<p>My daughter received a postcard today from a college telling her that her essay is missing. She submitted the common app. We double-checked the school's supplement to make sure it does not include an essay; it does not. That means that the essay to which they refer is the common app essay. She submitted the common app to all her schools at once, so if one essay was missing, all should have been --- and that is not the case. She has received a couple "file complete" notifications. This school received the common app itself, but they say they don't have the essay.</p>
<p>D is freaking out, of course (that is her way!). She applied EA, and the deadline was 12/1 --- so she figures she's out of luck on EA for the school. I told her it must be a mistake on the part of the school --- they must have misfiled her info. She can call Monday to straighten it out. Unfortunatey, she will probably not last that long!! Is there anyone here who has ever run into a similar problem? Can the common app, sent all at the same time, possibly arrive at one school incomplete? Or have you ever received notification that something was missing when it was sent with everything else?</p>
<p>Your responses will be appreciated by a teen who doesn't think her mom knows anything --- I figure the answers will probably mirror my advice, but I am, after all, "Mom." A stranger's advice will carry more weight than mine.</p>
<p>It is possible that when the particular school uploaded the common application and put it into what ever filing system they use, they misplaced her essay. It is uncommon, but possible. </p>
<p>Fax them the essay immediately and please tell your daughter that schools usually have some lee-way between their stated deadline and when they actually begin reading applications and making decisions. So if she gets the essay to them ASAP, she should have no problem being considered under EA. Good luck!</p>
<p>kelsmom,
Similar occurrence this year for my niece who applied early to Vanderbilt. She got a letter from the school saying that her essays were missing. They had all gone in together with the rest of her application. Sometimes the schools just mis-file things. She contacted her admissions rep, faxed a copy to the admissions rep and also overnighted a copy. It all worked out fine. If your D's EA deadline was 12/1, this probably means that they're just getting everything together now and just starting to read the files. She will get it all straightened out on Monday.</p>
<p>Should she fax or can she email with the essay as an attachment? Make sure when faxing or emailing that here name, dob and any other identifying info is included, also note that this is in response to enquiry about incomplete common app.</p>
<p>When we printed the essay, the date it was submitted actually printed on it. That should be helpful ... they'll know it was submitted with the rest of the app! She is going to fax (the postcard asked her to do so & gave the fax #), and she will follow it up with a call to her admissions rep on Monday. She has visited & met with her rep & the adm. director, so they do know she is very interested. I will make sure she includes identifying info & explanation of why she is sending it. Thanks again for all the help!</p>