<p>So in the "Additional Information" part I wanna talk about my parents is recently getting divorced, the financial crisis in our family and the 79.3% in my AP U.S. History...
but I have to submit a extra document for the activities...</p>
<p>I found out that it says
"-OR-
In the space provided below provide any additional information."</p>
<p>So does it mean that I can't do both(attach a document and add some additional information?)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys! :)</p>
<p>I believe you can do both.</p>
<p>It says “-OR-,” so you can either do one or the other, not both.</p>
<p>Oh lord…who should I believe</p>
<p>OR can mean both as acceptable, XOR means only 1 acceptable, or at least that’s how I would read it, but I would call the college to ask them about it.</p>
<p>kk thx…
they are closed now…I’ll do it tomorrow =]</p>
<p>Sounds like some of what you want to talk about are special circumstances that you want the adcom to know in addition to the info in your application. I think it would be okay to send that in as a supplemental to your application instead of a part of your application. The adcom will generally understand that. Be careful about how you communicate those other circumstances though.</p>
<p>Thank you very much FLVADAD…</p>
<p>“Be careful about how you communicate those other circumstances though.”
So you mean I shouldn’t tell them the details? Do you think they will deny me if they know too much information??</p>
<p>thanks a lot!</p>
<p>^
Can’t speak for FLVADAD, but you should be careful in the delivery because you do not want to appear like you’re complaining or making excuses. Make it clear that you are simply explaining the circumstances.</p>
<p>Also, it really should be your guidance counselor who tells colleges.</p>
<p>^
thx for your reply… but I’m in a public school(too much ppl)… my GC doesn’t know me well enough…
I guess I’ll briefly explain it to them… like in one sentence. :)</p>
<p>thank you!</p>
<p>“Be careful” means don’t air your family’s dirty laundry in public. If you’ve experienced a setback due to circumstances beyond your control and overcome it, made concrete plans to overcome it, or become a stronger/wiser/better person from it, then put it in there. The story needs to have a happy ending, if you will.</p>
<p>As to your original question… you have two topics to explain, the one you want to talk about and the one you have to include regarding ECs. There’s no reason you couldn’t put both topics into a single document (with headings to separate them or something) and upload that to the Additional Information section.</p>
<p>Good luck with your application!</p>
<p>Yes, I agree with the comments above. </p>
<p>If you have a particular grade uncharacteristic of your usual work product, adcoms want to know why. If you say nothing, you force them to make their own assumptions and draw their own conclusions. So it’s okay to explain a bit as to how you became distracted provided, as geek_mom says, you demonstrate how you have overcome whatever the issue was - softening the negative and accentuating the positive. However, if you offer too much information, or place too much emphasis on the wrong aspects, you run the risk of sounding like someone more interested in seeking sympathy. Even worse, you might send up red flags that you are someone emotionally damaged or troubled. Colleges do not want to take those kinds of risks. </p>
<p>Additionally, as sad as it may be, many adcoms have become desensitized to things like divorce and similar problems. After reading several hundred applications they find it merely a recurring theme that loses its punch with each subsequent case. Thus, it’s best to not dwell on it too much. They also see a lot of apps that talk about financial hardships. They are very interested in those who have overcome a lifetime of severe poverty. But those having experienced only recent setbacks? ahhh not so much. </p>
<p>My point is not that you should avoid mentioning anything that’s relevant, but that you consider that adcoms see similar themes very frequently and are not easily persuaded by them. The point of your application is to help you stand out from everyone else. With the high divorce rate in our country and awful economy we are facing, these issues are not unique. So while okay to acknowledge the fact of it – especially if you’ve overcome it-- be careful not to lean on them as critical devices in your application. What has seemed uniquely traumatic to you, will be met with boredom and/or skepticism by some adcoms if not thoughtfully presented.</p>