<p>mlee88: It's on the third page with a few free responses. One is the essay. One is academic honors. One is a paragraph on your favorite/important EC, and one is additional info.</p>
<p>Do people normally put an extra essay in the additional info section or what? Becuase I have an important activity I'd like to mention briefly in essay form (its about 290 words) but I dunno if this will be looked on positively.</p>
<p>if you want to submit your app electronically, how do you attach a resume or anything else you might need to include? can you just scan it on the computer and somehow attach it to the application??</p>
<p>"I wrote a really good essay about the loss of one of my pets, and I figured it fit the requirement for "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you." but my parents don't think it does. Should I still use it and submit it under the topic of your choice category or use the significant experience one?"
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but pet death essays are horribly cliched. You might want to rethink your essay, or submit that and another. Read Harry Bauld's book for more info.</p>
<p>I agree with ashernm. I don't want to sound harsh, but you don't want the adcoms to think you view the death of a pet as the single most moving event in your 18-year existence. Isn't there something a little more serious (as in, has an impact on your life beyond a few shed tears) that you could write about?</p>
<p>QUESTION: On parts of the app where you can't answer (i.e parent's college name for first generation applicants) do you leave it blank or put "N/A"?</p>
<p>banana - I dont know
hamster, it doesnt have to be something that has had an impact on you. Many of the heralded essays I've seen are just about describing an experience that conveys your personality.</p>
<p>anyone?????</p>
<p>sometimes I put a small dash where you leave it blank</p>
<p>Hey, can someone please help me with this question: My parents are divorced and I haven't spoken to my father in about 5 years and he doesn't even know I'll be applying this year. Um, I don't even know where he lives anymore and I most certainly won't be asking for financial assistance from him. So basically, all I could fill out on the common app would be the college he attended. How should I let my colleges know about my situation?</p>
<p>Write a brief note in the additional information section.</p>
<p>Are you sure that's enough? Anyone else have a suggestion?</p>
<p>I've heard that you can fill out one common application counselor/teacher recommendation and simply photocopy it...but I also heard that some universities absolutely do not accept photocopied applications...</p>
<p>Which is indeed true here???</p>
<p>I have a few questions
1) For the question about being a candidate for financial aid, that is need based right?
2) Someone said Death essays are usually cliche, but what if the death was a parent and greatly affected my life, and seems like something I can more easily right about compared to the other topics, is it that bad to write a death essay?
3) I think this last one could help others, not just me. What are some "choose you own topic" essay topics you have used?
Thanks</p>
<p>"I agree with ashernm. I don't want to sound harsh, but you don't want the adcoms to think you view the death of a pet as the single most moving event in your 18-year existence. Isn't there something a little more serious (as in, has an impact on your life beyond a few shed tears) that you could write about?"</p>
<p>Frankly, it is probably one of the most impacting things in my life. I'm pretty boring. However, it wasn't a death of pet essay, it was my bird that flew away, and half the essay is devoted to how that's worse then when a pet dies because you have absolutely no control over what is happenening to him, and that my greatest fear is loss of control. So it's not just a "my pet died" type essay. Does this make it any better?</p>
<p>Okay, I know colleges say, WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE COMMON APP, but are they telling the truth? If I were an admissions officer and had two equal applicants I would choose the one who filled out my college's specific application because he or she showed more intrest.</p>
<p>I mean right on the common app is says "you won't be discriminated against for the following information" right above the part where you fill in your race, gender etc. Obviously they do discriminate against the information, if I am native american and from south dakota, Hello Harvard. If I am a white female form New York City its at least 5x as hard.</p>
<p>Even your parents went to a school in a different country (e.g. korea) do you write some college or the exact name of the college?</p>
<p>You write the exact name and all the information they ask for - why wouldn't you?</p>
<p>I don't know the official english name so I will have to translate it myself which will make the name sort of weird.</p>
<p>tbry23m
for that exact same reason, my counselor told to use the university's app if available and not the common app. He did say that other counselors think differently.
B/c of my counselor, i'm just going to use the CA for non-exclusive-CA-colleges.</p>