Early Action Mistake

<p>My daughter applied early action to three schools. She rushed to finish her application and her essay kind of shows that. She blew off scheduling an alumni interview because it was "encouraged" not "required."</p>

<p>She applied online; is there any way to contact the schools and ask that her app be canceled so she can re apply regular decision and do a more thorough job? </p>

<p>I was letting her manage this process. Part of me wants to let her experience the consequences; she will hear in time--mid December--to do a better job on her remaining apps and possibly pull together a couple more choices. Maybe that is the way to go..</p>

<p>Is there a do over on these things, and if so should I intervene, or let her learn on her own?</p>

<p>Let her learn on her own, but make sure she pays more attention to her regular applications (have her start sooner). I'm thinking that if you talk to her about it now, when things are still fresh from the rush job on her EA schools, she'll get the hint. As for the interview, if it's optional, it's not a problem.</p>

<p>There is no do over....but the upside is that she will learn a valuable lesson.</p>

<p>BTW, adcoms don't generally like when parents get involved, especially in such a scenario.</p>

<p>No, I was going to talk to her about it and ask her to deal; but after posting I realized the more valuable lesson will be learned if she gets rejected. She won't have a relaxing winter break if that happens, but oh well.</p>

<p>One more question: All 3 were common app schools. Can she update her common app essay and submit to a different common app school at this point, or is the app set in stone now that she's sent it in to a couple of places? Having never seen the online interface I have no idea how it works.</p>

<p>You can always edit your application before sending it to more colleges.</p>

<p>there is a good chance she will be pushed into the RD pool instead of outright not acceptance, at that point she may be able to update her application with new information, etc... never hurts to ask</p>

<p>well, this is what happens whn you've lived through your daughter.</p>

<p>That came out of left field.</p>

<p>policies differ at every college. I'd suggest you have her contact the 3 schools directly and them if she can withdraw the EA app and submit one for the RD round instead.</p>

<p>This has come up before, and I almost did it myself. </p>

<p>1) Have your daughter (not you) call (not email) the colleges and ask that her application be moved to the RD pool. This should not be a problem. Tell them that the essays had mistakes that needed to be corrected, and that new essays will be sent. </p>

<p>2) Mail in the new essays before the RD deadline. </p>

<p>Don't worry about the alumni interview. Usually they don't count for very much, and many applicants aren't even offered one.</p>