Distinctive

By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D.

Sometimes, what’s left unsaid means more than what’s spelled out. Think about how your mom or dad might prepare your favorite meal after a stressful day and let you enjoy it in peaceful silence. That quiet gesture can often show as much love and care, if not more, than asking you directly about why your day was so tough.

On the other hand, there are moments when we regret not saying something. During my family’s long COVID quarantine, I’d sometimes dust off my old piano books and play the songs I learned as a teenager. Playing the piano again, and thinking about my old piano teacher, brought me comfort. I realized how much of a gift she had given me with those lessons, and I wanted to thank her. But despite my efforts to find her online (because surely you can find anyone on the internet, right?), I couldn’t track her down. Now, I regret not telling her years ago just how grateful I was.

When it comes to your college applications, sometimes leaving things unsaid is important, but in most cases it leads to regret, which is why you need to make the most of your applications’ Additional Information section. While there are no hard rules on what to say exactly, the Common App gives you 650 words of blank space to use to great effect. If you’re unsure about what to include (and let’s face it, most people are), you’re in the right place. Let’s break it down together.

What to Share

Transcript Irregularities:

This is one of the most important ways to control the narrative in your application. Many students have a few bumps in their academic record, from a rough semester to missing a core subject (I’m looking at those of you begging to drop your foreign language class in senior year)! If there’s anything on your transcript that might raise a red flag with admissions officers, get ahead of it and explain what happened. 

For example, if your grades dropped because your parents were out of town for months, caring for a sick relative, share that and explain how you bounced back. Or maybe you dropped your high school Physics in the middle of your first semester of junior year, and you were down a class. Find a way to explain your reasoning and mention any alternative class outside of school that you pursued instead. Whatever the issue, seek a solution, put a positive spin on it, and show what you learned from the experience. Admissions officers care about your growth, so this is your chance to demonstrate it.

Testing Irregularities:

While most schools are sticking with test-optional policies for the 2024-2025 cycle, some are starting to bring back SAT and ACT requirements. If you’re applying to schools that ask for your test scores, and your testing record doesn’t quite match your transcript, you’ll want to address it. 

Additionally, I’ve met many students who are brilliantly creative, but they struggle with standardized tests. If that’s you, and you have proof of your other kinds of intelligence that standardized tests don’t capture, share that! On the flip side, maybe you earned a C in AP U.S. History but scored a perfect 5 on the exam. In that case, it’s worth explaining your strong test performance and how it reflects your mastery of the material, even if your grade doesn’t.

Extracurricular Irregularities:

What if you couldn’t participate in an extracurricular because of something out of your control, like chronic migraines or transportation issues? Explain those circumstances and what you’ve done to work around them. As for family responsibilities, some colleges now have checklists that account for them, like caring for a sibling or helping with household tasks, but if any of the schools you’re applying to don’t offer this in their supplement, mention those commitments. Time spent on meaningful family responsibilities counts!

Additional Awards and Honors:

The Common App only has room for five academic honors, but not every award fits neatly into that category. Maybe you’re an athlete who competes at the national or international level, or you’ve earned recognition for a community service project from a major company. If your awards go beyond what fits into the very limited Honors section, list them in your Additional Information section. 

Similarly, if you have a bunch of achievements across different areas, categorize them by type—academic, athletic, community service, etc. This will help admissions officers quickly see in what ways you have demonstrated your accomplishments. Awards are one of the best ways to stand out, so take advantage of this space!

Media Coverage:

If you’ve received media attention for an accomplishment or project, whether it’s local or national, include that too! Be sure to add a link to the article or video as proof, and let others sing your praise.

Descriptions of Substantial Projects:

If you’ve done mentored research within a professional setting, won a competition with an independent research project, completed an IB Extended Essay, or participated in a magnet program’s capstone, summarize your work in this section. Similarly, if you’re a creative and have won awards for your writing, films, or other projects, this is a great place to describe them and provide links to where they appear.

Social Media Influence:

In today’s world, social media influence can be a big deal. If you’ve built a large following or even earned money from your content, share your stats and links! Let admissions know what makes you stand out online, and don’t forget to mention any financial success you’ve had.

Bonus Material: Why This School

While it’s tempting to celebrate when a college doesn’t require supplemental essays, consider using the Additional Information section to write an unsolicited “Why This School” essay. It might take a little extra time, but it shows the school that you care about being admitted. If you’ve got the space after covering everything else, this is definitely a pro move.

What to Leave Out

Extra Extracurriculars:

It can be tempting to list every activity you’ve done since 9th grade, especially if you’ve made personal sacrifices or your parents have spent a lot of money to support your interests. However, most schools get a pretty clear picture of your involvement from your top 3-4 activities. Yes, the top 3 or 4 are basically all we need to assess your level of achievement and impact. In fact, MIT only allows you to list 4 activities, and for good reason! The Common App gives space for 10, which should cover all of your highlights. Using the Additional Information section to list more activities can distract from the most important ones, so just remember that in this case, quality over quantity is the name of the game!

And don’t forget—about a third of colleges on the Common App allow you to upload a résumé. If a college doesn’t ask for one, that’s their way of saying they don’t want more information on your extracurriculars.

Unresolved Issues or Negativity:

We all face difficulties, but how you handle them matters. If you’ve had a challenge and didn’t find a positive way to deal with it, don’t mention it. For instance, if you got a bad grade because of a difficult teacher, don’t blame the teacher in your application. Admissions officers won’t appreciate complaints. Instead, focus on how you adapted and what you learned from the experience.

In general, deciding what to leave unsaid in your college applications can be tricky, but in most cases it’s best to remember that if you don’t tell colleges, they won’t know. While you don’t want to miss an opportunity to shine, you also don’t want to share information that won’t be appreciated. As such, you should view the Additional Information section as your chance to control the conversation, so use it wisely to showcase the best of who you are. Trust me, you’ll have no regrets!