Harvard Supplement ambiguity

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Supplement says:</p>

<p>"Additional Essays</p>

<hr>

<p>Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If there is something you would like us to know, please inform us below. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so. "</p>

<p>And then it lists possible topics:</p>

<ul>
<li>Unusual circumstances in your life </li>
<li>Travel or living experiences in other countries </li>
<li>A letter to your future college roommate </li>
<li>An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper or research topic) that has meant the most to you </li>
<li>How you hope to use your college education </li>
<li>A list of the books you have read during the past twelve months.</li>
</ul>

<p>Does it mean that I am restricted to these topics? Or is it only possible suggestions?</p>

<p>What do you think of writing a letter to future college roommate?</p>

2

<p>These are only suggestions. You may write what you want. A letter to a future college roommate-that was the one that caught my attention!</p>

3

<p>Be creative about it! There are no restrictions!</p>

4

<p>What are you telling the admissions committee by doing that? Why would this letter be the best way to tell them those things? Both serious, non-rhetorical questions. If you have good answers, go for it. If it’s “uhh…”, switch the form of your supplement or be one of the many people, accepted at no less a rate than the others, who don’t submit a supplemental essay.</p>