how much is too much for common app additional info

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>The additional info allows you to up a document and I have the following options:</p>

<ul>
<li>an additional essay (about a influential figure in my life) - about 500 words</li>
<li>a short list of random things about me that aren't reflected anywhere else in the app</li>
<li>a resume with additional activities that I couldn't fit into the activities section</li>
<li>a business plan (20 pages) I wrote for a regional competition (which I won) and I plan on using this plan to start up my own summer business in 2010 (note: harvard asks for supplementary material and that if it is electronic it should be uploaded in this section. Would this be good for supplementary material?)</li>
</ul>

<p>Is it a good idea to put all of them in one document and upload that?
Will it be too much and will it affect my application negatively?
If all of those is too much, which ones are the strongest to put in?</p>

2

<p>bump, any suggestion would be appreciated</p>

3

<p>I put two short paragraphs on very important ECs. I’d also like to know what everyone else did.</p>

<p>Oh, and the business plan.Probably not a good idea</p>

4

<p>do you think the business plan is too long or just not impressive enough?</p>

5

<p>I think a business plan is too long, it’s not like they’re going to sit and read it all.</p>

<p>Mine was 2 or 3 short-ish paragraphs that gives a bit more context to my application. Less than a page. Not proper essay style, but not bullet points.</p>

6

<p>i’ve written some paragraphs about my ECs too
i guess i might as well just talk about the business plan in there</p>

<p>any other suggestions?</p>

7

<p>You’re allowed to upload a document OR fill in the box with 2000 characters limit. So the document probably shouldn’t exceed the character limit either - that gives you space for about 300 or 400 words. No essay, no business plan. Just important additional information.</p>

8

<p>You might consider uploading an EXCERPT from your business plan, rather than the whole thing. I also don’t think that the 300 or 400 word limit holds true for uploaded documents–otherwise, why not just write it in the box the application already provided? The more substantial file size limit alone indicates, to me, that it’s for more substantial files. I uploaded a complete resume and 12- page writing portfolio no problem, and I know people who have been admitted after uploading similarly substantial documents (unique and interesting ones, not just a random list of activities). Don’t amalgamate everything into one crazy-long document, though–it’s better to have a distinct focus in the Additional Info section.</p>

9

<p>I know several applicants are adding a resume that expands upon their activities. Mine is two pages, but it is formatted and bulleted so it is not the same as a two page paper.</p>

10

<p>Put yourself in the admissions officer’s shoes. Would you really read all that?
Make it short and simple.</p>

11

<p>I just listed a few awards that didn’t fit elsewhere. No one is going to want to read a 20 page business plan, and my college counselor suggested that colleges might be annoyed to see someone flaunt their guidelines with a ton of unasked for supplements.</p>

12

<p>^ That’s a good idea. My counselor recommended against sending in supplements unless they are amazing (such as a recording of your world-class piano skills) or your supplement is very brief and concise (I think like yours, 2010student, a list of extra awards or whatever).</p>

13

<p>so I shouldn’t attach an essay? I have a few essays for others schools that I’ve applied to that I like very much.</p>

14

<p>Dont add extra essays, they already asked you for the essays they wanted in the supplement</p>

15

<p>i have a chart that neatly organizes all my activities,
i also wrote a few paragraphs talking about my activities (why i did them and what i learned) - it’s about 500 words
it all comes to two pages - good or too much?</p>

16

<p>Oof
I dont know if you want to take a risk with 2 pages of extra stuff. I honestly dont know if itll help or hurt you. Hopefully you make the right decision. Best of luck</p>

17

<p>so do you guys think just a brief list of the extra awards / ec’s that couldn’t fit elsewhere will be enough? I don’t want to have to go through the process of making a resume but I could if i really needed to…</p>

18

<p>Two pages is fine. A twenty page business plan on the other hand…</p>

19

<p>What about an activities list? It will go more in depth into my awards and my accomplishments, etc.</p>

20

<p>Mine was short and simple- I explained a discrepancy about EC’s. Came to less than 100 words. It was good enough for Brown.</p>