Selective schools without Supps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Lots of creative ways to use the Addtl Info section….

https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

this is really good advice and is the approach my kid too. this was the one section that i basically put together for him. used bullet points, kept the one neutral, explained some early low grades, explained disability, explained class conflicts, added some info that didn't fit in activities.

Yes but it’s the opposite advice of ppl on here (and also popular former AO like Sara H)

What is Sara H’s advice for using the additional info section?

She doesn't want you to use it. But I've also consulted with former AOs and they do have plenty of use cases for it (similar to that link). A decade or go, no one used it. I think that's why she has that stance.
Ofc it should be used judiciously and not for random or unimportant things. No essays.

She actually wants you to use it judiciously if needed. Simple explanation for a schedule conflict, further clarification for a grade/illness, etc. as it is intended. Adding extra essays is the part that it isn’t for. Schools want 10 activities (and some even look at less), and the number of essays they dictate. Deviating can actually hurt your chances by annoying an AO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Lots of creative ways to use the Addtl Info section….

https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

this is really good advice and is the approach my kid too. this was the one section that i basically put together for him. used bullet points, kept the one neutral, explained some early low grades, explained disability, explained class conflicts, added some info that didn't fit in activities.

Yes but it’s the opposite advice of ppl on here (and also popular former AO like Sara H)

What is Sara H’s advice for using the additional info section?

She doesn't want you to use it. But I've also consulted with former AOs and they do have plenty of use cases for it (similar to that link). A decade or go, no one used it. I think that's why she has that stance.
Ofc it should be used judiciously and not for random or unimportant things. No essays.

She actually wants you to use it judiciously if needed. Simple explanation for a schedule conflict, further clarification for a grade/illness, etc. as it is intended. Adding extra essays is the part that it isn’t for. Schools want 10 activities (and some even look at less), and the number of essays they dictate. Deviating can actually hurt your chances by annoying an AO.

I don't think she'd approve of this - especially the first 4 of the 6 ways at the top:
https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

[Anonymous]

Johns Hopkins

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Lots of creative ways to use the Addtl Info section….

https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

this is really good advice and is the approach my kid too. this was the one section that i basically put together for him. used bullet points, kept the one neutral, explained some early low grades, explained disability, explained class conflicts, added some info that didn't fit in activities.

Yes but it’s the opposite advice of ppl on here (and also popular former AO like Sara H)

What is Sara H’s advice for using the additional info section?

She doesn't want you to use it. But I've also consulted with former AOs and they do have plenty of use cases for it (similar to that link). A decade or go, no one used it. I think that's why she has that stance.
Ofc it should be used judiciously and not for random or unimportant things. No essays.

She actually wants you to use it judiciously if needed. Simple explanation for a schedule conflict, further clarification for a grade/illness, etc. as it is intended. Adding extra essays is the part that it isn’t for. Schools want 10 activities (and some even look at less), and the number of essays they dictate. Deviating can actually hurt your chances by annoying an AO.

I don't think she'd approve of this - especially the first 4 of the 6 ways at the top:
https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

Agree