Making the Most of Additional Information Section?

Hey guys! So, I'm in the process of completing my college applications and I came across the 'additional information' section on the Common App. I'm not entirely sure what to include here. What are some examples of things that people usually put in this section? Any guidance would be appreciated!

In the additional information section of the Common App, you have the opportunity to provide context or clarification on anything that you feel wasn't adequately covered in other sections of your application. Remember, though, this section is not an extension of the personal statement or a place to list more extracurriculars. You should fill it out only if something about your personal background genuinely warrants extra explanation.

Here are some examples of situations that applicants might include in this section:

1. Family or personal circumstances: If you experienced events or situations that impacted your academic or extracurricular performance, this is where you can provide context. Examples could be a prolonged illness, death of a family member, divorce, financial struggles, or an unstable home environment.

2. Health issues: If you faced a serious or chronic illness that affected your grades or extracurricular involvement, you may wish to provide information about your condition and its impact on your academic profile.

3. Academic disruptions: If your school underwent curriculum changes, teacher strikes, or other disruptions to your education, use this section to explain and provide context on how your accomplishments were affected.

4. Inconsistent grades or test scores: If you have specific explanations for an irregular pattern in your academic performance, you can use this section to address the reason(s) behind them. For example, if you had a lower-than-normal GPA during a specific semester due to something stressful happening in your family life, explain how it affected your academics and what you did to recover.

5. Extracurricular commitments: If you had a significant time commitment, such as a job or a family responsibility that limited your ability to participate in extracurricular activities, you can explain that here, to provide context as to why you may have fewer extracurriculars or less involvement compared to other applicants.

6. Coursework outside the school transcript: If you took classes at a community college, online, or during summer sessions that aren’t reflected on your high school transcript or anywhere else in the Common App, as you sometimes have the option to list courses you took outside of your high school curriculum, you can list and discuss them here.

7. Additional honors or awards: If you've received an award or recognition that didn't fit into the honors section of the application, you may mention it in this section. Be selective about what you include, though - make sure it’s something noteworthy that will truly enhance admissions officers' understanding of your application, not an activity that simply didn't make the cut elsewhere.

In summary, the additional information section should be used sparingly and only for content that truly warrants extra explanation. Keep your responses concise and relevant to the context of your college application. Be sure to maintain a clear focus on what you're trying to convey, and avoid turning this section into an extension of your personal statement or activities list.

If you want further guidance on whether you should fill out this section, and how to do so, you can check out CollegeVine's blog post breaking down the Common App's additional information section: https://blog.collegevine.com/additional-information-about-commonapps-additional-information-section. Best of luck with your college applications!