Yes, it adds an incredible layer of complexity. But, when done well they add a great deal to the application so probably very worthwhile. I am certain my S21 got into a school only because he submitted a drama supplement.
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D24 texted to say that she has submitted her first app! Thank goodness. Phew. She has some scholarship applications to complete over the next several weeks, but otherwise she is done with college apps until Jan 1.
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ED app is IN!! Big sigh of relief - glad not to be white knuckling it at 11:58 on 11/1. Now itâs on to the RD apps (although he may take a breather).
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And it IS 11:59 on Wednesday, right? Meaning we still have 2 full days? So hard to write âwhyâ essays for schools that are at the bottom of the list.
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Yes. 11:59pm in your time zone.
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Yes. S24 confirmed that with his GC. Heâs still got one EA left but is just finalizing the essay. Should be good to go tomorrow.
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OMG, I was literally coming here to post the same thing!!!
(please note, what follows is a rant. Yâall donât know me, but assume that itâs all said in a kind of wry tone, not in a sincere âwoe is meâ deal. There are far worse things in the world than surprise essay questions, and I know that. I just need to vent a bit).
C24 was all set. Theyâve literally been working on their artistic supplements for seven months now. They got their monologues taped and cut together, and completed EA apps for five schools. We both thought that they were made in the shade. All they needed to do was get into the schoolsâ portals and submit their supplements and/or schedule auditions.
Then today, two super fun surprises. First, they went to schedule an optional audition at one school, and once the calendar part was over, up popped a 6 page Google form for them to fill out, complete with a personal essay, a âwhy this schoolâ essay and many, many other questions. And look, thereâs nothing wrong with doing a little extra work. But itâs a heck of a thing not to see any warning that itâs coming anywhere on the schoolâs website. (trust that both I and C24 have spent HOURS combing the various schoolsâ websites to make sure that they were prepared and didnât miss anything).
And then C24 went to upload their monologue video at another school and it happened AGAIN! Another school that hadnât mentioned a personal statement or any additional requirements/essays, but there it was: âtell us about yourself and why you want to come to this school.â Also, they were asked to recap their academics and activities for this specific department because they apparently wonât see Câs common app.
I hasten to say, the problem here isnât the additional work â C24 never expected this process to be easy. Itâs just intensely frustrating to have spent months researching and preparing, just so there wouldnât be any surprises, and then to have two very extensive supplemental applications just pop up without warning.
And the worst thing is, I donât really see a way to prepare for whatever the other 11 schools C24 wants to apply to will have them submit. Again, this info has been nowhere on the websites. So every application is now a super fun surprise. Yippeee!
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So sorry to hear. Maybe this can help?
If the link doesnât go through, itâs collegeessayadvisors dot com forward slash supplemental-essay-guide-2023-24/
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Yes. Artistic supplements can be tricky. S24 is doing the same now. Applying for a music major with a supplement at an ea school requires an artistic statement that js also a why is essay for a school that has no other supplement. If he applies as a non arts person this disappears but he would lose out on scholarships. For this school it is on the website that this happens, if you know to look for it! Good luck and know that the supplements do help with admissions and merit.
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I really wish that all of these colleges would put it all right there on their websites and just SAY it plainly that once you hit âsubmit,â thereâll still be more stuff to fill out, answer, and all that. Itâs so frustrating!
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Thank you! This made me feel better, because neither of the schools I mentioned in my post were included in the guide. 
Iâve visited both schoolsâ websites (again) to comb through their admissions requirements (again) and am about 95% certain that I didnât miss anything. It helps to see that an outside website also missed the surprise essay sections for arts applicants.
(Iâve moved passed the âdismayâ portion of this evening and am now laughing about the situation. Possibly maniacally. January cannot come fast enough.)
Yes. My senior has art portfolios. I feel like it has taken the normal college process and added 30-35% more difficulty. I remind myself that theatre/performing arts would have been even more work and count myself as lucky. Down to the wire with artist statement and portfolio descriptions. All EA applications are in, portal checklists complete, just need portfolio uploaded.
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Hugs. How unfair! For the remaining C24âs 11 schools anticipate some surprises too and tell them to start the application early, assuming additional supplements.
Hope C can manage to write the remaining essays within two days. Sending positive vibes.
S24 submitted all his applications tonight. Said it was a weight off his shoulders as soon as the last one was submitted and he had some fun hitting the âcelebrateâ button several times to keep the confetti shower going.
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How many did he do?
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He ultimately chose to apply to three schools. 
P.S. After reading some of the other posts in the thread, feeling a bit like Charlie Bucket 
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That is really a great thing! He must be sure about where he would be comfortable to go.
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I listened to the video after replying and it is so funny! Made my day!
If anyone wants to apply to Elks scholarship, the deadline is Nov 13.
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Progress is happening - when youâre down to the wire, there is not much choice!
Congratulations to all whose kids have completed their EA/ED Nov 1 apps ! I hope to join your ranks ⊠at some point before 11:59 pm Nov. 1 âŠ
D24 is claiming her ED app will be done tonight & ready for final reviews tomorrow; the EA app that has to be done for scholarship consideration she says will be completed tomorrow; 3 EA apps can be submitted once her common app essay is polished (happening tonight), and there is 1 more EA app with supplements that may or may not make it by Nov 1; if not, it can go to RD and that is fine.
She is also supposed to be recording an optional music supplement tomorrow after school with her music teacher.
S24 (committed D1 athlete) has his likely letter (whew!) so just waiting for that Nov 1 dateâŠthen the next set of âto dosâ and waiting beginsâŠ
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