Is this appropriate for the "Additional Info" section?

College Essays
1

I am considering adding some info to the additional info section.

I have three things that I am considering covering, but I am not sure if they are a good idea to put them there.

Idea 1: Spanish 3
I have had straight A’s in 10th and 11th grade.
9th grade I have a B in Spanish 3, and an A- in algebra 2.
I don’t necessarily want to justify why I got a “B” but I genuinely feel that failing in that class was the most influential class on my entire transcript. I am considering explaining how she was a new teacher with high expectations. The class average was low, and it took a lot of effort to get a passing grade. I learned more in Spanish 3 then in Spanish 1, 2, or 4.The class grew me more than any other class because I was forced to develop better study techniques. I realized I can not just expect talent to get me through classes.

Idea 2: Cycling
I really love biking, and do it in a lot of my free time because it is my escape from being academic, it gives me space to think. My area does not have a club so I can’t put it in activities, but I can’t wait to do it in college.

Idea 3: Self-taught programmer
My school really only has basic programming classes. I exhausted those rather quickly and would usually finish all the class material within the first month. As a result I am a self-taught programmer. I have spent years reading textbooks, using online tutorials, etc. I have learned many programming languages, figured out how to design game engines from scratch, learned opengl graphics programming, made apps.
This would be slightly redundant as I have an activity listed that sorta touches on this just not with as great of a list or explanation as to why.

2

I’d put biking & programming in activities with the hours you spend. I would not make any attempt to make excuses about grades in additional info. So in summary, I would not put any of these in additional info.

3

^agree with above

4

OK your rationale makes sense. Also, I realized while reading through my application that I never explicitly stated that I have been a piano student for 14 years and a cello student for 6 years. Instead I listed activities that apply those skills. Would that be something to include in the additional info section since it did not fit or feel appropriate in the activities section?

5

You can put a one sentence explanation if you want to in additional info. Do not write an extra essay, be concise.