Supplemental Materials

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>So the Harvard supplement for the Common App says students can submit supplemental materials (recordings of music, art, research papers, etc.) if they are of a (correct me if I'm wrong this is from memory) "an unusually advanced ability."</p>

<p>My question is: what the heck does that mean? How good is unusually advanced? If there is a paper I wrote in high school that my professor just adored, is that what they're looking for?</p>

<p>I'm a pretty good trumpet player. I've made the all-state band the past two years, nabbing third chair. Am I good enough that I should even consider including a recording?</p>

<p>I realize that you really need to stand out for Harvard admissions, but I worry that including something extra could hurt me if the quality of my work isn't what they think "unusually advanced ability" looks like.</p>

2

<p>Some would disagree with me, but my definition of “unusually advanced ability” is that if you were to audition at a music conservatory with your instrument, you could have a realistic chance of getting in.</p>