<p>I have a pacemaker and was born with arrhythmia, so I'm taking one of my essays from another application (360 words) and using it to describe my circumstances in the "Additional Info" area of the Columbia app.
Will Columbia regard this as an essay? For those who attend Columbia now, did anyone attach an essay into the additional info area? I know it says you're not supposed to, but I'm just wondering.</p>
<p>Btw, Merry Christmas!</p>
<p>Why not follow the instructions? If you’re not admitted after submitting another essay, aren’t you going to wonder if your defiance was your downfall?</p>
<p>Ummmmm…what an aasssssshole to the person above. </p>
<p>You clearly have a legitimate condition and reason for using that space. I’m sure they just didn’t want people to write stuff like “please accept me. if you don’t…i might die!!!” Or include another long essay for them to read.</p>
<p>How about email them the essay or send it in an envelopt and put “Extra/Supplementary Essay” on top? Don’t make it long, as you already know.</p>
<p>In my opinion, you have a legitimate condition and writing about that condition would be acceptable. Why not shorten your 360 word essay a bit, to the basics?</p>
<p>pbr - you are a bit off here. the additional information is precisely meant for something of this form. need it be written as an essay, perhaps not (agree with jsweden). but at 360 words (or a page double spaced, half a page single) this sounds both pertinent and something that will be read.</p>
<p>from the horses mouth - the adcoms at columbia i’ve talked to mostly told me that though they can be harsh a bit on essays (wanting it to be self-contained, well-written), they usually read or at least scan anything written in the additional information, it is when things get exceedingly long (5 page resumes with unnecessary wordart, a high school essay on your love of mice) that they might not get to it. But something that is short, gets to the point, and explains briefly how the condition has impacted your life, will be helpful.</p>
<p>as we are on the subject, if you feel that at any point there is something not fully explained (an activity, what you did for the activity if perhaps you didn’t have a leadership position) that the additional information is your friend. please beware of making it too long or saying things that are obvious (i.e. telling the adcom what it means to be a member of Model UN might border on banality) so get someone to edit, but use the space to your advantage. my own personal recommendation on the subject - don’t use the space to explain away your own failings (i didn’t do well freshman year because of my condition, or i wasn’t elected president because i am not in the popular group). adcoms are smart people, they can read between the lines, if you mention the years in which you were out more than others because of illness they will make allowances, but it is when you ask for them to do so that you are stepping on their toes.</p>
<p>iffy and admissionsgeek, I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone, but I maintain the two questions I posed are worth answering by the OP.</p>
<p>My own Columbia son mentioned a medical condition in two or three sentences in the “Additional Information” section. (Something along the lines of “X happened to me. It won’t affect my college career.”) The OP’s question was whether he or she should use a 360-word essay from another application as “additional information.” Again, I invite him or her to answer (privately, of course) the two questions I posed.</p>
<p>The two questions you posed were rhetorical, so why would you ask someone to answer them? </p>
<p>A 360 word blurb is probably appropriate, but I might suggest trimming it down a little bit. I wouldn’t get caught up on this, the adcoms will probably read it and understand that you were genuinely concerned about your condition and its effects.</p>
<p>so would an essay of about 150 words be okay?</p>
<p>I think that you should ONLY attach some writing IF you have some condition or something irregular about your application that you must explain. I personally wouldn’t attach an essay of 150 words if it’s just about your favorite sport or activity.</p>
<p>jsweden, are you an admissions officer? </p>
<p>haha, kidding. no, i get it is what you would personally do, and saying why you love playing vball might not make sense, but if you work for a volunteer group, perhaps explaining the steps you take to set up a fundraiser gives clarity about your involvement more so than a name on a list.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would agree with you admissionsgeek for other “Additional Info” sections, but Columbia specifically said they don’t want additional essays, so I took this to mean no writing about volunteer activities etc. Not sure though, they might read it and be fine. For instance, do you think they would read the CommonApp’s short answer about an activity (150 words)?</p>
<p>i think that it would be fine, don’t mention it is another essay, make it seem like you wrote it for columbia specifically would be my only advice. but so long as it is not too verbose it will be read and will probably help you out.</p>
<p>they say in their sessions - give us as much as you think is appropriate, but be ‘judicious’ so one or two small extra bits is fine, a full on 5 page essay is not.</p>
<p>so it is okay even it is about a sport? or only okay if it is about volunteer work? mine is about swimming…</p>
<p>Typically, try to follow the instructions given on the application. For instance, I submitted a research plan in the additional information section, and I’m currently a SEAS '12 student.</p>
<p>However, when in doubt - feel free to shoot the admissions staff an email, they are very friendly.</p>
<p>i included an essay with my transcript about being a twin and the affect that has had. is that a unique enough situation to warrant an essay?
im not going to check “yes” on the supplementary materials question; the essay is just in the envelope with my letters and transcript. if they get to it thats great if not then thats fine too.</p>
<p>edit- i forgot my main question which is will this essay automatically get me rejected? i’ve heard that on this board and im kind of concerned.</p>
<p>“Absolutely not. Columbia does not ask for an additional essay, so why would you send one? Moreover, they seem to prize brevity; that’s the only rationale for the incredibly small character limits on the supplementary questions. I would be very surprised if you attached an additional essay and were not immediately rejected”</p>
<p>thats the post i was referring to. its from the “how many of you attahced a resume” thread.</p>
<p>thenatural: I can’t vouch for what necessitates an essay or just a few sentences, but I wanted to chime in for you to make sure however you choose to discuss it, that you talk about the “effect” having a twin has had on you, as opposed to the “affect”. Sorry, it’s in my nature as a journalist to be a prick about these things, but I’m assuming this is one of those grammatical things people always talk about here that admissions officers look for.</p>
<p>I would not submit the extra essay. If you feel that this “twin” essay is stronger, you may want to consider sumbitting it in lieu of your existing 500 word Columbia essay. Otherwise, submitting two essays could have a negatvie effect on your application. My interviewer even told me that Columbia prizes brevity and clarity in writing. They wish that you adhere to all of their guidelines. </p>
<p>I also recommend that you look at the Columbia admissions website. They spell out everything for you.</p>
<p>no problem goestowashington i always appreciate advice.</p>