That’s a tough one, but they surely need to be consistent.
All of the pieces of the application do not have to reference one another, but there should not be glaring inconsistencies between one section and another. Inconsistencies should actually not be an issue, however, since you will be entering information that is specifically related to you and is absolutely true and accurate as you work through the application.
Large universities (or those that receive a large amount of applications) usually require that all materials reference one another. For instance, you may need your full name and SS# or date of birth on the top of each piece of paper sent separately from the application. There are usually instructions on the admissions website or on the application that tell you how to reference your materials. If you do not see specific guidelines, it is always wise to at least put your name and date of birth on each item (essay, resume, payment etc.), just in case there are two people with the same name applying.
No, they do not. What is important is that they all come together to present as full a picture as possible of who you are, what you have done, and what you can bring to their school community. Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle which, when all the pieces are in place, offers a full picture of you, the applicant. Based on that picture and their institutional needs, a decision will be made.
Short Answer:
All parts of the application should reinforce the picture of yourself that you are trying to paint. Deciding on your hook in advance, will help you make decisions about what and how to write about yourself and your experiences.
Each section of the application stands on it’s own. The only place they connect may be in the short answer when an explanation is being given for low grades, rationale for course selection, or some other issue that may have raised a red flag.
not all the pieces of the application need to reference one another. if you are using common application, you may focus on the supplemental materials more. if you are using university application system, it is normally simple with less individualized questions.
All pieces of your application should be easily identifiable as yours, i.e. have your name or ID number according to the guidelines provided by the school.
When I worked at the University of Maryland, it took days just to open the mail from our priority deadline much less process and electronically file the information. Make it easy on admission offices by placing identification information (name and birth-date) clearly at the top of each document. Be sure you use your full legal name.
The student should make sure that all aspects of the application are impeccably completed. However, they should generally not reference each other unless a college has its own application or the student is writing within a college’s supplement. The Common Application asks for the Personal Essay and 1000 characters on an interests; they should be written about different activities. The main section of the Common Application should not reference any specific colleges, as it is shared by many (and colleges will not want to see their preferences for their competitors). I do advise students who attach or upload pieces to the Common Application (e.g., the resume) to include their name should pages be separated. That is not to say, however, that the pieces should reference one another.
Here is my video response to the question.
In most cases, I don’t think so. However, as with everything else context is key. If you have a dire situation, some kind of challenge or huge award or distinction, these aspects will in all likelihood be referenced or alluded to in either your responses to questions posed or the commentary of your supporting cast of references. I don’t believe they all need to reference each other, but the diction of the writing should be consistent! The last thing applicants should ever do is have someone other than themselves respond to the questions. Tenor and tone should be consistent, but your storyline need not necessarily repeat the same experience ad nauseum.
Sponsored Meaning Explained
EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Ad” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school. Your trust is our priority. We at EducationDynamics believe you should make decisions about your education with confidence. that’s why EducationDynamicsis also proud to offer free information on its websites, which has been used by millions of prospective students to explore their education goals and interests. close