<p>As I've been revising my personal statements all weekend, I've grown a concern about the Additional Comments section in the UC Application. I've already written a short, fun piece about my addiction to sudoku. I had a ton of fun writing it, and my friends have fun reading it. I intended to put it in the additional comments section, but now I'm torn.</p>
<p>The "prompt" reads: "If you wish, you may use this space to TELL US ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT YOU that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application."</p>
<p>The UC website says "this section CAN be used to provide additional clarification or expansion on important details of your application." Going by that, I theoretically could put in another essay; I don't HAVE to "provide additional clarification" on anything.</p>
<p>I've also read "On Writing the College Application Essay" by Harry Bauld thoroughly, and he says this on page 94: "The 'optional' essay - the one the colleges says you don't have to write if you think the rest of your file represents you well enough - is not optional. Write the essay." I've been treating this book like the Bible.</p>
<p>I know that most people typically use the box to clarify bad grades, hardships, etc., but I don't need to. My parents are divorcing and my home is being foreclosed, but I have straight A's and I'm not telling sob stories in my personal statements.</p>
<p>Is it worth including this third essay in the additional comments section to add some more depth and personality to my application? Or should it just be left out altoger.</p>
<p>Sorry about the long post, but I'm trying to justify the use of a third personal statement.</p>
<p>That’s what I’ve been thinking, too. If they don’t like having a third essay to read, they can toss it. It’s not like an admissions decision will be made based on the fact I tried going the extra mile.</p>
<p>nope, using the third essay will make them think your are annoying kid, who talks for 24 hours non stop. In another word, if u put a word on the third essay, your application will be send straight to the trash (auto reject). No one wants to have a creepy guy in their school. Ib fact, the third essay is a secret hidden technique to determine to admission. If you put 0 word that u mean u have already admitted into school, and if u put 1 word or more, u know u will get reject for sure.</p>
<p>On CollegeWeekLive someone asked if they could use the additional comments section to write about what excites them to learn or something like that, and an undergrad admissions specialist said that it would be okay. He actually thought it was a great idea.</p>
<p>Looking back at it, I would’ve probably used the additional comments section to talk more about myself since we are so limited in the app to fully show our personalities. I mean if you can do it in two essays then that’s still fine too.</p>
<p>@OP : use it, as long as you think you will provide them with more information about your intellectual development. Your is a rare case, at my school most people only use it as a W’s-excuses section…</p>
<p>OP, I’d advise against it. Having just turned in my app a couple days ago, I remember seeing one of those FAQs on the side of the screen once I reached the “third essay” page. It said NOT to use it as a means toward extending your personal statements. Rather, it’s simply, as you stated, the spot provided to further expound on things like Ws, dropped classes, etc.</p>
<p>And, by the way, there’s a big distinction to be made between “going the extra mile” and not following directions.</p>
<p>Maybe use it, not as a third essay, but to list your characteristics. For example, favorite color, favorite movie, favorite quote, 3 reasons why they should accept you, 3 flaws, etc.</p>
<p>^I feel like your essay has no place in an academic application. This is just my opinion, but it does nothing for you. In fact, it looks like you are easily distracted by trivial things such as ‘Sudoku’. I don’t know man, I would skip that part. But if you are applying to UC Berkeley… go ahead and put it in ;)</p>
<p>Haha, too bad I’m not. I’m applying to UCLA and Santa Barbara (for a film production major, nonetheless).</p>
<p>I actually wrote this piece earlier this month to loosen up before writing the other two personal statements. And yeah, I’m easily distracted, but somehow, enough work gets done to get me those A’s!</p>
<p>If you have the grades to back it up, I redact my previous comment and apologize if I came across a bit too judgmental! </p>
<p>It’s not a bad essay at all, it’s got a great flow, voice, and excellent personality to it. I just don’t think it fits in an academic application. I really think the best thing to do would be to make sure the first 2 essay’s are strong and clean. Save this other essay for a school newspaper article!</p>