In addition to the Common App essay and Activities List, the Common Application includes space for applicants to provide additional information about their life in and outside of the classroom. This section is called the “Additional Information” section, and it provides the following prompts:
- Access to a safe and quiet study space
- Access to reliable technology and internet
- Community disruption (violence, protests, teacher strikes, etc.)
- Discrimination
- Family disruptions (divorce, incarceration, job loss, health, loss of a family member, addiction, etc.)
- Family or other obligations (care-taking, financial support, etc.)
- Housing instability, displacement, or homelessness
- Military deployment or activation
- Natural disasters
- Physical health and mental well-being
- War, conflict, or other hardships
If you’re comfortable sharing, this information can help colleges better understand the context of your application. Colleges may use this information to provide you and your fellow students with support and resources.
( ) Yes
( ) No
Please describe the challenges or circumstances and how they have impacted you.”
*(first-year app 250 words max, transfer app 1250 characters max)
And
(first-year app 300 words max, transfer app 1500 characters max).
*Note that these are the two new prompts and word counts as of August 1st, 2025.
Unlike college-specific supplements which are occasionally optional but always strongly recommended, the additional information section is truly optional.
Note that the first question gives you the space to write about the challenges or circumstances that impacted your accomplishments and performance. The second prompt, however, is quite broad and allows you space to write about a range of topics that don’t necessarily fit as answers to the first prompt. You should only write about the following topics if you did not do so in your personal essay or other supplements, or if you did but you wish to provide additional, necessary information.
Such topics may include:
This is a good place to address a major shift in academic, athletic, or career focus. Perhaps you stopped competing at an elite level, chose to forego athletic recruitment, and pursued another endeavor or hobby by choice rather than as the result of an injury. This section allows you the space to describe the self-reflection that led to that choice.
The Additional Section can be an ideal place to describe your reasons for transferring high schools, skipping a grade, taking a gap year, pursuing an independent educational endeavor.
You can choose to offer additional details about your passion project, an award, achievement, or other accomplishment not described in depth elsewhere.
Perhaps you had an untraditional upbringing, lived in multiple countries, or speak multiple languages at home. Feel free to write about this experience and how it shaped your perspective or academic trajectory here.
KEY TIP
Be careful not to write about one of these topics here and in a school-specific supplement. You may have to add or remove this part of your additional information section for each individual school to which you apply in your Common App portal in between submissions. For example, you may choose to write about your cultural upbringing in response to Duke’s optional short essay question, but not include it in your NYU supplement. If this is the case, you will want to remove this portion of the additional information section when you submit your Duke application, but add it back in before you submit your NYU application. Be sure to save your writing in a separate document so that you can easily access it and copy and paste it back into your Common App portal as needed.
**If you add or remove any part of your application for different school’s applications, be SURE to double check your application PDF before clicking “submit” to verify that the writing you want to be included is present and the writing you want to leave out is absent! In general, you should carefully check through every application PDF before pressing “submit” to avoid easily preventable errors!
Does this information add necessary context to my application?
As you share these experiences, keep in mind that you should not take a defensive or overly self-pitying tone—you should explain these circumstances factually and sincerely, without seeking to emotionally sway the admissions committee.
Can you describe what you plan to write about elsewhere?
When considering a topic for the additional information section, ask yourself whether you could write about it in the awards and honors section, activities list, or school specific supplements. There are plenty of spaces in your application to describe your accomplishments, personality, and activities. If there isn’t space in any of those sections or if it doesn’t make sense to include the detail in those areas, you should consider the additional information section. Think of the additional information section as a place to include information that doesn’t fit in any of the required sections. It’s a useful extra tool, and should be thought of as such.
How can I make this more efficient or engaging for my reader?
Is there a special or unusual grading system at your school that most admissions officers won’t be familiar with?
Do other aspects of your application provide enough insight into your intellectual or academic life?
Additional Information Section Example #1
In the fall of 2023, I broke my leg in a bicycle accident, underwent major surgery, and missed six weeks of school. Though I was able to make up for missed work, my recovery majorly affected my sleep schedule, and I struggled against brain fog through the winter. While I was able to enter an outpatient rehabilitation and pain management program and recover by spring, I believe the grades I earned during this time period, particularly in the winter of 2023/2024, reflect my health struggles at the time. I am proud of my resilience and my ability to return to earning straight As once I healed.
Additional Information Section Example #2
Artistic Portfolio: www.firstnamelastname.com
Artistic Portfolio Instagram: @firstnameartworks
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the additional information section on the Common App?
The additional information section on the Common App can be found in the “Writing” section of the application, under the “Additional Information” tab.
What should I put in the additional information section of the Common App?
In the additional information section of the Common App, you can include relevant context or explanations for aspects of your application that may not be fully addressed elsewhere. This could include extenuating circumstances, significant life events, or additional achievements not addressed in other sections.
What should I not include in the additional information section of the Common App?
In the additional information section of the Common App, it’s best to avoid repeating information already provided elsewhere in the application, making excuses for poor performance, or including irrelevant or trivial details.
Is the Common App additional information section really optional?
Yes, the Common App additional information section is truly optional. You can choose to leave it blank if you feel that you have adequately represented yourself in other sections of the application.
What is a good example of a Common App Additional Information section?
A successful Common App Additional Information section could include an explanation of a significant family obligation that impacted your academic performance or additional details about a personal project or initiative not fully described in the activities section. For instance, if you’re interested in web design, you could include links to your work; if you struggled with an illness throughout high school, you could provide specific ways in which your circumstance impacted your ability to complete schoolwork; if you won an award or participated in a nation-wide initiative, you could provide further information regarding the criteria used or the foundation that bestowed the award.
Do family responsibilities belong in the additional information section of the Common App?
Family responsibilities can be included in the additional information section of the Common App if they have had a significant impact on your academic or extracurricular activities, however, they may also be listed in the Activities List. Be sure to provide context and explain how these responsibilities have shaped your experiences and achievements.
Should I write about my disability or medical leave in the additional information section of the Common App?
If your disability or medical leave significantly impacted your academic performance or extracurricular activities, it may be appropriate to address it in the additional information section of the Common App. Provide relevant context and explain how you have overcome challenges or persevered despite these circumstances. Remember that you always have the right to retain privacy surrounding your personal medical information, and you should only disclose information you feel comfortable discussing and that contextualizes your application.
Should I explain a bad grade in the additional information section of the Common App?
It can be beneficial to explain a bad grade in the additional information section of the Common App if there were extenuating circumstances that affected your performance. However, avoid making excuses or shifting blame and instead focus on what you learned from the experience and how you have grown as a result.
How long should the additional information section on the Common App be?
Your writing in the additional information section should be brief and concise—provide the necessary information succinctly and directly. Avoid being overly wordy or editorializing.
