Help with Supplemental Essay!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am having some issues writing the supplemental essay. I know it's already right on the deadline, but this is the last anything I have to do for college. Yeah! I also tend to think better under pressure :)</p>

<p>Anyway, I am thinking of writing about a very meaningful volunteering experience I had. I don't want to say exactly what I am thinking of writing about, but I can say that I will relate the experience of the individuals I helped to my own life and then to the political state of the US. It sounds strange now with so little information, but trust me, it will work. </p>

<p>Do you think I should expand on an extracurricular activity when I already wrote about an extracurricular activity in the small 150 word essay/paragraph? Yes, those will be two different activities, but I don't want to sound redundant or excessive. What exactly does Harvard want to me to write in the optional, supplemental essay? Or, what are they looking for? Should I just follow one of their suggestions?</p>

<p>The idea I am thinking of would be a mid-large essay, possibly 500-600 words. Is that too long? </p>

<p>Thank you for any opinions! I just need someone else, possibly someone who has already applied or knows someone who has applied, to give an opinion on the matter!</p>

2

<p>

No, because another essay on the same subject would be duplicative.</p>

<p>

Harvard’s supplemental essay is something extra, if you want to write one – many students are admitted to Harvard without writing a supplemental essay. </p>

<p>If you write a supplemental essay, your goal should be to write about something that Admissions cannot glean from the rest of your application. For example, five years ago when my daughter was accepted, she wrote her Common App essay about religion – or, rather the lack of it in her life. Her 150-word EC essay was about her participating in cheerleading at a math and science specialized school, and all the strange looks she received in the hallways. Her supplemental essay was about performing on stage-- always dreaming of the spotlight, but when cast in a leading role, she had to overcome a bad case of stage fright. </p>

<p>Bottom line: If you cannot think of anything else to write about because you covered all other possible topics, then you are done and should submit your application without a supplemental essay. </p>

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<p>Thank you so much @gibby‌ ! Your advice is wonderful. </p>