Correcting application errors after submission … or not

@Chacobos -You might confuse the admission committees with your “Yes” to the GED question. So send an emailed correction to all of your colleges and then, while you’re add it, you can add in your father’s military service dates for whatever college/s requested them. These small errors won’t hurt you but it does make sense to set the record straight.

Hey there! I submitted my BC application last night, and I just realized that I didn’t update my test scores in the common app:( I got a big improvement on the December sat, and I’ve sent my newest scores to the college. What should I do? Should I email them to notify that, or are they going to see my newest test scores regardless what common app says?

@kkkkke -It’s not a big deal because BC will (eventually) see the improved scores since you’ve sent them. But this would be a good time for you to connect with your regional admissions rep (the staff member who oversees applicants from your high school). You can send him or her an email with the new scores. Be sure to point out that you’ve requested official versions as well.

Hi Sally,

My daughter has submitted her application to Brown PLME program; She mentioning “PLME” 4 times, twice on each of the two required PLME essays. On her first essay, she made typo on one of them by writing “PMLE”. The other 3 times have the right spelling. Is this a huge mistake? Should she contact the admission office to correct this mistake? We don’t know how we did not catch this mistake even though we have read it couple times. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

@friendly22

PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PMLE PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME PLME

There’s one wrong one in there (“PMLE”). Did it jump out at you? Probably not! The Brown admission officials see something like this dancing through their heads for months. So I promise you that they are barely going to notice your daughter’s small mistake … if at all.

So the real mistake would be sending a correction. The sub-text of this correction would be, “I didn’t proof my application carefully, so now I want YOU to take the extra time to read this email and add it to my file.”

Trust me, your daughter’s minor snafu will have no impact whatsoever on her admission verdict. PLME has nearly impossibly high admission standards, but if your daughter is not accepted, it definitely WON’T be because of this.

Good luck!

Thanks so much Sally! I felt much better now.

Thank you so much!!!

Hi,

I just discovered that in one of my supplemental essays I wrote “magazi sdfne” instead of “magazine”. In the context of the essay, it is pretty clear that the word is magazine, so it does not really change the meaning of the sentence. However, should I still send a quick email to the college explaining my mistake?

@raynicole-NO!!! Don’t send a correction. This is very minor, and a correction would be more annoying to admission folks than it would be beneficial to you.

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Hi,
I didn’t realize that I accidentally sent my sat subject test scores to the UC when I was sending my regular test scores. Unfortunately, they are ridiculously low and the UC system received them. What should I do? I can’t delete any official score reports and I didn’t self report any subject tests. Will this be counted against me?

@cloversyar -Just write to the admission offices that received your Subject Test scores and ask them to NOT consider these scores, explaining that they were ordered by accident. A few UC majors do require certain Subject Test scores, but I’m assuming that you’re not applying to any of these majors and so your scores are optional.

Alright! Thank you so much. Yeah, I’m not applying to engineering which is generally where sat subjects are needed. Do you think they’ll think that I’m overthinking the whole thing? I do think it’s a good idea to let them know though.

@cloversyar -Yes, let them know you don’t want your Subject Tests considered.

I just emailed them! I am waiting for a reply. Thank you so much for your help.

I just emailed them! I am waiting for a reply. Thank you so much for your help.

Hi, I don’t know how this happened but my common app essay shows an apostrophe where I meant to put a comma. Is this something understandable, or should I email an edit? Thanks

@acceptmyname -NOoooooo!!! Please do NOT send a correction. Admission officials will not appreciate having to take the time to read about something as minor as that. They will figure out what you meant.

Hi, I recently submitted an application but seemingly forgot to mention an extracurricular activity (playing an instrument – not in school band/orchestra). I was planning to change my activities section but forgot to do so, and applied to a T-10 university. Should I email an edit? Potentially as an update to my additional information section? Thank you

@cleantable-It seems that almost EVERY student who applies to an “elite” college plays some sort of instrument. So I suggest that you NOT email an edit UNLESS there is something unique about your experience … what you play, where your play it, etc.