<ol>
<li><p>They discourage adding additional information about activities (despite the fact that there's less space on the Columbia app than the common app to elaborate)</p></li>
<li><p>We're limited to the "3-5 most meaningful awards" on the awards section of the app</p></li>
<li><p>We discouraged from adding an additional essay</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The only real thing I can think of is unusual living circumstances, and maybe additional testing. Other than that, what can we put in the add'l info section?</p>
<p>I understand that admissions officers have a lot to read and want to cut down on superfluous information, but it seems like they're not giving a lot of room to present ourselves.</p>
<p>I wrote extra info about my activities because I Could barely fit anything on that app!
Just write about yourself in a casual way, thats what I did. I wrote about how I am also fluent in Japanese and German.</p>
<p>It says “prefer not any additional essay” but what if an essay really describes my future plans that I really didn’t discuss in the rest of the app?? I honestly prefer the commonapp better than individual apps like columbias</p>
<p>I ended up just uploading a pretty concise list of more awards. They didn’t specifically say not to include extra info on that, so that’s what I did.</p>
<p>I was going to just attach the additional info I used for the common app, but Columbia didn’t want more info on my activities so I didn’t.</p>
<p>I listed all the self-studied tests and things I have done, since they won’t be listed on my transcript. I was tempted to attach a resume though!</p>
<p>I also mailed in an activities sheet that explained certain activities and awards better. I don’t know if that was positive or negative (I applied on Nov. 2nd).</p>
<p>I am planning on attaching an additional resume to explain some of my research activities in further detail and an additional rec. Hope it doesn’t look too overboard. =/ </p>
<p>Also, does any one know in the alumni section - it says to list any parents or siblings, would my grandmother and great uncle go in the “Others” option in the drop down, or as additional info?</p>
<p>I actually put in an extra essay after much anxiety!!! The essay talked about my future plans and intership that related to my why columbia essay. At the beginning I said that the app didn’t include anything about it so it was necessary. If they don’t read it oh well its there fault and I tried to show more of myself.</p>
<p>Well . . . they did specifically state that they would prefer applicants not submit additional essays . . . and they did put it in bold, right at the top of the page . . . So I’m not sure you can pin the blame on them if you decided to submit a supplementary essay.</p>
<p>okay rephrase i didn’t really mean their fault I wasn’t meaning to blame them for anything, I just think they said “prefer” which means there are exceptions. My college counselor and teachers said I should put it because otherwise my app would be lacking in academic context and aspirations. to each their own and it really depends on the application. I just honestly believe one essay can’t convey a lot about a person. ( Stanford has a ton but I understand they don’t have the time to read so much)</p>