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Supplemental Essays or Questions - Pro tips on what to do when a college reaches out for more information.
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Supplemental Essays or Questions – What to do when a college reaches out for more information

Supplemental Essays or Questions – What to do when a college reaches out for more information.

Hello folks. Today we will be talking about the steps to take when a college reaches out to a student for supplemental essays or questions. It’s fairly common for colleges to do this during the evaluation process. It is almost always a good sign, since it reaffirms their interest in you as a candidate. We will discuss how to make the most of the continued interaction.

 

What is an Additional Information Request Letter

Pro-Tip: Check your application portals once a week to stay updated on the status of your application, and to respond to any time-sensitive requests like supplemental essays.

Colleges will reach out for more information. Either through a format of supplemental essays or simple questions. For example, UCLA may take a talent/skill or academic achievement you mentioned earlier in your application and ask you to share more information about it. Be it on the level of your achievement, depth of participation, or passion for the particular area, they want a more detailed explanation of its impact on you. UCSD may ask about personal circumstances that have significantly impacted your ability to achieve or succeed academically. Then, even follow it up with a question on how your experience has prepared you to overcome personal challenges that may occur as a student at UCSD.

It’s always best to answer these prompts straight forward – not storied like personal statements. The first tip we have is to provide updates on engagements outside of class. For example, what have you learned for fun recently? Which grous or organizations have you been a part of, and how has your engagement gone since applying? 

Pro-Tip: Unless told otherwise, do not repeat what you already wrote in your application or supplemental essays.

It’s generally good to refrain from putting anything down if there are no updates or developments since applying. But, do not underestimate activities outside of class you’re doing in your free time.

Next, emphasize and elaborate on any significant challenges. Things you may have  you encountered in your path to academic success on your supplemental essays. This can include family circumstances, personal circumstances, and even the learning environment with classes going virtual. Do not be afraid of telling a “sob story.” They want to know what is genuine. And what affected your ability to perform academically. 

Pro-Tip: Follow up your story about obstacles with HOW you overcame it and HOW you are now.

This provides the reader with a sense of security and confidence that you are now ready for their university life. 

Letters of Recommendation

Students need to submit a letter of recommendation when requested for. This gives colleges another point of view about who you are in the classroom and in the school environment. These recommendations usually come from a counselor, teacher, employer, religious official, etc. 

Pro-Tip: Ask someone who’s written one for you before.

Though, you might have to tell them to change the name of what they’re recommending you for.

Pro-Tip: Provide talking points.

When you answer college questions or a supplemental essay, provide key talking points. this essay can set you up nicely for any future interviews. This also allows for control over what’s written about you.

Change in Application Status

Whether you’re deferred from Early to Regular or you’re waitlisted, there are many different kinds of status changes to your application that can occur. Here are a few examples:

Being Deferred from Early Action/Decision to Regular Decision

This happens when a college likes you but not enough to accept you in the Early Round. They are waiting for a larger pool to compare you with before making a final decision.

Being Waitlisted for a class

This happens when a college likes you but has run out of space in terms of who they’ve accepted. Now, it’s the waiting game. For you, it means waiting for colleges’ final decisions. For colleges, it’s waiting for students’ final decisions on where they’ll enroll. 

In the case of being deferred or waitlisted, draft a letter of continued interest to send to the college admissions office (via email). This should reaffirm your interest in enrolling. Use this opportunity to also provide any updates on your life or activities since applying.

Being Rejected

It happens. Move on. But for the stubborn, there may be a way to appeal. In the event you wish to appeal a rejection, check the college’s policy and procedures. If there is no policy or set procedure, put together a formal packet of information. Include a personal statement and new information that might shed light on your candidacy to prove they made a mistake. 

Supplemental essays and questions recap & conclusion

  1. Additional Information Request
  2. Supplemental essays and questions
  3. Letters of Recommendation
  4. Change in Application Status

Always remember, it is a good sign when a college reaches out to you. Stay calm and respond with gratefulness and professionalism. We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger.

We specialize in youth mentor programs and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. We can coach you in applications, questions and in supplemental essays.  Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

See you soon!

Ariana Lee

Senior Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing their stories. There's so much to discover about a person. It's very rewarding when my students get comfortable and know that I'm there for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Swim, read, write, sing, enjoy nature, and play with my two crazy boys.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.

Julian Hoffman

Special Programs Manager

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Hearing each student's unique stories, guiding them in discovering their passions, and helping find their voice!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I am a figure skater, world traveler, dessert aficionado, and devotee of the Pioneer Woman, the Barefoot Contessa, and Maneet Chauhan!

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Work hard now -- procrastinate later!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

Bernie Nguyen

Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5 years high school mentoring experience. I was heavily involved in it all throughout college and after graduating.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing about their passions and what they genuinely love to do. It also makes me extremely happy to.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I recently picked up the electric guitar! I also have multiple aquariums, and founded a company that built body armor.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't go down a path just because you think that's "what you're supposed to do." Life is more diverse and unexpected than any of us could ever know.

Joanna Yang Yowler

Senior Essay Editor & Program Specialist

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 15

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing students' stories and seeing their faces light up when they talk about their passions and dreams.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Cook, write, draw, save Azeroth .

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Pursue dreams that matter to you and don't be afraid of forging your own path to where you want to go.

Graham Traylor

Senior Applications Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 7 years

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: One of my favorite experiences working with students is opening student's eyes to possibilities they didn't know would be an option for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to stay active playing sports / running, but most of the time I am hanging out with my wife and daughter (usually with college sports on in the background).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's possible there could be several colleges that are a good fit for you. Don't lock in on just one preferred option, and work toward finding places you can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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Tylar Pendgraft

Director of Programs

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love how open students are to learning and trying new things. As mentors, we get to see so much growth simply because our students are so open to new experiences and are looking forward to applying their learning and other skills.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to read and write. I also spend a lot of time just watching--my dogs, birds, trees. I also enjoy baking and cooking (even though I'm terrible at baking).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's never too early or late to start practicing self-care. Build moments of joy and celebration into your week. Give yourself a treat for working hard. It's important to have things to look forward to. If you can get into the habit now, you'll have a much more balanced college experience.

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Anika Sharma

Essay Editor

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 2

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: As a major advisor for students interested in the humanities, I’ve found it immensely rewarding to offer an outlet for students to explore ideas that they often don’t get to delve into at school. Watching a student light up when they realize that there is in fact a community around their specific interests is easily the best part of the job.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time, I love to be outdoors - I've been hiking around the Bay Area and recently started biking again. I also volunteer at community gardens and trail restoration projects in San Francisco. When I'm not outside, you can find me reading visionary fiction, practicing yoga and qigong, or cooking.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: My advice for high school students is to focus on the present! Use this time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Solid values and a sense of self will allow you to make challenging decisions for the future and create the life you want.

readyedgego

Tushar Singla

Chief Technology Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 4

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Watching them accomplish great things.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Watch Formula 1, play ice hockey, and watch TV.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Spend time exploring different things -- you have a long time to become an expert.

readyedgego

Dan Zhou

Chief Executive Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 16

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Inspiring a student towards self discovery, and wanting to learn about everything there is in the world. Reaching this moment can take time, but it's what makes it worth it every time.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Outdoors hiking, photography, gardening, and reading.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do the thing that moves you, or be moved by forces not your own. The choice is yours.

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