Hi guys, would it be appropriate to use the extra information section in the common app to write a ‘why college’ essay? I would really like to get into middlebury and would really like to demonstrate my interest.
Would this be acceptable?
As far as I know, the extra information section gets sent out to all the different colleges you are applying to. So I would be really cautious about using such an approach because your “Why Middleburry” essay may be sent to other colleges that you are interested in accidentally. My instinct tells me to say no, but I have written supplemental essays before connecting my own interests to the college even if it was not a “Why college” essay.
Different colleges handle things differently, but this comes from one of the Middleburry campus website:
"With a generic application and relatively few applicants visiting campus before they apply, it may seem that the admissions office has no way of measuring an applicant’s genuine interest in attending the College when sorting through thousands of applications.
However, contrary to the advice many college counselors give high school students, the concept of “demonstrated interest” has never been a factor in admissions decisions.
“To us, a lack of visit has never demonstrated a lack of interest in the college,” he explained. Even applying Early Decision (ED) does not make a difference in the eyes of an admissions officer. “If anything, the bar is higher because we want to be 100 percent sure students we admit ED would be able to get in [regular decision],” Clagett said."
So my gut tells me it may not really make a difference in the end, but the decision is left up to you