If you’ve started working on your Common App, you may have noticed that there’s more than just the personal statement in the Writing section. In addition to your main essay, you’ll find two optional “Additional Information” questions. These are spaces where you can share context that might not fit anywhere else in your application.
For 2025–2026, both Additional Information questions have been updated. If you read our older post on this topic, you’ll want to pay close attention to what’s changed this year.
Let’s walk through the updates, when you should (and shouldn’t) answer these questions, and how to use this space effectively.
What’s New for 2025–2026
1. “Community Disruption” is now “Challenges and Circumstances.”
The old Community Disruption prompt was originally added to address COVID-19, natural disasters, and other large-scale disruptions. This year, it’s been replaced with a broader question designed to capture many different kinds of challenges students may face.
Here’s the new prompt:
Sometimes a student’s application and achievements may be impacted by challenges or other circumstances. This could involve:
Access to a safe and quiet study space
Access to reliable technology and internet
Community disruption (violence, protests, teacher strikes, etc.)
Discrimination
Family disruptions (divorce, incarceration, job loss, health, loss of a family member, addiction, etc.)
Family or other obligations (care-taking, financial support, etc.)
Housing instability, displacement, or homelessness
Military deployment or activation
Natural disasters
Physical health and mental well-being
War, conflict, or other hardships
If you’re comfortable sharing, the Common App encourages you to describe what happened and how it impacted you. This helps colleges understand the context of your achievements and may also connect you with support and resources.
The word limit here is still 250 words for first-year applicants (1250 characters for transfers).
2. Shorter word count for the general “Additional Information” question.
The open-ended Additional Information section has always been a place to share anything important that isn’t already in your application. In past years, first-year applicants had 650 words to work with. Starting August 1, 2025, that limit will be 300 words (and for transfers, 1500 characters).
So how should students take advantage of these spaces of the Common Application? Are they truly optional? Should everyone answer them? Should no one answer them?
When to Use the “Challenges and Circumstances” Section
This section is not required, and for many students, it will be left blank. But if you’ve faced circumstances that have shaped your academic or personal experience, this is the place to briefly explain them.
We recommend keeping your response fact-based and concise. You’re giving context, not writing a second personal statement. Focus on what happened, when, and the effect it had on you, rather than telling the entire story in detail.
When to Use the General “Additional Information” Section
Think of this as the place where you can include relevant details that don’t fit anywhere else in your application. It’s not a required section, so only include something here if it adds meaningfully to your application.
Good uses of this section include:
Provide context for a dip in grades
Explain a schedule conflict (for example: “I had to choose between AP Bio and AP Spanish in my senior year, and I chose AP Spanish because of my interest in international relations.”)
Explain any discrepancies in your application or clarifying something that might be confusing to your reader
Add something that is really important to you but not captured somewhere else
Activity descriptions that truly require more than 150 characters to fully understand
Extra awards, activities, or coursework that meant a lot to you
Link to websites or portfolios
When Not to Use Additional Information
Skip this section if you’re tempted to:
Write a second personal statement
Repeat information that is readily available somewhere else in your application
Paste your resume in full
Write something just to write something because you think you need to complete this section. These responses are optional, and not answering them is always better than a “non-answer.”
Offer excuses rather than context (focus on ownership and growth)
Both the Challenges & Circumstances question as well as the Additional Information section are truly optional. A thoughtful, relevant response can help your application by giving your reader access to new information or deeper context when necessary. But there is no harm in leaving either section blank if you do not have something meaningful to include.
Tips for Writing Strong Responses
Be direct and specific. State the facts and their impact on your academics or activities. Remember, these aren’t “essays” like your personal statement. Think of your responses in these sections as “need to know information.”
Avoid repetition. Don’t use this space to say something that’s already covered elsewhere in your application.
Keep it brief. The new shorter word limit means you need to get to the point quickly.
Bottom Line
The Additional Information sections can be valuable additions in your application, but only if you truly need to add new information. Use these sections strategically. This year’s changes mean students have to be concise and to focus on truly important context.
If you’re not sure whether something belongs here, ask yourself: Would an admissions reader understand my application just as well without this information? If the answer is yes, you can probably skip it. If the answer is no, this might be the perfect place to share it.