I wrote an essay about one thing I learned from my high school experience (personal; it’s one of the things that the AdComs often talk about…“things that neither scores or grades can tell”), and I want AdComs to read it (it’s about my personal growth etc etc) as a part of my application.
But I have a different idea for the main Common App essay. I want to write about my background and what I learned from it/how I grew from it because it’s a big part of my story. (I haven’t written it yet, I’m still making outlines)
Will the AdComs read both (I assume they’ll put more emphasis on the main essay still) and care about both when reviewing my application?
Edit: it’s around 650 words
They won’t read an extra essay, and likely will ding you for including it. Don’t do it. They read Addl Info looking for concise, factual additions to the application. Not extra essays.
@intparent What do you mean by “concise, factual additions to the application”?
I think what @intparent means is that if you write one or two lines of factual information that can be read quickly (ex. I missed two months of school junior year due to illness) that is fine. Writing second essay because you have two good topics is not fine.
You get one chance at your college essay. Admissions officers are swamped, have little time to review each application, and are absolutely not looking for extra essays to read.
Okay thank you @happy1 (but I hope writing multiple drafts will at least help at the end…?)
Many people draft a couple of different essays and then choose the best one to put in the application.
@geekgurl Many colleges have supplemental essays, so if you have an additional story to tell that would be the place to put it.
Supplemental essays are often college specific so it will be important to answer the specific questions that are asked.
@happy1 That’s true that many colleges have college-specific essays such as the “Why this college?” essays or Stanford’s famous roommate essay, but for many colleges the questions are general and you can spin a particular essay to answer their question – especially if it is about something like personal growth or a person’s background.
@shawnspencer Agreed – as long as the OP answers the question posed in the supplemental essay within the stipulated word count that is fine. And I also completely agree that (when available) the supplemental essay will be another place where the OP can tell a piece of his/her story.
Some supplemental essays give more leeway in terms of content than others, some supplemental essays are longer than others etc. Given the original question I just wanted to let the OP know that it is unlikely that the supplemental essay will be a place to just plop in a second essay that is completely of his/her choice in terms of content/length etc…
The “additional information” is called “additional information” NOT “additional essay.”
It should be used to explain gaps in education, need for modified schedule because of illness or EC activities, or specific achievements that you could not include elsewhere in your application.