<p>On the Education page of the Common App, my son has checked the box that says that he is currently taking a gap year. He graduated in June, is overseas on his gap year now (doing volunteer social work in Germany), is applying to colleges this fall and will begin college in fall 2013.</p>
<p>How should he use the opportunity he has to upload a document about his gap year on the Common App? Should he write a regular 500 word essay expounding on what he is doing overseas and how he is growing and learning as a result? He is applying to competitive schools so they will already have the Common App essay and the essay from each school's respective Supplement. Would a 3rd essay be overkill?</p>
<p>If he doesn't write an essay for this, what other kind of document should he upload?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>