Request add fields to application

Ditto the request in 5X , http://drupal.org/node/356701 to add fields to the application. Although I'm not much of a programmer, could you tell me where to start looking to hack so I can figure out how to add my own fields. (Using CCK is opt as I am game to try a hack for my own personal preferences. Will share anything I figure out, of course.)

Connie