gibby
December 26, 2016, 12:48pm
2
In Admissions circles (not just at Harvard), it’s thought that the MORE an applicant submits, the MORE they are trying to make up for being a LESS competitive applicant. So, it’s not advisable to submit multiple supplemental essays, and you should do so at your own peril: http://wiselikeus.com/collegewise/2012/07/thicker-files-less-competitive-applicants.html
There’s a saying in admissions, “The thicker the file, the thicker the kid.” It refers to those applicants who insist on including a two-page resume with their applications. They send copies of awards and articles that mention their names, extra letters of recommendation, graded papers, etc. I’ve found it’s almost always a student who wants to “go to an Ivy League School” (no particular one—just an Ivy of any kind). It’s almost impossible to talk them out of thickening their files, which is unfortunate because all it’s going to do is annoy most admissions officers.
Do not send six letters of recommendation when the application requires only one or two. Do not send a copy of every award/certificate/merit badge you’ve ever earned since Cub Scouts when noting your growth in that program in the extracurricular section will do (we promise that your Math Student of the Month Award from ninth grade will have no bearing on what admission decision you receive). **Do not write and submit a third essay when the application has only two prompts…**Overly thick files oftentimes make admission deans leery. What critical weakness are you trying to overcompensate for or bury deep within 50 pages of paper?”
Smart, accomplished, confident kids don’t need to submit extra materials. Don’t be bashful about your important accomplishments. Explain them clearly and proudly. Don’t bury them in a thick file.