Correcting application errors after submission … or not

@Sally_Rubenstone ^^

I’m an international student applying to an extremely selective university (5% admissions rate) for an undergraduate program. I realized I made a mistake in the Common App activities section. I wrote about the paid work that I hold now, in which I work all year long. Probably by clicking incorrectly, I put that the timing of my activity was during school break (which is ridiculous because it’s a post high-schol activity for me) instead of clicking all year. I have the weeks and hours of that job correct, only that small mistake about the activity timing bothers me. Do you think my mistake is worthy enough to email the admissions office and clarify the mistake? Thank you.

@EEsqu21 --That is a small mistake and yet you could indeed confuse admission officials because the weeks and hours you listed won’t sync with your “School Break” response.

So I think that you should send a brief clarification (along with an equally brief apology for taking up extra time). BUT … if you have any genuine questions to ask (or even other corrections to make) this is the time to do it. Look over your application carefully to make certain that you won’t feel compelled to write again. And also think carefully about anything you truly need to know (that can’t be found elsewhere, like on the website) so that you can combine all your issues into just one email.

Good luck with your decision … and I promise you that, if you send this correction and you aren’t accepted at this college that admits only a tiny fraction of it’s applicants, it won’t be because of this minor error.

Thank you for the fast response!

I am applying to a top university and I have just submitted my application. However, looking back, I am fairly certain that I forgot to attach my resume in the activities section, and I accidentally mixed up one of my parents’ phone numbers with a different one. The latter issue I am not too concerned about but I want to ensure that my resume gets submitted so that all my prior work experiences, extracurriculars, and skills are presented along with the rest of my application so that I can make my best impression. Should I send an email to that school’s admissions office and ask if my application included my resume (which I’m almost certain it did not) and if not, if I can send it in separately? Thanks!

@theborz199

Just email your resume to the admission office and explain that it doesn’t appear that it attached to your application where it was supposed to. This isn’t a big deal. Use the main admission office address but also copy your regional rep (the staff member who oversees applicants from your high school). No need to mention the issue with the parent phone number. But do check for other CRITICAL mistakes before you send your email so that you won’t have to send more that one.

I applied to college and submitted my applications on the common app application. For the current courses section, for my class “intro to international relations” I put it as an advanced class. It is considered an advanced class since it’s a part of a semester for my “AP Comp and Gov” class I’m currently taking. However, I’m worried admissions counselors would believe I’m lying when I’m really not. Am I just being paranoid?

I’m a high school senior and the class is part of the AP curriculum for my AP Comp and Government class. I’m receiving credits directly from Seton Hall University for taking AP Comp and International Relations. I listed AP Comp Gov as AP and Intro to International Relations as “Advanced”.

@nyahj1012 - It’s fine to list that class as “Advanced,” so don’t worry about it.

Thank you. You put my mind at ease. I thought this would cause some discrepancy since they probably don’t know that.

One more question. In the common app, I put my dad’s education level as some secondary school/high school. He did go to high school but he also went to college. Does it matter which one I put?

I’ve already submitted it so I can’t change it. Will it affect my admissions?

@nyahj1012 -You absolutely MUST correct this error. If colleges officials find out that you misled them about a parent’s level of education, it is likely that your acceptance would be rescinded, if you’d already been admitted … or even if you’d already enrolled and moved into a dormitory!

Email the admissions office with an apology and a correction. Copy your regional rep (the staff member who oversees applicants from your high school. If you don’t know who that is, look on the website or telephone the admission office to ask).

I emailed all the admissions offices. Thank you.

One college added the correct information on my application file, while the other said they can’t make changes to my common app application…

@nyahj1012 -The college won’t change your actual Common App, but they’ll still have the correction in your file, and that’s what’s important.

All the schools noted the correction, but told me it won’t affect my application. Thanks!

Hello! I submitted my REA and noticed that I stated I did a Mission Trip in 11th grade during Holy Week when it was truly in 10th grade and Holy Week in 11th grade was spent in quarantine. I was told to submit this clarification in the Supplementary Material section of the college’s portal since I was also notified after I submitted that I was a National Merit Semifinalist. Should I do this through the Supplementary Materials or email them?

I’m taking dual enrollment classes at my high school through a university . I put the university in the ‘colleges and universities’ section of my common app. I checked off dual enrollment with high school and credit awarded, since i get three credits from taking the classes. Did i mess up? i put the dates i was taking the courses, but it said the dates you attended… the university is on my high school transcript. I keep finding these possible mistakes…

idk what to do. i keep emailing them based on my mistakes