Some students’ stories don’t fit neatly into the standard sections of the Common Application. They may need to share background details about academics, grades, or activities outside the classroom. The Common App Additional Information section offers an opportunity to provide this extra context and detail. Use it wisely and not just as a bonus essay.
What Is the Additional Information Section?
The Common App Writing section includes the main personal statement. This is the long essay about who you are “apart from courses, grades, and test scores.” In addition, there are two optional free-response boxes under Additional Information. One asks about challenges or disruptions students faced in their academics. The other simply asks for additional details. You don’t have to complete either section, but they can help admissions officers better understand your story.
Challenges and Circumstances Question
Common App has included this type of question for several years. Often referred to as the “Covid essay,” it lets students explain how community-wide disruptions affected their ability to do school.
Common App has modified the question to refer to a broader range of situations that could affect a student’s ability to do school or participate in activities. The word limit is 250 words.
Common App Challenges and Circumstances Prompt
Sometimes a student’s application and achievements may be impacted by challenges or other circumstances. This could involve:
- Access to a safe and quiet study space
- Access to reliable technology and internet
- Community disruption (violence, protests, teacher strikes, etc.)
- Discrimination
- Family disruptions (divorce, incarceration, job loss, health, loss of a family member, addiction, etc.)
- Family or other obligations (care-taking, financial support, etc.)
- Housing instability, displacement, or homelessness
- Military deployment or activation
- Natural disasters
- Physical health and mental well-being
- War, conflict, or other hardships
If you’re comfortable sharing, this information can help colleges better understand the context of your application. Colleges may use this information to provide you and your fellow students with support and resources.
What to Write
If you use this section, explain how the situation affected you, not just what happened.
Examples:
Community disruption: If you had to evacuate from your home and enroll in a different high school, describe how this changed your schedule, complicated transportation, or affected access to activities.
Family circumstances: A student with a deployed military parent might explain how this affected their family responsibilities. Similarly, a student whose family experienced job loss might address how this affected their ability to participate in extracurricular activities.
Personal experience: If you had medical treatment for a serious illness, consider explaining how this affected your ability to attend school or complete assignments.
Pro Tip: This section is entirely optional. You don’t need to use this section unless the information adds context to your application. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, you can leave it blank. But also realize the college admissions officers are often interested in knowing the context around what they see on your transcript and welcome this type of information.
Additional Information Section
This section asks, “Would you like to provide any additional details or qualifications not reflected in the application?” You may write up to 300 words.
Think of this as a catch all space for things that require a little more explanation, but don’t relate to a challenge or special circumstance.
Some examples:
- Unusual academic progression (e.g., repeating or skipping a course)
- Course availability issues (e.g., schedule conflicts or school offerings)
- Details of academic research (e.g., AP Capstone project or IB Extended Essay topic)
- Brief reading list related to your intended major
- Supplemental project list (e.g., theatre roles, competitions, published work)
- Independent academic work (e.g., studying a language not offered at school)
Pro Tip: You don’t need to write an extra essay here. Bullet points or short explanations are fine.
Note: Some students include a link to a website that showcases their work in an area of interest, like engineering projects, art, or even sneaker design. Admissions reps may not have time to check outside links; make sure your application includes what you want them to know about you.
Don’t Miss the “Responsibilities and Circumstances” in the Activities Section
The Common Application also has a section under Activities where students can indicate family responsibilities (like caregiving or working) or circumstances (like long commutes or homelessness) that affect them. If you mark something here, it’s OK to expand on it in the Additional Information section too.
Final Thoughts: Use Additional Information to Add Important Context, Not Just Extra Words
The Common App Additional Information sections allow you to explain and contextualize. Use them to help the admissions reader understand your experience or choices. Remember what is normal for you might be unexpected to an outsider.
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