To Supplement or Not to Supplement

By Liluye Jhala, ApplyWise.com Counselor and former Brown University Admission Officer

You've put the finishing touches on your essays and resumes and you've sent your transcripts and test scores. So you think the application process is over, right?

Maybe not. Should you send additional materials (e.g. essays, letters of recommendation, photographs, etc.) to make your admissions folder heavier? In most cases, this will work to your disadvantage. As some say in admissions, "the thicker the file, the faster it sinks."

Still, there is no way to predict your admissions reader's mentality and how much time they have to review all elements of your admissions application. If you choose to send supplemental materials, I recommend you follow this guideline: submitting repetitious recommendation letters or copies of every award you received since kindergarten will likely annoy the admissions committee. Not only does it show your clear disregard for self-restraint, it also demonstrates your inability to follow directions.

If you do decide to send supplemental material, make sure that it adds to your application and reflects a deep love and passion for something not adequately represented in previously submitted documents. Here are some guidelines:

1. Portfolios that show your talents in fine and/or performing arts
   First, be sure to check with your respective colleges to see if they accept creative supplements, who reviews them, and the submission guidelines. Do not send materials directly to a professor or academic department.
   
   Try to make your portfolio as consistent as possible to present a unified body of work, connecting pieces through similar subject matter, scale/dimensions, palette, medium or concept. Consider including an artist statement with your portfolio: a one to two paragraph description of your work, the materials used, and your intentions as an artist. This will contextualize your work and demonstrate your professionalism.
2. Writing Samples that show your depth and range
   If you want to show a body of work that demonstrates your range of writing abilities, feel free to ask your potential colleges if they will review additional writing samples. Remember, these are samples, not your magnum opus. Overall, try not to send more than ten pages with only your very best work.
3. Independent Academic Research
   If you've been aiding a professor with outside scientific or academic research, send the abstract and an informative excerpt with publication citations.
4. Recommendations from outside references who truly know you
   If you feel that your teacher and counselor recommendations will not fully capture your personal qualities, feel free to send one additional letter. This should be clearly marked 'supplemental recommendation' and include the proper identifying information like your full legal name, high school, and date of birth. Suitable supplemental references should come from individuals outside the school community who have known you for a significant period of time. This additional letter should convey your dedication to a particular activity, your growing responsibility over time, and the impact you have made. Here's a hint: if you are involved in an off-campus activity where you've committed at least ten hours a week over three months, it might be a good idea to consider a supplementary letter of recommendation. Your high school references may not be adequately informed enough to fairly reflect your off-campus contributions.

Keep in mind that there are thousands of pieces of paper that flood admissions offices during the Winter and Spring months, so beware of the following when sending supplementary materials:

1. The difference between a hobby and a talent
   Maybe you've taken a lot of photos of sunsets on tourist vacations. Do not submit these as a portfolio. Maybe you remember a few old poems that you wrote to your first crush. Do not submit these as a writing portfolio. You like to sing in the shower and you put a couple covers on CD. Don't send this in. Any discerning reader can easily judge the consistency, depth, and level of seriousness in a body of work. You should only submit creative portfolios if you treat them professionally and you are dedicated to the craft.
2. Recommendation letters from weak contacts
   Don't send letters from people that you feel will help strengthen your application simply because of their connection to the institution (i.e. your best friend's stepfather's cousin is an alumnus but only rehashes your GPA and activities). These weak letters of support only dilute your candidacy. Remember, admission officers read thousands of letters of recommendations and can easily tell "favors" from genuine support.
3. Documentation of awards
   This is why you include your resume or activity sheet. Don't send a stack of 20 copies of every certificate or award you ever received. International applicants, in particular, are tempted to do this. If you need help formatting your resume, ApplyWise has a handy tool that will help you create a brag sheet that is easy to read and documents your achievements.
4. Friendly gifts
   Chocolates, cookies, and candy…send these to your Valentine, not your admission office. While your reader might have a sweet tooth and appreciate the gesture, your application is submitted to a large mail processing center before it ever gets to the admissions officer. Besides, no one in admissions wants to feel they can be bought and even the suggestion, however benign, is offensive.
5. Items that you want back
   All items that you send to an admissions office become the property of that college. Do not send items that you want back in May. To protect your confidentiality, all personal college information is shredded, destroyed or recycled. Never ever send originals.

Admissions offices are not looking for cookie-cutter kids, nor are they looking for students who want to be different just for the sake of being different-and they can quickly identify those who are trying to milk the system. With these guidelines, I hope I've not only saved you some money on postage, but also given you better idea of which supplementary materials can help your application.