<p>So I've been looking on CC and it seems as everyone who's applying to or has been accepted to top tier schools have had some amazing addition to their application. They either get a great special interest recommendation for the five instruments they can play or they send an amazing video of them singing like Beyonce to the admissions office. So my question is, does it hurt your chances if you don't send in any extra documents? Do most applicants send in extra stuff or vice versa? Thanks.</p>
<p>I’d be careful about sending extra materials. It could backfire on you, as admissions officers are hard pressed to get through all the heaps of applications they receive and do not relish the idea of spending even more time per student to review them. Look at the individual school websites to see if supplementary materials are welcome. If it is unclear, you can always ask before submitting. </p>
<p>hth!</p>
<p>This might not be what you mean, but in the additional information box, I tell them about the club I’m going to start. :)</p>
<p>Stargirl, by all means, you should use the additional info space if they offer it! Just a brief suggestion- if you focus on what you have done and not what you are going to do, that might play better. So for a club you plan to start, you might talk about all that you have done in that domain and follow it with the idea for your club.</p>
<p>Thanks Rellielou. Great to know I’m not putting myself at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>It’s a vegetarian club, and I’m vegan, so that’s all my experience. :)</p>
<p>I don’t think optional/supplementary information (for music, sports, fine arts, etc) gets reviewed by AOs. They usually get forwarded to relevant area teachers, who in turn let AOs know of their opinions. And you don’t have to be a Beyonce or an Olympic swimmer. Most of the time, they just want to know if an applicant is good enough for school orchestra or varsity team. </p>
<p>There have been numerous threads on how to handle/submit music recordings, art portfolio, and sports video, etc. in CC if you search. Also, Choate student newspaper explained the process in detail, here:</p>
<p>[The</a> Art of Admission: Painting A Picture of Artistic Recruitment | The News](<a href=“http://thenews.choate.edu/article/art-admission-painting-picture-artistic-recruitment]The”>http://thenews.choate.edu/article/art-admission-painting-picture-artistic-recruitment)</p>