It is a “mandatory instruction” as stated by an official CommonApp rep: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/common-application/1158222-common-app-class-2012-a-11.html#post13012491[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/common-application/1158222-common-app-class-2012-a-11.html#post13012491</a>