<p>Basically, I had two topics I wanted to write about for the "world you come from" and "life experience" essays for my UC application. I wrote my first essay - world you come from - and it was roughly 650 words. Even though it was a little bit long, everyone who read it said it was very solid, and they really enjoyed it just the way it was (and recommended I don't cut it). It's definitely the stronger of the two. For my second essay, I was hoping to write about an experience very personal to me, but I felt like the additional 350 words wouldn't do the topic justice. So, I picked another life experience and wrote about that instead. It's definitely another important, life-shaping kind of thing (a relatively rare chronic illness and how it was diagnosed), but I'm a little disappointed that I could only scratch the surface with 350 words. I took a more witty edge to it, because I didn't want to try and get all serious with such a small word limit. </p>
<p>Would it look bizarre if I used the 550 words in the additional details section to write a third essay about the second of the two topics I was originally passionate about? I wrote the first draft, but I'm concerned that putting it in would look a bit strange. It's kind of a world you come from, life experience thing bundled into one (my experience having an identical twin), and I feel like it's a huge part of my life that's shaped who I am and my future aspirations - and should thus be mentioned. </p>
<p>I'm not sure what the additional details section entails. Is it a place to list achievements (bullet point style)? Is it a lot more informal than the other sections? Or do you fill out the additional details section in the same well-written essay style you used during the first two personal statements? </p>
<p>Thanks! </p>