<p>Okay, so my school uses Naviance eDocs. One of my teachers uploaded her MIT-specific letter of rec (it had the MIT letterhead and everything) and my counselor attempted to submit it to MIT only.</p>
<p>However, somewhere along the line, there was an error and this MIT-specific letter went to EVERY SINGLE COLLEGE ON MY LIST.</p>
<p>So I e-mailed and called my other EA colleges to clarify the situation, and admissions representatives told me it's no big deal because it wasn't my fault.</p>
<p>But I don't believe them. Honestly, how would any adcom feel if an applicant "submitted" a letter of rec saying how much an applicant would fit in at some other college?</p>
<p>So, CC people, as I await Naviance Support's e-mail response, please offer me some wisdom:</p>
<p>is this going to affect my chances at non-MIT schools? I don't want four years of hard work and sacrifice to go down the drain over some computer error. </p>
<p>I’m not in admissions, so I don’t know what they will do – but I’ll share an opinion based on (hopefully) common sense.</p>
<p>What this error means is that the other schools now know that you’ve applied to MIT. Is this a big deal – I doubt it. The letter says how well the applicant would fit in at MIT. Assuming that your other schools have similar academic programs to MIT, you’ll probably fit in well there too. </p>
<p>Even if not – schools are not looking to play ‘gotcha’. It’s an error, not your fault and I doubt it will count much against you.</p>
<p>Now – some good news. The way you handled it, contacting other schools and telling them that you’d found someone else’s mistake reflects well on you. The fact that you took the time and made the effort to do so shows interest in the other schools and that you are not taking them for granted. If so, perhaps it could even help you.</p>
<p>Bottom line, it’s probably no big deal because it’s not your fault.</p>
<p>As a college counselor, I urge you to believe what the Adcoms are telling you. They are well aware that students apply to MANY schools (even MANY EA), and any letter that says you’re a good fit for MIT is a letter very, very highly recommending you – that can’t hurt.</p>
<p>I would make sure your counselor & teacher immediately replace the MIT-specific letter with the generic letter and that your counselor re-submits it via Naviance. I would, as a counselor, also immediatelly call all your non-MIT schools, explain that it was a school error, and could that be noted. I’ve done something similar before, and in my experience, the college reps are very understanding. They also love to hear from students, so that is great that you took it upon yourself to contact them first.</p>
<p>I would just talk to your counselor and teacher ASAP to make sure they are following up on this.</p>
<p>Also I might add that in the past when Naviance has made an error, I have also faxed and mailed copies of the LORs, just in case. Can’t hurt to ask your counselor to do that as well.</p>
<p>This reply means a lot coming from someone with as much experience as you, thank you. I talked to my counselor yesterday and she resubmitted the LOR’s. Fingers crossed.</p>