<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm a student applying to Columbia under the regular decision program. The Common Application this year only allows up to three versions of your Common App essay, and as a student applying to both universities and art schools, I had planned out my essay versions thus:</p>
<p>1) Early Action Schools - Essay Version 1
2) Art Schools - Essay 2, tailored to art schools</p>
<p>and thirdly, I had intended to submit a much improved version of my Early Action essay to my regular decision schools (which includes Columbia). However, when I went to update my essay today, I was unable to. Upon contacting Common App Support, I was told that I had in fact already submitted 3 versions of the Personal Statement, and though I initially had no idea what they were talking about, I realized that I had in fact corrected a typo in my first version and sent that to some schools (which counts as another version).</p>
<p>I emailed Columbia explaining the situation, asking if it is somehow possible that they could disregard the essay that is locked into my Common App, and read the essay that I had originally intended for them to read instead. The admissions office is closed until January 2nd, and since I can't hear a reply until after the submission deadline, I uploaded my intended essay under "Supplementary Materials" in the Columbia Supplement and explained this in my email.</p>
<p>I understand that this is entirely my fault and that I should have been much, much, much more careful. However, there is no way that I can submit an essay tailored to art schools to Columbia (or other regular decision schools for that matter), and as someone who really loves Columbia and has put in a lot of work in my personal statement, I really want to put my best foot forward.</p>
<p>Again, this is utterly and entirely my fault. But nonetheless, I have to do whatever I can to make the situation work regardless of my error. I suppose my purpose for posting here is to see if there anyone who understands the admissions process much more than I do can shed light on whether the Admissions Office is able to grant such requests or make such exceptions.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>