<p>When people say that they sent a lot of stuff in, what exactly do they send to colleges to label themselves as having the largest file? I do not know if that could be a positive or negative thing so I am curious as to what people do to “max” out in the college process?</p>
<p>A lot of colleges limit you to how much extra stuff you can send, usually only one page of resume and/or art slids and music recordings</p>
<p>Don't send extra stuff if you can avoid it.</p>
<p>If you're an art/music major, ask if they want a sample of your work. If there's someone in your life who can't write a teacher recommendation because they weren't a teacher, but still knows you very well and would offer completely new insight into your qualifications and personality (that doesn't mean your parents :P), you may want to consider asking them to write a supplementary recommendation. Like I'm probably going to ask my debate club advisor because she's gotten to know a completely different side of me that my teachers don't always see.</p>
<p>In general, though, it's about quality, not quantity. Seriously. It's like sending as much <em>relevant</em> info as possible in as little space as possible.</p>
<p>It's a negative thing because with rare exception, colleges want you to provide the information that they want by giving the colleges exactly what they ask for. The colleges don't want a thick file filled with extras. The adcoms don't have time to wade through the extras. They want you to provide info on the application, with the required essays and recommendations. Most adcoms either toss out the extras or simply over look them (probably while being irritated that the applicant didn't bother to follow directions!).</p>
<p>The rare colleges that welcome extras make that clear in their application materials.</p>