Using the Addtl Info Section

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not for expanding the activities and honors. It is to explain an extenuating circumstance or anomaly.

Were you unable to take AP Physics bc it conflicted with AP Latin? Did the IB program not offer something this year?

Did you move and so your sequence of classes was off?

Were you hospitalized and missed something?

Was there a policy change at your school that affected you?

These are the things to mention in a SUPER brief sentence ot two.

Do not submit an extra essay or add honors and more activities.

+1 to quoted text.

Also, and ONLY if genuinely poor (i.e., qualified for FARMS) then did you work after school every day to help put food on the table at home?

Working to get spending money would not be the same thing.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes see paid counselors suggest using this box for honors and extra essays. But EVERY admissions counselor I’ve heard talk about it says it really is for actual extenuating circumstances or scheduling conflict explanations (ie couldn’t take a 4th year of world language because it conflicted with calculus). Kids might get in despite putting dumb stuff in that box but it’s still not a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes see paid counselors suggest using this box for honors and extra essays. But EVERY admissions counselor I’ve heard talk about it says it really is for actual extenuating circumstances or scheduling conflict explanations (ie couldn’t take a 4th year of world language because it conflicted with calculus). Kids might get in despite putting dumb stuff in that box but it’s still not a great idea.

They've split it up now. One is Addtl Info and one is Challenges and Circumstances.
Our private's CCO has advised on always using Addtl Info.....very good success rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes see paid counselors suggest using this box for honors and extra essays. But EVERY admissions counselor I’ve heard talk about it says it really is for actual extenuating circumstances or scheduling conflict explanations (ie couldn’t take a 4th year of world language because it conflicted with calculus). Kids might get in despite putting dumb stuff in that box but it’s still not a great idea.

They've split it up now. One is Addtl Info and one is Challenges and Circumstances.
Our private's CCO has advised on always using Addtl Info.....very good success rate.

I think using one of those boxes to identify research or explain some meaningful EC in more detail is fine.

If your school is encouraging you to do it all and everyone is doing it, I’m sure that’s fine.

Remember you’re compared to your peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of your kids with successful reach applications (T20 or otherwise) used the Addtl Info section to summarize extra information?

I am seeing a few sample Common Apps (from CEG as well as online) that have pretty extensive explanations of research, other activities that couldn't fit, etc.

Thoughts and personal experiences?

Dcum's t20, us news t20, tooth fairy's t20, a senior who wants to apply where all his friends are applying's t20?

[Anonymous]

My daughter used it to quickly highlight in bullets (not another essay) her senior
Project research. And she used it to explain how she lettered in 5 sports in 3/4 years. Played two sports in some seasons and it looked weird in the activities list to write it any other way under either sport. Advice we were given was anything important that you didn’t put ANYWHERE in else on your app can go in additional information but it should be informational only. Straightforward easy bullets, no essays and no redundancy.

In early at a T15.

[Anonymous]

Transcript clarification