Dec 05, · The Common App's "Additional Information" Section. Dave Berry. December 05, There’s more to filling out the Common Application than just doing the essay, answering the questions, and completing those nasty supplements that seem to be a sadistic add-on by many colleges these days. If you have taken the time to ponder your life, as it Author: Dave Berry Aug 27, · How to Use Additional Information on the Common App. It’s the time of year that most seniors are starting to complete their Common Application, and if you’ve signed up for an account, you’re probably already aware that you must submit an essay of to words in response to one of seven prompts. In addition to the personal statement Mar 30, · How to Use the Common App Additional Information Section (Examples Included) Low test scores. High-stakes standardized tests are always stressful, and extenuating circumstances can further interrupt testing days. While you do Financial obstacles. Childcare responsibilities. English as a
Additional Information on the Common App: 5 Do’s and Don’ts
Admissions and test prep resources to help you get into your dream schools. The Additional Information section is a place where you can include extra information that would not fit elsewhere in your Common Application. Like the Common App Essay, the Additional Information section has a word limit and will be sent to every school you select on the Common Application, common app additional information essay example.
No, the Additional Information section is truly optional. In fact, adcoms admissions committee members look down on students who force unnecessary responses and include redundant information in this section.
Therefore, you should avoid repeating information that is readily available in your Common App Essay, common app additional information essay example, your Activities section, or elsewhere in your Common Application. Adcoms are super busy and will appreciate you not asking them to read the same information twice. But, what if you really do have something else to say? Given how complicated it can be to decide common app additional information essay example or not to include something in the Additional Information section, we wrote this guide, which covers virtually every scenario, in order to help make things easier for you.
Thank you! Your guide is on its way. In the meantime, please let us know how we can help you crack the the college admissions code. You can also learn more about our 1-on-1 medical school admissions support here. Most students will use the Additional Information section to explain how extenuating circumstances caused them to achieve lower grades or lower test scores, or why they were unable to participate in certain extracurricular activities.
If your grades, test scores, or participation in extracurriculars were indeed affected by situations such as a disability, financial struggle, family problem, illness, common app additional information essay example, or another similar scenario more details on how to cover each of these belowbe sure to include the following:. In fact, doing so can hurt your chances of admission. Admissions committee members will be sympathetic to such extreme situations.
During the common app additional information essay example semester of my sophomore year, I was in a car accident. I spent two days recovering in the hospital and had to undergo a year of physical therapy to repair my broken left leg. The frequent appointments and physical stress made it difficult to study and complete homework during the end of my sophomore year, which led to lower grades than usual.
Many students wonder if divorce counts as an "extenuating circumstance. In reality, divorce is like any other family issue that you might describe in the Additional Information section. If your academic record shows a clear change e. You shouldn't write about a divorce that happened before you were in high school or which didn't negatively affect your transcript. The key is to describe how specific aspects of the divorce challenged you. Don't simply note that your parents split common app additional information essay example and leave it at that.
For instance, perhaps you were uprooted to a new city, which disrupted your academic and social experience. Or maybe the emotional distress left you unable to focus adequately on your schoolwork for a time, common app additional information essay example.
Whatever the circumstances, stay as factual as possible and keep the focus on how your academic performance was impacted, rather than on your parents. High-stakes standardized tests are always stressful, and extenuating circumstances can further interrupt testing days.
While you do not need to explain that you got a 4 on the AP Literature exam because of a cold, you might want to briefly explain that you received a 1 or 2 on your AP Chemistry exam the day after your grandmother died or the week you found out your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
You might also want to note a lower-than-expected test score if you were receiving high marks in the corresponding school course.
Keep in mind, however, that certain instructors make AP and IB courses too easy, and students with high grades in the course often receive a 1 or 2 on the actual exam. If this is the case for you, you should not use poor preparation as an excuse for a low score, as it may cause the adcom to wonder about the quality of your coursework or your effort outside of the classroom, common app additional information essay example. Even though I received an A in my AP Calculus BC class, I ended up only getting a 2 on the exam.
My grandmother, who lived with our family, passed away from a stroke the day before the exam. The stress of her death made it difficult to sleep the night before the exam and to focus while taking it. If the financial difficulties were temporary, include the dates when they occurred, especially if they happen to line up with a semester where your grades dropped or during which you took a high-stakes exam like the SAT or ACT.
Moreover, common app additional information essay example, the Additional Information section would be a great place to explain how you had to pick up a part-time job to help your family pay rent, purchase food, and so on. If your family has experienced long-term financial challenges, such as food insecurity or homelessness, take a moment to briefly describe those challenges and their impact on your education.
My mother lost her job in Octoberthe fall semester of my junior year. I still work there, as my mom remains unemployed. The work commitment meant that I needed to quit band and choir. I grew up living in Section 8 housing in Riverside, California. My father was unable to work due to a back injury and my mom left us when I was 6. While government support helped, we often did not have enough money to eat more than one meal a day. We also did not have a car, which made it difficult to get around in an area with insufficient public transportation.
The moment I turned 16, I spent much of my time working at a cheese factory to help support my family. Nonetheless, I still enrolled in AP and Honors courses and participated in choir during my lunch period. You may have served as a caretaker for younger siblings, nieces, and nephews. Caring for kids can take a toll on your ability to participate in extracurricular activities, study for tests, and finish homework on time.
Note: You can also include family obligations in your Activities section. My single mother works two jobs. I have spent 6 hours every day caring for my two siblings after school since I was Unfortunately, I am not able to participate in extracurricular activities because I need to leave school early enough to pick up my siblings from the bus stop.
Nevertheless, caring for my siblings has helped me become a leader, as I need to make decisions that impact their development and well-being.
If you have grown up in a household where English is not the primary language, you might want to explain briefly how this impacted your education. I was born in Mexico, where I grew up speaking Spanish with my parents. In fifth grade, we moved to the United States. Because I did not know much English, I struggled throughout middle school to learn vocabulary and grammar, as well as math, science, and social studies. Therefore, you should include a description of a long commute in the Additional Information section to provide adcoms context around why you may have pursued fewer extracurricular activities.
Commuting to school by bus from central New Jersey to Philadelphia 90 minutes each way, 5 days each week made it difficult to participate in more than 2—3 demanding extracurricular activities. Moving to a new city or state or changing schools in the middle of high school can academically and socially impact your educational experience. Therefore, you should note whether a significant move impacted your grades or the classes you could take.
My grades fell slightly during the Fall semester as I adjusted to my new school. Moreover, Japanese was not offered at my new school, so I started taking Spanish instead. From a diagnosed chronic illness to a month-long bout of mono, common app additional information essay example, health problems can impact your life socially, psychologically, financially, and academically. If you were in the hospital or at home for a long time, make sure to explain for how long and when.
In AugustI was diagnosed with epilepsy, common app additional information essay example. Though I continue to receive treatment, I am often sleep deprived, which makes it difficult to focus common app additional information essay example class.
I especially struggled with my morning classes during freshman and sophomore year, when I often overslept and arrived late to first period. As a result, common app additional information essay example, my first-period grades those years biology and chemistry were noticeably lower than the rest of my grades.
I contracted a rare form of cellulitis during my junior year and stayed home sick for three weeks in October. I had to give up varsity soccer as a result. This was especially difficult for me as I have been playing soccer since I was five years old and was on track to becoming the team captain during senior year.
While many students experience a single depressive episode or periodic difficulties with anxiety during high school, others struggle with more chronic, recurrent, or severe forms of these conditions and others.
If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or any other mental health condition, you might want to take a moment to describe common app additional information essay example this impacted your academics and life.
That said, there is unfortunately still stigma surrounding many mental health conditions, so I advise you to speak with a college admissions professional about whether and how to include this information on your college application.
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder during fall of my sophomore year due to somatic e. However, I have learned to cope with my condition through regular treatment, and my grades have improved dramatically over the past two years as a result. A diagnosed physical or learning disability is worth explaining in the Additional Information section, especially if it has impacted your education or your ability to participate in certain extracurricular activities.
Whereas many students with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations for classes and testing, many do not. If you have not, you should note that here, too, common app additional information essay example. In fifth grade, I was diagnosed with surface dyslexia reading disorderwhich impacts things such as my ability to recognize and read words that defy pronunciation rules e.
However, I still struggle with timed tests, which contributed to my Reading score on the SAT being noticeably lower than my Math score. I was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of my freshman year, common app additional information essay example. However, my small school is not equipped to provide accommodations, nor have I received any for standardized tests.
These obstacles have taught me resilience, because now I know that Common app additional information essay example need to advocate for myself by asking teachers for help or extra time on assignments and exams. While my ADHD continues to challenge me in the classroom and sometimes makes it harder to complete timed tasks, I now know that I am capable of the same success as my peers. Whether you are in the closet, have recently come out, or are an LGBTQ student in a conservative town or in a liberal city, grappling with your sexual orientation and gender identity may impact your education.
When I came out as bisexual my junior year, my parents did not receive the information well. They are both devout Mormons and believe that homosexuality is a sin. The stress at home made common app additional information essay example difficult for me to focus on my schoolwork.
This caused my grades to be lower than normal during the fall of my junior year. Though my parents have not accepted me fully, I am handling the stress better, and my grades returned to normal during the spring semester of junior year. Any information here should be brief and in no way resemble an essay. Rest assured, however, that admissions readers will learn a lot about you from your Common App Essay and supplemental college essayscommon app additional information essay example, letters of recommendationcommon app additional information essay example, and transcripts.
A short sentence or two about a major award not covered in your Activities section will be appreciated by readers, whereas an additional word essay describing your love for tennis might lead your application to the rejection pile.
The Additional Information section is common app additional information essay example great place to include them.
Common App Additional Information Section Dos and Don'ts -- How to Fill Out the Common App
, time: 7:2510+ Outstanding Common App Essay Examples
Aug 27, · How to Use Additional Information on the Common App. It’s the time of year that most seniors are starting to complete their Common Application, and if you’ve signed up for an account, you’re probably already aware that you must submit an essay of to words in response to one of seven prompts. In addition to the personal statement Dec 05, · The Common App's "Additional Information" Section. Dave Berry. December 05, There’s more to filling out the Common Application than just doing the essay, answering the questions, and completing those nasty supplements that seem to be a sadistic add-on by many colleges these days. If you have taken the time to ponder your life, as it Author: Dave Berry May 22, · The “Additional Information” section of the Common Application is perplexing to many. At the tail end of what feels like an exhaustive and painstaking application, this word forum — which is optional and comes with few directions — can seem like a trick. Here, a few answers about the Common App section that engenders the most questions
No comments:
Post a Comment