My D came home last night in a tizzy after finding out many of her friends were planning to submit all kinds of supplemental materials to some of the same top colleges she is looking at. In particular, one friend is submitting a video of dance performance, another a tumbler album of her singing ability, a third is sending a book of poetry she wrote and yet another is sending in a link to an amazing looking website he designed that is a shameless self promotion exhibition, albeit done in a professional and fashionable manner. So how important are all these super duper over achieving additional materials? Do colleges care? do they have to time to read a book of poems? or listen through someone’s album? Really?
Her friends must represent an abnormally high concentration of talent. Typically, you’d only want to submit supplementals that demonstrate exceptional talent.
The top colleges I have looked at say that while one can send in additional materials to supplement the application, there is no certainty that it will be reviewed. Often these days any materials sent in outside of the portal that the colleges and universities use for supplements (SlideRoom) will absolutely not be reviewed, so that book may be in the pile with the applications of the kids who are obviously not eligible to be accepted ( a waste of time).
Don’t get spun into a tizzy if you feel the application you will send is the best view/statement your daughter has that speaks to her character and academic merits. Often the noise of the other parents can make you crazy; best to find where the needle on your daughter’s compass lies.