Hello All,
I am a rising senior and like many seniors, have created a Common App account. As I have begun filling it out, I noticed the additional information section and would like to know the types of things I should put in this section. What types of things belong here? Some possible ideas I have for myself include:
- Took an Open Yale Course (online class, Econ 252).
- Completed IB Class in one year instead of the typical two years.
- I take 4HL's and 2SL's instead of 3HL's and 3SL's as required by the IB.
- A copy of my IB Extended Essay abstract.
I definitely think #1 belongs. Any feedback? What other types of accomplishments can we put in this section? Keep in mind the word limit is 650, yet I also don’t want to annoy the admissions officers with irrelevant information.
Additional Information is usually for things like extenuating circumstances, places where you go and explain deficiencies in your grades, EC’s, etc. if you have a valid excuse like an illness, family issues and the sort.
For example, if I had to work 40 hours a week suddenly because my dad’s shop went bankrupt and my grades dropped, I could use the additional information section to explain myself and give context to my bad grades.
Number 1 might be a good essay topic, or it should be on your transcript. I personally don’t think it belongs in the additional information section.
Number 4 belongs in the academic supplement section which you can submit to most schools.
Number 2 doesn’t really belong. I guess you can have your counselor or teacher write it in his or her recommendation letter.
Number 3 again in a rec letter from your counselor
None of those should be included there.
For anything that you think may help your application but cannot be put in any other area.
Additional information can be used for any of the items you listed in 1 thru 4, or extenuating circumstances (as rdeng2614 explained above) or whatever you want to include. Since the space on the Common Application to list extra-curricular activities, work experience, and honors and awards is so limited, my son elaborated a bit more in-depth ie., a few additional sentences and/or mini-paragraph for about 3 or 4 highlights of his work experience and involvement and accomplishments in significant extra-curricular activities. He briefly described what he did and how or why each were meaningful to him or how it helped him gain important skills. Its okay if you exceed the word limit by a little–Adcoms are not going to count each and every word, but in addition to your content they will evaluate if you used good judgment in what you decided to include in this section. So be judicious in what you choose to include, and stay as close as you can to the word limit.
@trackmbe3 I’m pretty sure that now the Common App doesn’t let you go over the word limit. If you go over it just cuts off.