Enclosing Additional Materials

[gary5]

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Has anyone enclosed additional materials with applications, like artwork, photography, or compositions? What do you think of this?

Thanks! 😛 😛

 

[jlee9531]

ive never heard of anything like this....

and i would think adcoms would not really welcome this because they didnt ask for it. with the thousands of apps they have to deal with i would think it would just cause more stress and clutter for them.

 

[periodic]

You can usually find a line or two about whether and what kind of supplemental material schools will accept. That is, buried somewhere in the application forms, brochures, and websites. They mostly say not to send that kind of stuff.

There might be rare exceptions, but you should probably assume they don't want it. It's the kind of stuff, though, that you may end up talking about in an interview and that will add an extra dimension to you.

If you want to demonstrate these other interests, just make sure they come up in your essay/activities/classes, etc. That's the most you can do until the interview.

 

[gary5]

I've seen where someone recommended enclosing materials, but I can also see where it could be a nuisance for admissions.

😛

 

[ewing]

A would think that a wad of Benjamins couldn't hurt...

 

[Ryo-Ohki]

Sadly, that's not too far from the truth.

 

[Asclepius]

Don't do it! I didn't get a single interview from the schools I sent my crapsickle sculptures to. I guess they didn't travel well in the paper envelopes.

 

[ATPase]

At one of my interviews, the admissions director (during his presentation) made fun of some applicant who faxed an 80-page research paper to the admissions office. I say keep it simple. Notify them of special accomplishments, but don't inconvenience them with tons of superfluous stuff.

 

[gary5]

Thanks!

 

[AverageMan]

One notable example I can think of is BU. When they send you the letter asking for only $100 and a picture, they say that you can send anything else you feel is important as well, but it's all optional. Feeling cheated that I was getting $100 extorted out of me, I included a copy of one of my generic "Why I want to be a physician" essays with the check. It seems to have worked for me in terms of an interview.

 

[Fritz]

Include half a page to one page of updates, or essays about the things you have done.
If you get an interview take with you samples of your work, like a portofolio or something. Also, have copies of your research papers, the interviewer can ask you for that as well.

Good luck.