.
Note: the “civil war” comment is just about me and my family not being able to visit Syria anymore during the summers, so It wouldn’t really address any gaps in student profile.
Thanks for the post and the luck!