Grave Application Mistake - Need Advice Badly!

So, for only Cornell and on other college I accidentally uploaded an outdated resume from last year onto the (sent) common app. Now, this normally would be too much to worry about, but in my essay I talked about a 200 hour project I did. The resume, however, says only 100 because this year I did the other 100. Should I come clean and tell the admissions office or just try to let it slide, as emailing them would certainly make them aware of the error if they did not already know. The bad part of my situation is that it looks like I am being fraudulent with my service hours, something I’m sure they have seen before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, right now I am kind of freaking out,

I would email the admissions office and attach the correct resume. Ask them to please add it to your file and confirm receipt.

Thanks a ton! Now that I know what I should do, how bad do you think it will look? Obviously I know it isn’t the best way to introduce yourself to the admissions people, but will it sink my application?

I don’t think it will sink your application. But, keep in mind, Cornell is a tough school to get into. Not to be negative but most students will be rejected. Hopefully you have other schools on your list that have higher admittance rates.

Obviously I am applying to a range of schools, and I know that chances are, I will be rejected from Cornell. It would be disappointing, however, if this whole thing sinks my application, as opposed to getting a normal shot at admissions (even if I am denied). Thus, I’m left with the dedication of giving a new resume. Also, 100 hours is a big difference - it’s gonna turn some heads not even including the fact that it is at the center of my application.

I wouldn’t do anything. They do not want to be inundated with papers and that is not a significant error - it’s not like you said you were in a club that you were not in. They don’t require a resume and they may not even look at the resume anyway. They only ask that you submit a resume if you’re providing something that is not in your common app. Also, most applicants, especially ones applying to competitive schools have done community service so this is not a new topic or anything enlightening to them and most have done hundreds of hours so it is probably something they will and have glossed over numerous times before.

Also, it is not impossible that your hours would have been done and completed after your resume and not a big deal that you didn’t update your resume, hence another reason I wouldn’t worry about it. Doubtful they will even notice it considering they will be getting tens of thousands of applications for only only a few thousand spots.