<p>The prompt for Vandy's supplement is as follows: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences (Recommended length: 250 words)</p>
<p>I briefly mentioned in my Common App essay about what I learned from the camp I volunteer at (it's for the blind and visually impaired). </p>
<p>I was thinking that for the supplement, I should elaborate on what I did there. My question is: would it be okay if I add a few sentences on how this activity has led me to really want to help out at Peabody's Susan Grey School and work with and mentor kids there who have disabilities (although more mental, not necessarily physical)?</p>
<p>Or should I drop this idea completely and either a) just write about what I did at the camp or b) write about another activity of mine (I have a few more I can easily write about)?</p>
<p>I was going to write about a camp where I work with people with mental disabilities! So obviously I think that’s the idea you should go with haha. Especially since you’re going for Peabody. I’m not, so it won’t show interest in my field but whatever.</p>
<p>@wimmiett I don’t think it matters if it relates to your field as long as you show your passion for that activity. Do you think I should mention my love for volunteering at the camp relates to my hope to help out at the Susan Grey School or no?</p>
<p>There are a bunch of videos you can find of Vanderbilt’s admissions director talking about admissions, and it seems he never fails to mention leadership as an important criterion. Could you work leadership into the essay? And, although I’m not an expert, I would think that mentioning what you’d like to participate in at Vanderbilt is a good idea because it shows you are specifically interested in Vanderbilt, have really researched the school, and would be an engaged member of the community.</p>
<p>@LBowie
I mean I didn’t necessarily have an “assigned” leadership position at the camp but I really did take charge there. I did sort of become head of the teen volunteers the second year because they liked me so much. They even told me that they’re going to see if they can pay me this year because I’ll no longer need volunteer hours and they really want me to come back (I’m not trying to brag, just showing how much they value my help). I’m not sure how I could include that without sounding vain and full of myself.
Thank you!! Then I’ll definitely include the part about the Susan Gray school.</p>
<p>Hmm, I wonder if you could include an extra letter of recommendation from your camp supervisor, since it sounds like you were a valued member of the team. I don’t know whether or not that is a possibility with this years’s application.</p>
<p>But you know what? I think working at a camp with younger people IS a leadership activity in and of itself. You probably don’t need to spell it out. They will recognize that.</p>
<p>@LBowie
I can’t check on the CommonApp if I can attach an extra letter of recommendation but I think I remember seeing that I can’t.
I hope they will see that! Thanks for your help :)</p>