Common App Additional Information Section Dos and Don'ts || How to Fill Out the Common App

Рет қаралды 11,618

3 жыл бұрын

This video shows you exactly how to fill out the common app; specifically, the common app additional information section. This is certainly a section that is bypassed by many, but you may be surprised about the amount of depth that you can add in here that you couldn't include in any other parts of your application!
Let me know in the comments section if you want to see more Common App tutorials!
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Welcome to my channel - College Tips From the Almost Astrophysicist! I'm Priya and I'm here to help you get into college. I'm a University of Chicago grad with an Astrophysics degree that currently works as a Data Scientist and I want to break down the college application process and tackle all of the misconceptions about college for you! Let me know in the comments section down below if you have any video requests, or just want to say hi! :)
LinkedIn: / priya-l-5. .
Instagram: / plingutla
TikTok: / thealmostastrophysicist

Пікірлер: 43

@jazminelarricke7706 3 жыл бұрын

This is amazing. I needed this !! Thank you so much

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad I could help!! Thanks for keeping up with my channel. :)

@madhavilingutla4031 3 жыл бұрын

As usual, you have lot of helpful info for the college kids!! Keep up the good work👍

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

@fangbite 2 жыл бұрын

is this like your other acc or smtg lol

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 2 жыл бұрын

it's my mom lol

@journeyawaits1771 3 жыл бұрын

thank youu! i actually took your suggestion and after a few other opinions wrote a whole other essay for the questbride application! i already submit it and currently ranking schools i hope to be matched with for a full ride! i am just struggling with finding scholarships and etc. if you haven't, could you make a video on how to rank colleges effectively and if applying for less than ten is completely better then applying for more then fifteen?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

By ranking colleges, do you mean just figuring out which ones to apply to? I actually do have a video on making a college list on my channel! :) It's called "Which colleges should you apply to?" :) If your question is specifically about Questbridge, I might not be of much help since I never applied through it - I don't know how the ranking process works!

@krishnarao4840 3 жыл бұрын

Useful video

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@Mooksie Жыл бұрын

Amazing video. Btw you are really pretty!

@hira-786 6 ай бұрын

Thank❤ Amazing video as usual. Its so comprehensive. Can you please proofread my essay?? Please

@lovej6111 3 жыл бұрын

I love your tiktoks!! I struggled a lot with my mental and physical health last year but it didn’t impact my grades significantly. Should I still include it as a way to show personal growth?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for keeping up with my channel + TikToks! Hmm, this is a hard one. I don't think it's required to add to the section if it didn't impact a part of your profile. But I also realize that struggling with mental and physical health is certainly a big deal; if you want to add a couple sentences, I'm sure it would be alright! I always just think of the additional information section as a place to explain extenuating circumstances that explain odd trends in your grades/extracurriculars in your profile, though. So I think it can go either way.

@lovej6111 3 жыл бұрын

The Almost Astrophysicist thank you!! excited for your next video!

@mhashik5863 2 жыл бұрын

If I want to different types of info like additional awards, activities and mentionable circumstances at the same time on this section, how should I go for it? Should I do bullet pointing or something else?

@malishaweerasinghe7742 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Priya! Thank you for your video! It was super comprehensive. I just wanted ask if I should include anything about an EC I didn't mention in my Activities section, but discussed with my recommender, who I know is going to write about that particular EC? Basically, I was the President of the History Society at school, and my recommender is my history teacher- should I still include the fact that I was president in this section?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks! :) Nope that isn't required - your teacher would have certainly referenced it in the letter. If anything, that might be something to add to your Activities section since you are the president and it shows initiative and leadership!

@malishaweerasinghe7742 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Thank you!

@ryanhaynes2755 3 жыл бұрын

please do an activities section video!

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

You got it!

@kanzarehan5408 3 жыл бұрын

Question: can we write about our financial issues which didn't really affect the grades or extra curricular activities in this section?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

I feel like if it didn't directly impact any part of your application, it might not be a necessary thing to highlight because it wouldn't give them new insight into your profile. But, if you think it impacted your quality of life or any other major aspects of your life and subsequently your application, you can include it. :)

@helencabero3691 3 жыл бұрын

Question: Could I talk about how I struggled in math? I have 2 bad grades from it and a withdraw from a class should I mention it on my additional info?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Only if you think it adds vital information to understanding your profile/if there was a deeper reason behind the bad grades (i.e. financial issues, family issues, etc). I would recommend to stray away from trying to 'explain away a bad grade' because sometimes it may draw more attention to it/it just doesn't add vital info to your profile. It just depends on your particular situation. :)

@jazminelarricke7706 3 жыл бұрын

Question: I’m writing finishing up my Why UChicago essay and I have 678 words but the recommended word limit is 250-500. BUT I feel like if I take away anything I’m taking away from the story and the essay would just be incoherent. So I’m asking you should I try to get it down to 500 or keep it where it is ????

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Great question Jazmine. I'd recommend checking line by line for sentences that don't convey to the reader any personal insight into you. Also, for each sentence, figure out what the main point is. If it's repetitive/similar to the point another sentence is trying to make, that's something you can condense as well. My UChicago Essay was 470 words, and I'd strongly recommend having an essay that's around the 500 word mark. But 600 isn't too far off so if you could get it down to 500-600, that may be alright. Good luck!

@jazminelarricke7706 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Thank you so much !

@jasminenguyen450 2 жыл бұрын

can i use it to elaborate on some things from my ec list?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 2 жыл бұрын

Hi! I'd say only if there were major accomplishments that you have news links to, publications, or something of that sort! Condensing everything into the activity section should be enough, and the additional info section is really just for like very specific accomplishments/publications or to describe something unconventional in your background or impediments!

@carlosserafin118 2 жыл бұрын

Can I add personal achievements like no junk food diet, cold showers, and hobbies like skateboarding that aren't part of an actual club? Or is additional info only about problems affecting your grades

@neeeeeaae4736 5 ай бұрын

Only what’s affecting your grades

@shristimuskan5375 2 жыл бұрын

I have a poetry blog and the college doesn't take writing portfolio. So, can I provide a link to the poetry and my other works in additional info section?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 2 жыл бұрын

YES for sure - that's a great use of the space. Add a very short paragraph description about your poetry blog (why you started, how much it means to you, what you hope to share with the world, your passion for poetry) and link it. :) Just a short paragraph description and the link should do.

@shristimuskan5375 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Thank you so much!!

@sundarkaddu5272 3 жыл бұрын

Can i write about a protest that i did for girls safety in my country for my common app essay? How i grow from there and how it changed me and my thoughts?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

For sure! I think delving deep is key - get genuine and honest and showcase your emotions/feelings. Showing rather than telling is always preferred!

@sundarkaddu5272 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Do you think this is a controversial topic? 😅

@oumaimabassit3144 3 жыл бұрын

So, should I write them in bullet points or like in paragraph form?

@TheAlmostAstrophysicist 3 жыл бұрын

Great question! I'd say paragraph form, but if you have several points you're trying to convey to them, just add a short title and colon before the paragraph to denote what it's going to be about.