<p>Greetings CC Community.
Let's start out with the prompt that is given in the Writing category under additional information in the Common App: "Please provide an answer below if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. You may enter up to 650 words."</p>
<p>I truly do not know what to write in this section.
Sure, the topic seems pretty self explanatory, but what EXACTLY are they asking us to write about? </p>
<p>Do some of you mind if you can provide topic examples of what you're writing about?
Possible last year applicants, current applications, or anyone else! </p>
<p>Also, in what format should we write this essay? Should I include a hook, fill it with elaborate language, add imagery, write it like another personal statement, etc or do I just flat out state or list the "details of circumstances?" </p>
<p>Note: I might write about my financial hardships at home, but I have no room on my common app to include this (my personal statement is on a subject entirely different). I am just having trouble formatting my topic of financial hardships into this last section. </p>
<p>Thank you for all your help!
Have a great day! </p>
<p>First off, let’s be clear: this essay is not required. In fact, you should only write about it If you’ve been through a hardship that has impacted your performance inside (or outside) of school. You should only write about financial hardships f they’ve had a large negative impact on your grades, etc. Even then, it may look better if your counsellor wrote about it. It’s just that financial hardships are very common and many students don’t mention them in their app at all - you just don’t want to look like you’re making excuses for yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable asking your counsellor to write about it for you, then I guess you can mention it, but you should only write a sentence or two about it “Due to my family’s financial circumstances, I wasn’t able to ___.” (Something like that). I hope this helps.</p>
<p>Typing on my phone so I apologise for any stupid typos. </p>
<p>EDIT I’m leaving it blank. Better to not make the adcom read more than they have to if you don’t have something super important to say. </p>
<p>@LAMuniv, I understand. Can this section be used to emphasize an EC? </p>
<p>It can, but again, unless it’s super important I wouldn’t recommend writing anything. If you do usebit to write about an EC, I’d just write a couple sentences about it. </p>
<p>Yes, many people use this section to elaborate on an EC that they are especially passionate about or that there was not enough space in the EC section to describe properly. Basically, use this section if you feel that the other sections did not provide adequate opportunity to convey something that you feel is very important for the adcom to know about you. Don’t just fill it in with something insignificant; leave it blank unless there’s something important you need -or want- to convey.</p>