Do’s and Don’ts for the Common App Optional "Additional Info" Essay

Many students are a bit unsure of how to approach the Common App’s “Additional Information” essay, or whether it is something they should/need to write at all. First of all, it is entirely optional. The colleges will not judge you for giving them LESS to read, rest assured! However, this short essay can be very useful for providing much-needed context and connecting certain dots that otherwise wouldn’t be within the application. Just know that on this year’s new Common App glow-up, this essay has been reduced from a maximum of 650 words to 300 words: a real indicator that colleges just want just the most essential extra info! If you’re unsure how/if to use this space, here is my advice on how to approach it:

Do:

• Expand upon extenuating personal circumstances that had a serious impact on your academic performance (extended illnesses, deaths in the family, short-term mental health struggles, etc). No need to disclose if there are no grade dips to explain!

• Address anything on your transcript that might raise an eyebrow: for instance if you were unable to take certain courses due to scheduling conflicts or limited school offerings, or if you were unable to meet certain requirements (or had to make up classes) that you then had to seek outside of your school, etc. 

• Disclose learning challenges that had an impact on your grades IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO. For instance, I have had students who struggled a lot until they were diagnosed with a learning disability and got proper support later on in high school. Colleges CANNOT hold your learning challenges against you, so if those struggles had a real impact on your performance, it would be helpful context for admissions to have. 

• Use the space to expand upon an exceptional extracurricular (read: do not abuse this!) that you need to say more about than the activities section’s 150 characters will allow. 

• Use short, clear explanations. Admissions officers don’t need flowery language here. If you can sum up everything you need to in a bulleted list or short paragraphs that an officer can quickly skim, I encourage that!

• Take ownership where relevant, instead of over-explaining, excusing, or blaming. DO NOT badmouth teachers or administrators (even if that feels honest)! 

Don’t:

• Don’t treat this space as a second essay; this is not the place for storytelling, reflection, or new personal statement themes.

• Don’t repeat yourself; if you’ve already covered it in the essay, activities list, or counselor recommendation, no need to restate it.

• Don’t pad with fluff: if you have nothing meaningful to add, leave it blank! An empty section is better than unnecessary filler.

• Don’t over-share. Make sure any personal circumstances you discuss are relevant to academics/college readiness. 

• Don’t exaggerate; the additional info should clarify, not spin or sell.

• Don’t include outside links – admissions officers WILL NOT open them. No matter how amazing your 10 minute violin performance is, do not expect it to be watched; at best it will be ignored, at worst it might annoy an admissions officer who has hundreds of other applications to look at!

TLDR: Only list the most important clarifying information that can’t be found elsewhere on your application, keep it short and sweet, and go ahead and leave it blank if you have nothing that absolutely needs to be explained!