<p>Just wondering if I can submit anything that gives more information about me as a person, or if it is really just for adding supplemental info concerning extenuating circumstances, other accomplishments, etc. The essay I have in mind does obviously give a good idea of who I am, but it's not close to any of the things they listed, and it doesn't sound like matches their idea of what the purpose of the essay is.
What do you guys think? / What did you do?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Now, I’m just a prospective student, so I don’t actually know for sure - you’ll still want to e-mail admissions with specific questions - but this is what I think:</p>
<p>The listed topics are just possible topics. I’m applying there as well, and I think they don’t give a prompt for a reason. Any well-written essay that can give them more of an idea of what kind of person you are (driven, yet-fun loving? diverse?) and how you would fit into and affect the Harvard community should do it. If you have a family situation that you can explain very briefly, I’d say include it in the Additional Info box. If you have an entire essay, upload it as a document.</p>
<p>My younger daughter, a sophomore at Harvard, is the most avid reader I’ve ever known. She had a list of books read for enjoyment in the previous year that was three and a half pages long, so she submitted that in place of her supplemental essay. It worked for her.</p>
<p>I think the list of books choice is only good if you’re a voracious reader and your book choices reflect something positive about you - intellectual curiosity, knowledge, etc. It’s probably not a common tack to take. gadad’s daughter is probably unique in that regard.</p>