Multiple questions, please help! Thanks

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>I have a few questions, I know they've probably been asked and they might seem annoying but I'm confused about a few things.</p>

<p>1) PRINCETON Supplement: When it asks for how you spend your summers, what are they looking for? It says not to include jobs or activities already detailed on the Common App, so what does that leave? Do they want to just know mundane things you do? Or travelling, etc? </p>

<p>2) PRINCETON Supplement: Under "A few details" it asks for your "favorite recording." What do they mean by recording? </p>

<p>3) PRINCETON Supplement: For the "Your voice" essay, is it better to choose your own quote? And do they want it properly cited? Oh, and do you have to write/print it on the blank page they give? :S</p>

<p>4) DARTMOUTH Supplement: Who should you get to fill out the Peer Evaluation? A close friend who will pretty much write whatever you ask them to, or someone who will honestly analyze you? </p>

<p>5) AMHERST Supplement: The supplemental essay says to respond to one of the quotes. I guess I don't really understand what they want. Am i interpreting the quote, or relating it to my life somehow?</p>

<p>6) HARVARD Supplement: There is a section that offers you the chance to write an additional essay. Is it a good idea to submit this optional additional essay? Or is it really only for people with extenuating circumstances of some sort?</p>

<p>7) HARVARD Supplement: I guess this is a pretty general question; when it asks for your summer programs (eg camps), it asks for hours/wk. If it was a camp that you stayed at and were constantly doing something, is an hr/wk estimate not applicable? Or should I estimate the hr/wk actually spent doing eg. research at a research camp?</p>

<p>8) General: Is it more advisable to write or type up your information if you are mailing? Are you supposed to mail all the forms together in one envelope (all forms that would logically be sent together)? When it says attach the application fee, are you actually supposed to staple the cheque onto the application forms?</p>

<p>I'm really sorry if these seem like stupid questions, and I know I have alot of them :). Obviously I dont expect anyone to answer all of them. Any advice or answers are welcomed :) Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>I won’t attempt to advise you on the content of your app and supplements but, in regards to question #8, colleges would much rather you submit your application online, not via mail. It is a LOT easier for the colleges if you submit online.</p>

<p>Another bit of advice I’ll toss out: if you have any doubts or concerns about how to answer a question or submit materials, call the admissions office and ask! They will appreciate you being proactive and trying to get your application right <em>before</em> you submit.</p>

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<p>Half of these are entirely up to you. In the college admissions process you really have to break away and think for yourself. The adcoms want to see you so write what you think.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the advice. I just started up a CommonApp account online. It does look like online is a little easier, organisation-wise :)</p>

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<p>Glad to hear :slight_smile: The only trouble I had with the online app was the organization of the ECs section, but I’m sure you’ll be fine :)</p>

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<p>If you do the common app online, then I recommend doing the supplemental applications online as well. A lot of schools prefer if you send everything online. It’s a lot less likely to get lost in the shuffle.</p>

<p>If you have questions about specific supplemental applications I suggest you contact the admissions committees.</p>

<p>College confidential has online boards for specific schools. They might be able to help you there:
Princeton: [Princeton</a> University - College Discussion](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/]Princeton”>Princeton University - College Confidential Forums)
Dartmouth: [Dartmouth</a> College - College Discussion](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/dartmouth-college/]Dartmouth”>Dartmouth College - College Confidential Forums)
Amherst: [Amherst</a> College - College Discussion](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/]Amherst”>Amherst College - College Confidential Forums)
Harvard: [Harvard</a> University - College Discussion](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/]Harvard”>Harvard University - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>