Harvard Supplemental Materials

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>Harvard allows you to submit "supplemental works" such as research papers/ artistic works.
I am currently taking a sophomore level class at a local prestigious liberal arts college, and I have written several essays for this class, one of which i am especially proud of. I received an A- on the paper, is it worth it to send this work in?
I talked to a Harvard alumn and he said that there is a chance this paper could hurt more than help. </p>

<p>Thank you in advance,</p>

2

<p>I respectfully suggest that you consider the advantages and disadvantages of submitting this/these essays for a few years. You may (or may not) apply to Harvard, you may have better supplemental materials, Harvard’s policy re additional submissions may change, and so forth. You’d obviously better better served now to focus on achieving real excellence in all you do as a sophomore, rather than pondering a decision that may be required in two years.</p>

3

<p>@TopTier He (or she) didn’t say he is a sophomore in high school, only that he is taking a sophomore level class at a liberal arts college. That sounds like something a senior or maybe junior would be doing.</p>

<p>@degeneratetoast‌ I wouldn’t. If your application essays are your best work then that should be enough. By all means, send it if you want to, but I don’t think that’s the kind of supplement they’re looking for. I personally would be afraid of overdoing it by sending in more unnecessary essays.</p>

4

<p>@degeneratetoast‌: When you submit extra materials with your application – be it a music or art supplement, research paper, or literary writing – your extra materials are then compared to ALL OTHER STUDENTS who have submitted similar materials. I’m sure some applicants will be submitting their literary writing to Harvard that have won prestigious national literary contests, such as <a href=“Scholastic Teaching Tools | Resources for Teachers”>Scholastic Teaching Tools | Resources for Teachers. Your essay, however wonderful, will be DIRECTLY compared to theirs. Therefore, because your writing has received a grade of A-, but has NOT won a national award, you run the risk that it will DETRACT from your overall application. Harvard doesn’t address this issue on their website, but Yale does. I would heed their advice

Having not won a national award with your writing might work against you.</p>