The supplemental document allows school counselors to provide additional context regarding an applicant’s academic performance, personal circumstances, or school-specific information that might not be fully captured in other parts of the Common Application. This report can include information about grade trends, course rigor, significant personal challenges the student overcame, or specific details about the school’s curriculum or grading system. For example, a counselor might use this section to explain a dip in grades during a particular semester due to a family emergency or to clarify that a student took the most challenging courses available at their school, even if their GPA does not fully reflect that rigor.
Its significance lies in offering a more holistic view of the applicant beyond standardized test scores and GPA. It allows admissions committees to understand the context behind a student’s achievements and challenges, potentially highlighting qualities like resilience, determination, and intellectual curiosity that might otherwise be overlooked. Historically, such counselor input was often conveyed through letters of recommendation, but the standardized report format provides a more structured and consistent way to deliver this crucial information, promoting equity across different high schools.
