There’s a writing section in the Common Application. That’s where students put their personal statement and have the option to answer two additional questions to provide more context to their applications.

The first addresses community disruptions like COVID-19 or natural disasters and how they’ve impacted a student’s personal or academic experiences:

Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. For more information, check out our COVID-19 FAQ.

The second is a little more broad and simply asks:

Do you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application?

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?

Let’s look at some do’s and don’ts for the Additional Information section!

DO

DO use this section if you feel like your application is missing something important for colleges to understand your whole story.

DO make sure the information you’re providing is actually additional information and not repeated in your application. This section really is optional, so respect your reader’s time!

DO use this section to give context or new information that does not belong somewhere else.

DO keep this section brief and concise. You don’t need to write a second personal statement.

DON’T

DON’T use this section just because you think you have to. These responses are optional, and not answering them is always better than a “non-answer.”

DON’T rewrite or summarize any of your essays.

DON’T paste a copy of your resume or activity list.

DON’T be negative or give excuses - show ownership and growth instead!

GOOD EXAMPLES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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
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
Websites or portfolios