Supplemental Essays?

<p>I'm sending in my resume with an abstract of my research project to Dartmouth. I know there's a 150 word common ap EC essay (which I wrote), but for another, non-common ap school, I wrote an essay of maybe 500 words about the personal significance of my most important EC (my research project). I think 150 words does not describe the influence my work has had on me, but I'm concerned that sending in the 500 word essay is too much and is a little redundant. Should I send in the essay? It's an excellent essay... says 3 of my teachers, one of whom is my research advisor. </p>

<p>Furthermore, I was thinking of including a few paragraphs on why I want to go to Dartmouth (research opportunities galor, and the D-plan allows me to actually devote huge amounts of time to research). Should I include that too, especially if I send in the EC essay? </p>

<p>I think these essays really bolster my ap. But I'm concerned they might be a little redundant and a thick application always annoys an ad com. I'm wondering what you all think.</p>

<p>I don't think it would hurt you to include those essays... if the adcom chooses to take a look at them, good for you! If they don't have time to read them, then they'll simply skip over them and read only the required components... there's nothing to lose, in my opinion.</p>

<p>Well, if they don't ask for it, I don't think you should send it in. They already have so many applications to look at that they won't have time to really look at it and might even dismiss it right away.</p>

<p>I wouldn't send it in if they don't ask for it. It might just irritate them. But what you could do is include as your Common App personal statement and use the "choose your topic" option.</p>

<p>Send it .You have nothing to lose. The worst they can do is not read it.</p>

<p>I'm gonna send it. Yes, it might tick off the person reading my file. But I think it's worth the risk; if the person does get ticked off and choses to rejected me, ok, that's fine. But if the things I write really add to my application (which I think they do) and make the admissions rep be able to picture at Dartmouth more clearly, then that could really help me. I don't know what to expect, admissions are random and often surprising, so I think I'm just gonna take the chance and send it.</p>

<p>I would definately send it; again, the worst they can do is not read it. I went to the Chicago regional info session, and the admissions officer there (who will be the one reading your application, as you're from Illinois) said that alot of admissions officers really hate supplemental materials, but she said she didn't have a problem with them (as long as they're pertinent, of course.) I sent in a few additional things (granted, it was more along the lines of "P.S., you should know this btw" than was it really supplemental material), and I still got in.</p>

<p>Then again, there is a fine line between "caring" and "being desperate." But it's not like you're sending in a 500-page research paper, so there shouldn't be a problem.</p>

<p>Well yeah, you're right... I'm sending a 200-word abstract of my research, a resume, and two short essays. I'm not sending my whole life's story, just more info on what I did outside of class and in the lab during high school, and info explaining why I wanna go to Dartmouth (it'll be like, "I want to go because of program X and opportunity Y", not "OMG!!!! I LOVE D-MOUTH, LEMME IN PLZ!!!). </p>

<p>And thanks for the info on the regional rep. It's much appreciated.</p>