How to Upload More Than 2000 Kb Common App College Confidential

In this post I'll cover the "Additional Information" department, which is basically the place on the application that asks some version of "What else would y'all similar us to know?"

Co-ordinate to Susan Tree, a quondam high school advisor, admissions officeholder at Bates College, and our very own higher counselor, the subconscious calendar is this: "We really desire to distinguish you from other applicants—please assistance us!"

Important: This is not meant to scare y'all into feeling similar you lot have to put something in the Additional Info department. Information technology is only supporting information. You do not have to include anything at that place.

I'll say that again, but I wanted to mention it right at the start.

Just students are often baffled past what to exercise with this section. And so here goes:

What is the Additional Data section on the Mutual Application?

Information technology'southward a section you'll discover on the Common App, Coalition Awarding, equally well every bit other applications where students can blazon in extra data they want colleges to know. Keywords: "can" (you aren't required) and "information" (not fluff, filler, or even stories).

Where do you add additional info to the Common App?

Log into the Mutual App website. Go to the "Mutual App" tab, select "Writing" from the sidebar, and click on "additional information."

**So what should you put in the Additional Information section?**

Step back and take a await at the data you've already included in your awarding. What's missing? What might not make sense and need an caption? You lot may need help seeing what's missing. Ask someone who knows you (and, ideally, the college process) well to offer their editorial perspective.

Words of Wisdom from a Onetime Admission Officer

"Reading applications for a research university (after many years every bit a college advisor), I was shocked to see how many applicants failed to distinguish themselves. Their stiff academics and hard-earned personal credentials could come across as predictable and lifeless. Occasionally I came across an Additional Information section that was similar a cold splash of h2o or an electric stupor; information technology made the student come alive. Two examples that come to heed were a fascinating research project catastrophe in ballsy failure, and a classically-trained vocaliser's out-of-the-box foray into operation art via shape-note singing. Format ranged from research abstract to spoken give-and-take and power verse. What engaged me every bit a reader was the personality and free energy that came through this section of the application; these students seemed to know that in order to understand them, I HAD to know this dimension of their experience, personality, upbringing, elation, or adversity. This insight made their applications memorable. It made me believe they had something important to contribute to the academy."

"Is Additional Information the place to have a take a chance? Possibly, if that's who you are. You might use this space to be creative, nerdy, or funny—but make certain information technology has a purpose and is done well."

- Susan Tree, college counselor and former admission officer at Bates Higher

What follows are virtually a dozen possibilities for items you might include, written with input from some of my wonderful colleagues on both sides of the college admission desk.

1. Important details about your activities that wouldn't fit in your Activities List.

Let'south say y'all did a really cool fundraiser that positively affected both the people you lot were donating to and your local community. And let's say y'all decided non to write an extracurricular essay on this, either considering you wrote on something else or the school didn't request an extracurricular essay. When you look at your Activities List description, however, it doesn't capture how incredibly awesome this feel was for everyone. So you might write a brusk bullet bespeak description in your Additional Info section that looks similar this example:

"Stand up for Haiti" Fundraiser

- Raised $3,500 to benefit victims of the recent earthquake in Republic of haiti

- Gain provided disaster housing for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed

- Event likewise galvanized local community, leading to a second fundraiser, "Hillsboro High for Haiti," to have identify next month

Quick tips for writing action descriptions in your Additional Info section:

Be brief. You're on borrowed time in the Additional Info department, so requite us the condensed version. Imagine your reader is a very important person with a hundred more applications to read before Friday. Considering they are and probably exercise.
Be specific and focus on impact. In this example, how much money did you lot raise? Whom did it help? How?
Put your details in descending order of importance. The most important stuff should go at the pinnacle, since the reader may be skimming.
Avoid special formatting. Formatting like bold and italics may not testify up, so make sure you've emphasized the information you desire without those fancy tricks. This goes for your personal statement too.

Or let'due south say y'all did write a 150-200 give-and-take extracurricular essay for a particular school and y'all really want other schools to know more about that activity even though they haven't asked for a 150-200 discussion essay ... While you could paste your whole short essay into the additional information section for those other schools, I wouldn't recommend including essays the schoolhouse didn't request. Instead, create a bullet point version of your essay so the reader can get the information more than quickly. How?

Y'all tin can turn this (brusque extracurricular essay version):

The Durham Youth Commission is a teen-led faction of the Durham County government that was created to provide youth input in local politics. To get into the Committee, applicants must submit a thorough description of their extracurricular and academic interests besides equally answer questions about what they would similar to see accomplished during their time in office. Out of 100 applicants, I was selected to serve on the committee ii years in a row forth with about 25 other high schoolers attending school in Durham. Along with promoting efforts to combat gun violence during my time serving in the DYC, we likewise pursued advocacy projects to address mental wellness challenges and nutrient insecurities. The Commission was regularly updated past various metropolis officials near the nature of their work, including the Mayor of Durham. The DYC also attended several conferences hosted past other city youth councils to build leadership and communication skills as well every bit encourage active customs interest. I volunteered over 60 hours each term I served on this commission for organizations like Mobile Market, Peace Toys for State of war Toys, Habitat for Humanity, and Kids Voting. (187 words)

...into this (shorter, bullet indicate version):

Durham Youth Commission:

- The Durham Youth Committee (DYC) is a teen-led faction of the Durham government created to provide youth input in local politics.

- Out of 100 applicants, I was selected to serve on the commission two years in a row along with about 25 other Durham high schoolers

- Promoted efforts to combat gun violence, mental health challenges, and food insecurities.

- Regularly updated by city officials and Durham Mayor almost the nature of their work.

- Attended several conferences hosted by other metropolis youth councils to build leadership skills and encourage active customs involvement.

- Volunteered over 60 hours each term for organizations like Mobile Marketplace, Peace Toys for War Toys, Habitat for Humanity, and Kids Voting. (106 words)

See? The bullet points version is shorter and easier to read.

Of import: Please don't expand on every single activity in your Activities List; make the almost of your descriptions using the tips I've given.

two. Health stuff.

Did open heart surgery continue you from getting the best grades possible in 11th grade? If and so—and if this isn't already in your main statement—say a few words nigh it.

A few tips:

Focus on information. Not fluff. Don't tell a story here. Only the facts.
Focus on impact. How did it touch on you lot? Be specific. How many days/weeks/months did you miss? How'd yous make upwards the work? Did your grades get up later? If so, say so. (Example: "Although my grades dipped during this fourth dimension, one year afterward I'm happy to report that I was able to receive directly Equally.")
Mention information technology even if your advisor is mentioning information technology. Michelle Rasich, a advisor at Rowland Hall Saint Marker's, points out that "Reps accept shared that they similar reading explanations in the pupil's own words even if I as well am dedicating fourth dimension to it in my letter." Again, be brief, factual, informative.
If you choose to discuss mental wellness issues, exist sure to run information technology by your counselor before submitting, as depression and anxiety can often raise more questions than they answer. Admission officers want to brand certain their time to come students have the resource they need on campus. To be articulate: I'thousand not proverb yous shouldn't mention mental health issues; I'k saying that "if" and "how" are of import questions to discuss with your advisor. If you do not take a counselor and place as depression-income, you can sign upwardly for 1.

3. Whatever potential "red flags" on your application

What might exist a red flag? Something in your application that could raise questions in the mind of the admissions reader (east.thou., a bad class you lot received in science, why you lot dropped 2 sports last twelvemonth, or the fact that you desire to major in math only didn't take math last year). Anticipate questions the reader may have and offer an caption that provides context. Did y'all drop the sports to focus on academics, for example? Or perchance you had a complex schedule conflict? If you're not sure whether y'all should include something or not, enquire your counselor.

In terms of length and tone, be as concise as possible and explain rather than complain. Here'due south a successful "explaining"example:

I dropped water polo and cross land after sophomore year due to chronic dorsum bug. My dorsum healed by Junior twelvemonth and I returned to water polo every bit an assistant motorbus, but chose not to render to cross country and then I could focus on academics and get a chore to help pay bills at abode.

4. Circumstances that have made it difficult for you to get more involved in extracurricular activities, such every bit working to support your family.

I've had students, for case, who have to have two buses plus the Metro to get to school, commuting almost two hours each way. Others accept their parents drive them that far. This means extracurriculars take been relatively tough to participate in. Only colleges can't know that if you don't tell them.

(Note that some of this information tin can exist communicated in the counselor recommendation letter, although you aren't likely to know what'due south in that letter (since counselors don't usually show these to students). If don't have a counselor, utilize this section to abet for yourself.

Independent advisor Leslie Cohen offers this great advice: "Students demand to repeatedly inquire themselves: 'If I was reading this application, am I getting enough data to empathise the applicant's situation and experiences?' Often students assume what they listing is clear, just sometimes it's non. I've had many admissions officers say 'I wanted to know more.'"

Words of Wisdom from an Admissions Officer

"At Smith College, we view the Additional Information section of the Common Awarding as a good identify for students to either explain in further detail something nosotros'll read in other parts of the application or tell us something most themselves we won't necessarily see anywhere else in the awarding. We actually encourage students to use the Activities area to list paid jobs and whatever caretaking of younger siblings or older relatives, or tasks relating to household management, etc. Then, if they'd like to emphasize that significant household responsibilities have prevented their involvement in other activities (or other extracurricular activities) in the Additional Information section, they can.

This section should not be perceived as required. Merely it should be used when there is a significant circumstance requiring description or emphasis, such as coping with learning differences, physical challenges, family unit crises or other hardships. Understanding the educatee'due south private context is an important aspect of the unique selection procedure hither in the U.Due south., equally part of our holistic arroyo to reviewing applications."

-Meredith McDill, Assistant Director of Admission, Smith Higher

v. Physical or learning disabilities or differences

Concrete disabilities should be diagnosed by a wellness professional. Y'all may consider specifying the diagnosis, when you received it, and how long you've navigated the effects overall.

If yous have a diagnosed Learning Inability, you might include a scrap of context to assistance analyze and describe the learning challenge. How has the disability impacted your academic performance and what steps take taken to navigate your inability? If you are dyslexic, for case, practice you use audio books every bit a work around? Indicate when the disability was diagnosed and what y'all have accomplished or navigated since the diagnosis. Here'southward an example:

I was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of 9th form, which helped me understand some of the academic difficulties I'd faced in center school. Pharmacological treatment, however, led to a complete change in academic performance. Although it sometimes takes me three times as long to comprehend reading material, I've get extremely motivated and cocky-disciplined and I believe my academic tape reflects this. Unfortunately, I practise not believe that standardized tests reverberate my ability, particularly every bit someone with ADHD, as having more time on a test can be hard when focusing is the result.

Of import: Not everyone has to disclose. Inquire your counselor what makes sense for your application.

six. Family unit member disability or parent unemployment

If a family unit fellow member is disabled or has been unable to work and this has had an affect on your life or academics, consider including a few sentences of context. Here are iii examples from separate students:

I would like the admission committee to know that my younger brother has spina bifida and my family and I devote a considerable amount of our free fourth dimension to his intendance and trips to the doctor. It also ways that my mother has non been able to work outside of our dwelling house since he was born.

In 2018 my begetter suffered a serial of strokes which left him partially paralyzed and with severe cerebral impairment. He was obviously unable to proceed his career equally a professor at the local university. With the help of many therapists and medical professionals my male parent has slowly gained dorsum some of his faculties, but it is rare that he is left at home alone. My mother and my brother and I are typically past his side making sure he has what he needs and that he is safe. For the first one-half of last year while my male parent's status was critical my mother was unable to work at all.

My mother is a beautiful, warm, and passionate person. Sadly, she also suffers from schizophrenia which she allows to be treated only periodically with medication. She is rarely able to concur a job for more than than a few months at a time, and our family depends on my begetter'southward chore driving heavy equipment for the city for income also as insurance. Dad isn't able to take time off on those days or long periods of time when mom needs extra attention. My sister and I accept taken over household chores and bill paying to fill in some of the gaps.

7. Unusual grading systems

One instance: "We have a trimester schedule that is non accommodated past the drop-downward menus," notes veteran counselor Tara Dowling. "For case—nosotros have numerous 2-trimester courses and there are only 10 slots. So our students put in 'fake date' indicating that courses are total-year courses. So they explain in the additional info that the classes actually two-terms long." Would the access officer know that if you didn't tell them? Perhaps not.

Another example: advisor Barbara Carletta Chen points out, "For twelfth grade students who attend Schoolhouse Year Away [a high school study abroad plan], this space is a perfect place to analyze all the details of the two loftier schools, ii CEEB, and why their official documents will be coming from their sending school. For others with more than two high schools, this space can clarify why there was a switch if it wasn't obvious (say, due to a move)."

Other examples: a performing arts, religious, or trade school with a specialized curriculum.

8. Unusual classes or Online courses

What do I mean by unusual classes? North High Schoolhouse in Newton, MA, once had a class called "The Art of the Graphic Novel." If I was an admissions rep I'd exist curious to know more—wouldn't you? You lot might include a 2-3 sentence blurb on what that course entailed (course objective, highlights of the reading list, and any special projects). Other weird/awesome loftier school classes I wish I could've taken include: "Swell Books," where students read books like Ulysses and (my favorite) The Brothers Karamazov; and the "Wise Individualized Senior Feel," in which seniors can avoid senioritis by designing their ain x-week curriculum.

In terms of online courses, not all online classes are created equal. That'south why it's important to add context to help the admission officer get an accurate motion picture. Was it a one-week class that required just a few hours work? Or a rigorous eight-week course that required ten+ hrs of reading and group piece of work per week, culminating in a concluding projection that you had to sing in front end of 300+ people and oh-by-the-manner hither's a link? Also, maybe say why you took the course(s). Was it because the class wasn't offered at your school? Or did you take information technology to make room for another course yous actually wanted to fit into your schedule? Evidence the reader you were thoughtful in your decision to acquire online.

Words of Wisdom from an Admission Officer

"Students may utilize the boosted info section to talk about an independent written report or research project that may non exist accurately or completely reflected on their transcript. This gives us a chance to follow upwardly and learn more nigh their projection, passion, time commitment and depth of research. For case:

"Arabic were discontinued at my school due to the unexpected go out of a instructor every bit well as depression program enrollment between my sophomore and junior academic years. My junior yr, a conditional program was ready for remaining students who needed to fulfill linguistic communication credits as a way of gradually phasing out the Arabic plan. At present, to ensure I exercise not lose the progress I have made in the Arabic language, and to go along to pursue my passion fifty-fifty though information technology is no longer offered at my school and will no longer appear on my transcripts, I attend private tutoring weekly in the subject."

In other situations, students may utilize this section to reference traumatic events, like bullying or a serious illness or death of a close family member, which allow u.s.a. to have greater context when viewing their academic and extracurricular records. In these cases, we sometimes follow upwardly with the student for additional information to take a amend understanding of the circumstances. I pupil referenced a parent's contempo job loss, which gave usa the chance to follow upwards with information near the possibility of adjusting financial aid options.

As well, if a student is at a large public loftier school where the advisor rec letter of the alphabet may not exist especially personal, this was a perfect opportunity for the student to self-advocate:

"Currently I am in a household where at that place is no access to Wi-Fi and very little financial means. I have been a pupil who has been private about my circumstances merely has as well been responsible for many of my personal and family expenses such as paying bills, medical expenses for my sibling, and paying for my ain expenses. As much as I wish I could appoint more than in my extra-curricular activities, I cannot because of challenges related to my home's fiscal status and lack of access to the internet."

Finally, some students provide links to YouTube videos of their ring performances, Amazon links to their self-published books and web links to their Etsy shops and online art blogs. As a reader, I don't always have the time to fully explore these external links but I try my best to skim through or have the music playing in the background while I'chiliad reading the application. It helps me "become inside the educatee's head" and better empathise their personality.

- Lauren Blalock Sefton, Senior Associate Manager of Admission at Rhodes College

nine. IB Extended Essay Topics

Parke Muth, counselor and former associate dean at the Academy of Virginia, writes, "I suggest that people doing an IB extended essay share the topic and title of the essay and perhaps a petty more info. So few students do projects like this in secondary school and the topics themselves oft say something good about the student."

Hither's an example from my younger brother'due south actual college application:

For my IB extended essay requirement, I wrote a four,000-word thesis arguing that French fine art film director Gaspar Noé breaks the conventions of classical narrative structure as divers by story theorist, Robert McKee. My close reading of Noé's film Irreversible (2002) seeks to prove that Noé defies McKee's principles of the inciting incident, law of diminishing returns, and balance of high and low step scenes past Noé's manipulation of the Russian Formalist elements of fabula and syuzhet.

10. Other data that simply won't fit on other parts of the Common App

Kate Coddaire at Cheverus HS reports, "I have students with so many siblings they cannot fit them all on the Family unit page of the Common App."

What else might go here?

Acronyms. You might know what the NCMAC Conference is or what it means to be MSRTP Certified, merely your reader may not. Go far piece of cake for them.
Special Awards or Certifications. You might know how ridiculously difficult you worked to earn a Level 8 Certification in violin, but if you don't explain it to the reader, they may not. As well, when possible, quantify. Tell us you were one of viii called out of 500, if it'south true.

What else might go hither? Anything that may requite the reader a more total understanding of who you are and what y'all'll contribute on a college campus and beyond.

Loftier School Context:

"I'm one of the showtime students to apply to U.S. universities from my schoolhouse OR my school doesn't take experience with U.S. school applications."
"Nosotros don't have a higher advisor, so 2 of my teachers volunteered to complete the counselor recommendation."
"My English teacher and I worked together to create our School Profile (not just for me just also for my younger classmates)"

Note that the following details are important to include in your application somewhere, just I'd recommend trying to piece of work them (and their touch on on you) into your personal statement or other parts of the awarding:

Single-parent household
Low-income family or large family with many dependents, straining family income
Language spoken at dwelling house is other than English
Yous'll exist the first generation in your family to attend college

How do you know if you should put something in the personal statement or Boosted Info section? The personal statement describes who yous are and what you lot value; your Boosted Info oftentimes describes external things that accept happened to you. (Hat tip to my colleague Hollis Bischoff for this distinction.)

Having said all this, don't misuse this section. What do I hateful?

Five Of import Misuses of the Additional Info Section

1. A second personal statement

While some counselors argue that the Additional Info section is a Neat identify to put a whole essay, I side with those who feel like this section should be reserved for, well, additional information. The exception is those 50 to 100ish-word statements that add factual, succinct context or information (see tip #vii higher up).

"When nosotros come across that a student has completed the additional information section, we surmise that the pupil has something to share that could non fit anywhere else in the application," says Patricia Peek, Ph.D., Dean of Undergraduate Admission at Fordham. "If a student takes the time to complete this section, it should indicate that the content is of import. This is as well a skillful place to share context about an element, or elements, of the submission that may demand explanation (modify in grades, extra activities not reflected or lack of activities, etc.). We do not enquire for an extra essay, merely even if we did we would non see this section as a place for that blazon of response."

2. Details that testify you might be overly obsessed with academic perfection

If yous have directly Every bit, or virtually direct As, and you got a B+ in one class, don't explain that B+. Why? It may backlash, revealing qualities that are non super flattering. It's like when you walk into someone's business firm and information technology's in immaculate status (simply it's clear someone has cleaned the place recently) and they're like, "Lamentable the identify is such a mess..." and yous're thinking, Come on, really?

iii. Excuses

If something happened during high school that might raise a red flag on your application or transcript and it'south appropriate to take responsibility, do so! Just don't brand it sound like y'all're whining. Brand sure to confidently and affair-of-factly explain the trouble. Example:

"Freshman year I wasn't prepare for the rigorous form load of high school. Because of this, my grades during the first semester don't reflect my true potential. Second semester I worked hard to develop new study habits and became more disciplined. As a result, I brought my grades up."

You can have responsibleness in many means—this is just one style.

If y'all can't give a proficient explanation for something (e.g., you got a bad course in math because you didn't similar your teacher, you dropped football considering you wanted to chill more during the summer), information technology may be better to not mention information technology at all. Will the reader wonder virtually that affair? Maybe. But if you really tin't come up with a practiced reason, possibly don't write anything.

four. An overly complex abstruse from a scientific newspaper

Telling the reader that you worked with metastatic malignant tumour involving the cervical region of the esophagus may non mean that much without context. If y'all're going to share information that sounds like information technology might exist from an abstract, consider offer a short explanation.

A minor exception to this rule: you can use a little geeky language to explain the particulars, especially if applying to a highly specialized program. Just just a little.

Instance: I contributed to Dr. Li's review article to give an overview of the types of pare diseases typically seen with IBD and their corresponding pathogenesis, proposed mechanisms, and treatments; my contributions were meaning enough to earn me recognition equally a second author.

Notice how succinct, how factual.

five. Pasting a resume that repeats everything you've already said in your Activities List

Why is this bad? Because:

It'southward redundant.
Access readers are reading And so much and this wastes their time.
It looks insecure, like you're saying, "Meet what I did? Look, look once more!"
It's redundant. (That's a joke, btw.)

Sometimes students will even paste a resume (or a link to a resume) instead of filling out the Activities List. Don't exercise this.

On that annotation, some students provide a link to information such equally a scientific abstract or published work. The reader often won't get that information because they tin't click the link or don't have time. Basically, assume the reader won't click it. Instead, write a short summary of what'southward at the link.

What if I feel similar I'm struggling to come up up with stuff to add?

It'southward your call, but if information technology starts to experience like yous're stretching to add random things, stop, take a breath, and remember what I said at the start:

You do not have to utilise the Additional Info section.

That's right: go out it bare! In fact, see if you can be really succinct and fit all your information into the areas provided in the Activities List descriptions. Information technology'due south possible! And your higher reps will thanks.

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Source: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/common-app-additional-info-guide-examples