You’ve spent three and a half years preparing for this–the college application. Now, you’re the curator of a vast collection of experiences and accolades. Perhaps you feel compelled to include everything, even if the college didn’t explicitly request it. This impulse is natural, but not always effective. So let’s take a look at the most common “extras” applicants include with their bid for admission and sort the signal from the noise.
Résumé
Perhaps the most common “extra” admission counselors encounter is the extended résumé. This document, often two to three pages in length, is meant to demonstrate that the applicant can’t be confined to just a few fields on the Common App—that he is somehow more lauded and more engaged than the rest of the pool. But laundry listing accolades and extracurriculars can distract the reader from the things that are truly important to you. If you elect to include a résumé, don’t let it run over one page. More stuff doesn’t always mean a better impression; sometimes it just means “more stuff.”
Art Portfolio or Photo Book
When applying for admission to an art program, a portfolio is required. When applying to a liberal arts college, it becomes supplementary. When it’s good art, though, it’s a welcome (and appreciated) addition. But sometimes, it’s mediocre and serves as a distraction from your other talents. If you wish to include art samples, consider the two following recommendations. 1.) Don’t send anything that can’t comfortably be contained to a standard manilla folder. 2.) Don’t send art just to send art. Only do so if it’s something you’re passionate about, it’s something that defines you, and/or it’s something you plan to pursue in college, either academically or extracurricularly.
DVD/CD and Other Digital Media
Similar to the portfolio, students will occasionally submit a compendium of work in digital formats on a CD or DVD. Depending on the reader—and volume of applications—she may or may not pop the media into her computer to review the files. If you send a DVD or CD, be sure to clearly list the contents so your reader knows what to look for, and perhaps why you’ve included it. If you wish to include a link to an online video with your application, be sure to use a URL shortener. Nothing discourages a counselor from reviewing your work more than having to key in a 40+ character, case sensitive web address. Then again, it may be best to assume your reviewer is no where near a computer at all when submitting extra materials…
Extra Letters of Recommendation
What’s better than a couple letters of recommendation? How about a couple more? Next to the résumé, this is perhaps the second most frequently included extra submission. The theory here is that one can never have too many endorsements. This is true, but only when they’re genuinely constructive. Oftentimes, extra recommendations begin to read the same and offer little new or critical information about the applicant. Consider your relationship with the penman as well as your intended audience. Your youth pastor or employer may have a lot of nice things to say about you, but can they offer something that A.) hasn’t already been said and B.) contributes directly to your application for college admission?
Additional Writing Samples
Fancy yourself a literary phenom? You might be contemplating submitting additional pieces of written work. The application essay is generally considered sufficient, but some applicants want to demonstrate their ability to write in different modes: persuasive, expository, fiction, etc. The verdict: people who write can write; they typically don’t include additional materials to prove it. Most often, we see one of two additional writing samples: poetry or an academic essay written for class. The poetry is often standard teenager fare, and counselors aren’t necessarily interested in the political landscape of Poland in the late 18th century. Use caution here and remember: brevity is the soul of wit.
Photo
Perhaps the most contentious extra you may consider including with your application is a photo of yourself. Rarely do these make a solo appearance; they’re most often included with a résumé. I’ll be honest with you, as an admission counselor, I love finding photos in students’ applications. It gives me an opportunity to put a face to a name, and the reading process instantly becomes more personal. Sometimes, if I’ve previously met with the student, it can also help me recall bits and pieces of our conversation. But don’t interpret this is as an emphatic endorsement. For better or worse, application readers will likely make inferences about your character based on how you look. The snapshot at the pool with your shirt off, of you cheesing in a tuxedo, of you receiving an award…all of these carry meta messages. Some are positive: he’s fun, he’s classy, he’s smart. Some are negative: he’s inappropriate, he’s stuffy, he’s pompous. The rub? It’s primarily dependent on the reviewer, not the applicant. A photo is hardly ever required with college applications for this reason. Consider the risks involved and use your best judgment, but don’t count this one out right away.
Conclusions
It’s easy to read all this and be discouraged from submitting anything but the requested materials. Don’t be so hasty. Extras are often referred to as icing; they’re the sweet layer that elevates a slab of sugary bread to cake status. The trick is to be measured with your submissions. Even folks who enjoy the corner piece of cake can be turned off by too much of a good thing. Send extras, if you wish, but only send the items that you’re confident are especially impressive. Finally, keep in mind that your application reviewer must budget her time when reading hundreds of files. So the more you send, the less time she’ll be able to spend reviewing each item. Don’t spread her attention too thin; you’ll do a great disservice to the last three and a half years.
