Harvard: Supplementary Materials
The required components of the application to Harvard provide ample basis to make our admission decisions. However, students with exceptional talents or achievements may send music recordings, slides of artwork or selected samples of academic work or creative writing for us to consider as part of their application files. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, submissions may be evaluated by faculty. Supplementary materials are not required or expected -- and should be sent only if the applicant`s work is unusually advanced. Because we cannot return such materials, applicants should send only duplicates. For more information, please visit our website: www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/application_process/supplements.html.

Check here if you are planning to send supplementary materials to be evaluated as part of your application. Please send all supplementary materials to the Admissions Office so that they can be properly labeled and included in your file. DO NOT submit materials directly to academic departments. If you are submitting research materials for review, please include a short statement putting the research project into the context of your academic interests and future plans and clearly indicate the research advisor (if any) with whom you have worked.
*Please note that CD format is preferred, but tapes can be evaluated. Do not send video recordings (DVDs) of musical performances or recitals.

Additional Essays
Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If there is something you would like us to know, please inform us below. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so.
Possible Topics:
- Unusual circumstances in your life
- Travel or living experiences in other countries
- A letter to your future college roommate
- An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper or research topic) that has meant the most to you
- How you hope to use your college education
- A list of the books you have read during the past twelve months

Georgetown: Essay Requirement
Compose two brief essays (approximately one page each) on the topics given below.
Essay One: ALL APPLICANTS
As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Vassar: Optional Submissions
Photograph: You are welcome to submit a photograph of yourself to personalize your application. (see photo upload area below)
Music, Dance, and Studio Art Submissions: If you have devoted a significant amount of time to music, dance, or studio art and you plan to continue at Vassar, you are welcome to submit materials electronically for review. Please visit http://admissions.vassar.edu/arts for instructions on content and format.
The Drama, English, and Film Departments do not review submissions.
Your Space: Your Space is your opportunity to allow the Committee on Admission to learn something about you that you have not addressed in another section of the application. If you choose to include a Your Space submission, be sure it is labeled with your name, high school, and date of birth. Due to the volume of submissions, we will be unable to return your work. Please do not send anything that is irreplaceable.

504-word version
I could not believe that I was actually having dinner with a renowned college professor of political science, whom I only corresponded with through emails. My heart beat so fast that I was not sure if I were eating the beef steak or the wooden chopsticks...

Common Application: Personal Statement
Please write an essay (250 words minimum 500 words maximum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below. This personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.
1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
6. Topic of your choice.

500-word version (Dartmouth Version)
I could not believe I was actually having dinner with the Dartmouth College professor, whom I only corresponded with through emails. My heart beat so fast that I was not sure if I were eating the beef steak or the wooden chopsticks...

UPenn: Essay
Ben Franklin once said, `All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.` Which are you? (Please answer in 300-500 words.)

486-word version
I could not believe that I was actually having dinner with a renowned college professor of political science, whom I only corresponded with through emails. My heart beat so fast that I was not sure if I were eating the beef steak or the wooden chopsticks...

Brown: Please respond to one of the following questions: A, B, or C. (2000 characters)
A. Why are you going to college?
B. Sculptor Jacques Lipchitz once said, "Cubism is like standing at a certain point on a mountain and looking around. If you go higher, things will look different; if you go lower, again they will look different. It is a point of view." With this in mind, describe a moment when your perspective changed.
C. What question could we ask to gain the most insight into you? What is your answer?

Macalester: International Applicants
International applicants must submit a third essay.
Describe a situation where you had to work or closely associate with someone from a background very different from your own. What challenges did you face and how did you resolve them?

Application forms like this often require people to uncomfortably classify their race and ethnicity by checking boxes. Is there anything about your (or your family`s) racial or cultural background that you would like us to know that is not addressed elsewhere in your application? (if “yes,” 1000 characters)
Has there been a significant fluctuation in your grades at any point during grades 9-12 (up or down)? (if “yes,” 1000 characters)

366-word version
North Korea was just in front of me, the barren land vividly visible. The distance from where I was standing to North Korea on the opposite side of the river was so close that I could almost stretch my arms and touch the land...

Notre Dame: Short Answer
Please select three of the following five prompts and provide a response of approximately 150 words to each. Your responses will be read by Notre Dame admissions counselors as we seek to learn more about you. We encourage you to use personal examples, anecdotes, or anything that helps differentiate you from your peers. (1500 characters)
1. In your opinion, what is the difference between intelligence and wisdom? You may cite a historical or fictional example, or offer an illustration from your own experience.
2. The British philosopher, John Stuart Mill, states that "in an imperfect state of the human mind, the interest of truth requires a diversity of opinions." Given that a plurality of voices is crucial to broadening our educational experiences and cultural awareness, what is one view that you hold-large or small-that would contribute to the variety of perspectives at Notre Dame?
3. Gary Gaffney, `69MS, began doctoral work in mathematics at Notre Dame but left to become an artist, eventually earning two degrees in fine art. His poem "Mil Preguntas (a meditation in 1000 questions)" explores a myriad of topics, using queries both whimsical and profound. Some of our favorites are:
What is consciousness?
What is your deepest mystery?
What`s the last honest question you asked yourself?
How often has humanity led you to forgive?
What makes you dream?
Is being ordinary a failure?
What can`t you live without?
Who convinced you about God?
Can you tell the story of faith put to the test?
Why should you care about the rings of Saturn?
What will you never believe?
What will you always believe?
Provide your own answer to one of the author`s inquires and be sure to tell us which question you select.
4. You may have noticed that you have an exemplary passion that separates you from your peers. How does this intense focus set you apart and how will it affect your life`s journey? Please provide us with as much concrete evidence as possible.
5. Why are you interested in attending the University of Notre Dame?

203-word version

What`s the last honest question you asked yourself?

Encouraged that it could alleviate the children’s hunger, I carefully kneaded the dough until it took the shape of bread. Although baking was not as easy as it looked, I gave it my best and wished that they might notice my sincerity...

WashU Scholarship Essay: John B. Ervin Scholars Program, All Undergraduate Schools
Submit an application for admission.
Submit an Application for Academic Scholarships and Fellowships, checking the box for the Ervin Scholars Program.
Write a brief response (150 words or less) to one of the following questions.
1. Describe your most difficult challenge and how you approached it.
2. In which of your high school or community activities do you take the greatest pride? Why?

150-word version
Encouraged that it could alleviate the children’s hunger, I carefully kneaded the dough until it took the shape of bread...

Denison: Denison values diversity in our college community. Please describe a personal experience that you have had with diversity and tell us how it might inform your college experience. (500 characters)

89-word version
Encouraged that it could alleviate the children’s hunger, I carefully kneaded the dough until it took the shape of bread...