I recently spoke with Dr. Jen Gagne from the 🎓 Colorado School of Mines on The College Admissions Process Podcast, and she shared a critical tip for anyone filling out the Common App:
👉 If there’s something important that didn’t fit in your essay or activity list — maybe a dip in grades 📉 or a personal challenge that affected your performance — make sure you use the Additional Information section to explain it.
Here’s why this matters 👇
If you don’t share that context, the admissions team is left to guess what happened — and that’s never a good idea.
Your goal is to give them a complete picture of who you are 🧩 — your journey, your growth, and your resilience.
Think of your application like a puzzle. If one piece is missing, the picture isn’t clear. The Additional Information section is your chance to fill in that missing piece so colleges truly understand your story.
🎧 For more information listen to The College Admissions Process Podcast or visit www.collegeadmissionstalk.com