<p>I'm submitting my application today and wondering if I can send in a paper I wrote that is my best work. It is five pages long though (double spaced), and I'm not sure if that is too long. It's not a year long paper or anything major, but it is really interesting (a Machiavellian perspective of Pride and Prejudice).</p>
<p>Should I submit this even though I am already submitting an additional essay in the supplement?</p>
<p>A quick reply would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks</p>
<p>If you think it’s good and that it tells Harvard something it wouldn’t otherwise know about who you are, send it in.</p>
<p>I would ask admissions. You don’t have to give a name.</p>
<p>Sending something extra can just be annoying for admissions folks, since that is more for them to look at and read. And if every student who wrote a good paper, sent it in with their application, that would add a lot of bulk to their work.</p>
<p>However, if the paper really reveals a lot about you, and your writing skills or insights, it is possible that they will encourage you to send it.</p>
<p>I would just pick up the phone and ask.</p>
<p>The question is, just how good is that paper?</p>
<p>If it’s an ordinary A paper that would earn any high school author an A, don’t send it. They can see the A on your transcript, and it casts doubt on your judgment if you think that it’s a good use of their time to read the A papers applicants write.</p>
<p>If it’s truly special – a paper that reveals that you are a strikingly original thinker – then by all means, send it. What did your teacher say about it? If you wrote a paper that will help you get into Harvard, then my guess is that your teacher took you aside to tell you how brilliant it was, or read it to the class, or something on that order. If nothing like that happened…it’s probably just an A paper.</p>
<p>Harvard can’t answer this question.</p>
<p>Based on your description I would not advise sending it. I would ask the English teacher if he/she could talk about the interesting paper in your recommendation letter (assuming the English teacher is writing one of your letters).</p>
<p>Personally, if I was an admissions officer, the last thing I’d want to read is a class paper. </p>
<p>The quality of class papers - now matter how brilliant your high school teacher thinks it is, will probably be incredibly subpar in comparison to the undergrad/grad level papers the Adcom is familiar with. </p>
<p>I’d suggest another personal essay over a class paper (if you have to send supplementary material at all).</p>