<p>I incorrectly read the box that popped up each time I made an edit before sending my essay to different colleges. Therefore, I kept clicking yes on that box under the assumption that I had unlimited edits. After my third sent application, my essay became locked and I could no longer make changes to it. I still have 6 colleges left to send to. What can I do? There is a glaring mistake in my essay, and there is no possible way I can send it to any of the colleges the way it is. Any guidance would be appreciated</p>
<p>appreciated…</p>
<p>That 3 edits only thing is the WORST. I guess you’ll have to use each college’s built in application. But try calling the common app, they might reset it for you somehow.</p>
<p>First of all, you are nit supposed to tailor the essay each school submission. Second, the essay is locked after each submission and you may unlock it twice. Obvious there is no unlimited unlock otherwise it would not be locked at the first place.</p>
<p>Create another common application account but you are going to have to get your teachers and counselor to upload their recommendations.</p>
<p>@scubadive no, that is not allowed! That can get all your acceptances rescinded… Im not even sure the framework will allow you to.</p>
<p>Really? Seems harsh. I’m not sure what the logic is there, as they let you change everything else with each submission. If kids want to go through the trouble of changing their essays for each school, why shouldn’t they be allowed to do so? This is how it all worked before the common app after all.</p>
<p>Anyways, if alternative apps are not available, contact the schools in question and ask. By “glaring mistakes”, I assume you mean you mentioned each school by name in your essays (you didn’t go through three edits not noticing a “glaring” grammatical or spelling error). Obviously you can not send your <em>I Heart Duke</em> essay to six other schools. If a school absolutely requires the Common App, you really have no option but to be honest and hope for mercy.</p>
<p>Did your last edit contain something that personalizes the essay to your last college? If yes, then I would talk or email to common app and beg to see if they can set up a 4th edit. Then you have to make the essay non-tailored and use it for the rest if your apps. If no, then just use the last essay for the rest of your apps.</p>
<p>You can’t? That seems absolutely insane. I thought I had read a while back that students have done this for this exact reason. My apologies if I gave incorrect information.</p>
<p>I read further on this and I guess you can’t create another account. So I would check and ee if any of your colleges accept the universal college application. If not, I’d talk to your guidance counselor and ask for advice. </p>