<p>I am finishing up my ED form and was wondering if I should send some supplemental essays and things that I wrote in past grades. I am wondering what is appropriate however? Should I include the poem that won me first prize for state that I wrote in sixth grade? Should I include a humerous and autobiographical story about Christmas that I wrote in 8th grade? Or should I put in a very lengthy detailed and yet very good analysis of transcendentalism found in The Grapes of Wrath that I wrote as a Junior? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>I would say that unless your 6th grade and 8th grade work is an accurate representation of your current abilities, that it’s not worth including. The junior year paper might be worth including if it’s really outstanding.</p>
<p>I can update the 8th grade piece to be more representative of my current abilities. I am just not sure about the 11th grade piece because it was over ten pages long. Also The Grapes of Wrath is such a common book for high schoolers to read anyway so it is not unique. Do you still think it is o.k. to submit a paper that is that long?</p>
<p>My guidence counsler told me this advice… The thicker the folder, the thicker the student. Are you grades and ECs not good enough? Are you adding fluff?</p>
<p>As in, I’m sure that you want to highlight your greatest attributes, but sending in multiple essays isn’t going to win any points with the administration. Try to see it from their point of view: these people are reading hundred, if not thousands of applications. I can bet you a hundred to one that they’re not going to stop and read your ten page essay when they have many many more apps to get to.</p>
<p>Don’t sacrifice showing who you really are (as in, don’t be skimpy if you think this REALLY shows you), but BE CONCISE. Streamline as much as you can. You really don’t want to peeve the people who are reading your application by making them spend hours on your app.</p>
<p>Instead of spending time on extra essays, spend more time on your ED essay!! THIS is what they’re asking for, this is what you’re supposed to give them. Take breaks- don’t read your essay for a couple days, a week, a month even, if you have time, and then go back and edit, edit, edit. You’ll be surprised at what you’ve written if you just give yourself breathers.</p>
<p>Good luck at getting in! I’m applying EA… hope to see you at Rice :)</p>
<p>good post, peach.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice and I agree with what you said. However, they do say it is fine to send in supplemental material. If they did not want to look at your best accomplishments than they would not ask for it and send the barcodes to put on it in case you decide to send some. I agree the ten page essay on Grapes is out and I knew that so I shouldn’t have asked. I am however going to send in one supplemental essay about how my family used to go and spend one entire day hiking through snowy woods searching for a perfect christmas tree. My application essay is done. I have been working on it for the past year and really spruced it up over the summer. Managed to cut it down from five to 3.5 pages so it is the perfect length. Now I am just concentrating on getting the little smaller essays done. Thanks again for your advice and I hope that we both make it through the process. Was not encouraged when I found out about 8.000 people apply for 700 spots.</p>