<p>I am having a problem with the Common App "Additional Comments" box. I have a few oddities on my transcript that need explanation, as well as one program and one competition that need explanation as few people know they exist. Listing these things in that 1000-character box leaves me no room to talk about "additional qualifications," i.e. a few extra awards I feel they should know about and details on things like Girls State that wouldn't fit in the app.</p>
<p>Does anyone know Stanford's position on using the "Attach Document" option? The information I would like to send to them is about 2000 characters long (less than one page in Word). Would they find it annoying? I have been told that Stanford does not read uploaded documents. Is this true?</p>
<p>Alternatively, would it be acceptable to leave off the transcript explanations and simply put them in a letter, freeing up more space in the box?</p>
<p>Thanks for contributing your wisdom to my application process :)</p>
<p>dear person who does not read instructions,</p>
<p>they really don’t want extra information about your ECs or other qualifications in the additional comments section. it is meant to explain unique situations, such as moving schools, having 2 different guidance counselors over time, etc. they also do not want a list of awards there.</p>
<p>Do you really need to explain the transcript issue yourself? Can’t your counselor describe the issue in her LOR?</p>
<p>For the extra awards, don’t list them in the additional info. The Common App gives you five slots for awards, and you can also list extracurricular related awards on the Activities section. Maybe move some of the awards around? </p>
<p>Stanford seems to hate receiving resumes, and describing Girls State (or any activity) outside of the Activities section or the 150 word short answer is probably frowned upon by admissions. Yes, the Common App doesn’t give you much room to be descriptive. Thousands of applicants before you have been accepted with only vague descriptions of their extracurriculars and awards.</p>
<p>@NJDS: Valid point. I was/am confused because that section says I can give information about “additional qualifications,” and also because calls to the admissions office have told me, at various times, that they absolutely will not read attachments and that attaching something up to two pages is fine.</p>
<p>@fairlights: I guess it’s my fault, but my counselor submitted her letter a long time ago, and it had no mention of the transcript issues. I do agree that they frown upon resumes. Hmmm.</p>
<p>Thanks to both for the input. I am at least in the process of shortening what I have as much as possible.</p>
<p>Since I don’t know what your transcript issues are I can’t give the best advice, but if you feel that without explanation your application would be truly harmed then I would suggest writing about them. Otherwise you’ll probably be fine. </p>
<p>There were many extracurriculars, especially summer activities, that I could barely describe in the allotted space. Just make sure they get the idea of what the actibvity was, and any major leadership roles you held. You probably won’t have much space to describe what you did, certainly not in any kind of real detail.</p>
<p>I wrote an extra essay for the Additional Comments section. It was basically to explain everything that I thought wouldn’t be obvious in a first read.</p>
<p>The additional comments box is for explaining anything on your transcript (death in the family affected grades, etc.). I attached a resume with the remaining awards/activities I had participated in with the “attach documents” options and got it, so I would assume it doesn’t blacklist you. Good luck!</p>
<p>My additional info on the main common app:
-additional test scores
-info about a project of mine
-summer activities
-special circumstance regarding upcoming spring semester</p>