<p>My daughter will be applying to college in the fall. She has written a few prize-winning short stories and essays and has published quite a few non-fiction pieces in our local paper this year. Does anyone know if or how this information could be presented and included in a college application?</p>
<p>Good for your d! Check the colleges' websites and look to see what they say about receiving "supplementary materials." Sometimes they will suggest what sort of items they want you to send; sometimes they say they will send it on to the relevant profs; occasionally they say they do not under any circumstances want to receive any. </p>
<p>I would include the info re her prizes and publications under honors and awards on the applications. I would give details about the specific prizes and publications in a separate resume. And I would send along clippings and manuscripts in a nice folder. Depending on the school, your d may find it helpful and enlightening to contact the English or creative writing departments herself; this way she may be able to make a connection with a professor, show her or him her work, and get her or him to write a letter. In addition, she will get a sense of whether the department feels like a compatible place. Good luck to your d.</p>
<p>aparent5, thank you for your reply. All good ideas we will follow up on. I hate to sound obsessive here (but if the shoe fits, wear it?), but I was wondering if a folder with a bunch of loose papers would be kind of a hassle to manage, and whether a binder with everything in plastic covers would be less of a problem to glance through. Probably unimportant detailing, just my middle of the night wonderings.</p>
<p>Shojomo,
Kinko's does a very nice job of binding. They'll even put a little cover on it for you in harder stock. I've done this myself at times when sending samples of my own writing to editors. I usually have them bind it using rings along the edge so it is light weight, lays flat, and is not expensive to mail. It costs a few dollars for each one, based on how many you get. I'm sure other places like Kinko's could do the same thing for you.</p>
<p>If you do go this route, I would be sure to note at the top of each story which prize it won and when. And, I would probably only send 2-3 of her absolute best stories. You could then put a page at the beginning listing all of the stories and awards,I'd have the cover say something like
"Samples of Jane XYX's Award-Winning Writing"</p>
<p>I would also make sure she brings a copy with her when she has admissions interviews as well, as it would be a nice "talking point."
But I wouldn't send it to any school that specifically says they don't won't supplemental stuff.</p>
<p>Carolyn</p>
<p>Definitely do not have her bring it to interviews. It won't be read, and isn't a "talking point" since the interviewer isn't going to sit there and read it. It will be an awkward moment.</p>
<p>Simply follow the directions regarding "supplimentary materials" TO THE LETTER. Trying to get it in at an interview will definitely look like an attempt to bend the rules which won't be considered favorably.</p>
<p>Perhaps one small "bend" that might be OK is if the topic of the writing does come up in the interview, a follow up thank you note to the interviewer might include a small sample.</p>
<p>Massguy, I see your point. Perhaps I should clarify. I was not suggesting that she send supplemental materials to schools that do not accept them, only to those that do. If it is unclear, an email to the admissions counselor can clear it up.</p>
<p>My daughter has found it very useful to have 2-3 small samples of her artwork, neatly presented, when she does admissions interviews. She doesn't force them on the interviewer, she waits until the subject of her art, and its importance in her life, comes up, and then asks politely if the interviewer has time to see a few examples of her work. In every case, the answer has been an enthusiastic "yes." </p>
<p>Her art has been mentioned repeatedly in follow up emails and letters from admissions people after these interviews. My daughter does not leave her art work there so it can not be said that she is skirting the rules regarding submitting supplemental materials - but it seems to have stuck out in the minds of the admissions people, and gave her a "face" that they seem to remember among all of the other interviews they conduct.</p>
<p>Of course, she hasn't yet been accepted so perhaps my daughter has screwed up her chances by doing this. :)</p>
<p>Most colleges give very specific information on their websites about what and how to include in the way of fine art, musical and performance supplements. My son put together an extensive art slide portfolio and accompanying resume. He didn't think of bringing photos of his artwork to his interviews. In retrospect, I think it would have been a good talking point.</p>
<p>I remember ever a few instances of instructions pertaining to written work, mostly warning against including lengthy opuses. My son did include a couple poems with his application, but poetry is a lot less bulky than a short story (or a novel). </p>
<p>One school, Wesleyan, specifically stated that he should NOT inlcude examples of his creative writing because the adcom wouldn't be in a position to evaluate it. They said they would rather hear about his talent in this area in his instructors' recommendations.</p>
<p>Since the OP's daughter most likely will be pursuing creative writing in college, perhaps she could contact a faculty member directly and that professor could communicate his/her opinion to the adcom.</p>
<p>As usual, there is no universal answer that fits all admission offices or all colleges. The advice to follow the school directions to the letter is excellent. </p>
<p>On this subject, it may be wise to follow the -valuable- advice of our own "aisforadmission". Unless I am mistaken, Mrs. Hernandez has covered this issue in great detail in her book on applications. The discussion related to the urge of parents to send "portfolios" to the admission officers yielded a pretty simple conclusion: DON'T! I do not remember the exact details, but the only exceptions seemed to have been to send musical tapes/CDs to the music department or athletic tapes to coaches, but only if requested. What I do remember is that sending material to the admission office pretty guaranteed that the material would become a "fun" display at the office party, if not filed vertically by the receptionist upon arrival. </p>
<p>The general idea is that the school BELIEVES that your application is truthful, and that the listed awards are indeed yours. The adcoms do not need to see the actual proof, nor would they be capable or willing to evaluate your portfolio.</p>
<p>The college I applied to ED welcomed supplementary materials. I had won a contest for a play I had written, but it was a bit too long to send, so I chose to send three poems. I didn't do anything fancy with the three short poems I sent; I printed them out on ordinary paper and wrote a short introduction (they were all pieces I had written as part of a larger poetic body of work.) I paper clipped them to my required supplemental essay for the school. I was accepted :) As long as a school doesn't say, "please don't add to the bulk of the application," I don't know why it would be a problem.</p>