OH. MY. GOD. I can’t believe I did this.
I uploaded the wrong version (a rough draft) of the optional essay… the final two paragraphs are missing… I wasn’t really paying attention when I was going over the review section of the application. I scrolled down to the end of the page and submitted it.
I just found it out and sent them an e-mail asking if I would be allowed to send in the final version of the essay.
Did it just kill my chance? Harvard has been my dream school since I was 10. I wanna cry.
Should I have just left them unaware of this?!! 
I don’t think it’s too big of a deal. You emailed them, and it’ll take a little while before they start reading the essays anyways. IMO, your chances at Harvard will not be significantly changed.
Another poster PM’d me with a similar question – they had mistakingly submitted their draft version to all the colleges on their list and wanted to know if it would reflect upon them poorly if they sent the final version in an email to colleges. Below is my response.
@julianstanley thanks for your input! 
@gibby what if my final two paragraphs were totally missing?? There should have been 5 paragraphs, but in the one that I accidentally submitted, there were only 3 of them…
We’re the last 2 paragraphs very important? Send the email, if not, leave it and hope they don’t notice.
Trust me, if you’re rejected it won’t be because of your essay.
^^ I agree. If the final two paragraphs are essential to your essay, then submit them. If the essay makes sense without them, then don’t bother.
@oxoxhawja3xoxo @gibby they were not terribly important, but the final two paragraphs served as a conclusion. It was supposed to be a Why Harvard essay, but without those paragraphs, it looks like a Why This Major essay. Should I send them another e-mail and say it is not really necessary to have it updated???
@gibby AND I sent them non-academic additional materials (a few of my certificates) in jpg format. They clearly stated that they should be in word or pdf format.
@pepperonilover: While Harvard asks TRANSFER applicants “Why Harvard” and an applicant’s reason(s) matter when it comes to Admission, Harvard College (the undergraduate school) doesn’t care why incoming freshman want to attend the school. In fact, on the Common Data Set for Harvard College, a student’s interest in the school IS NOT considered. I’ve never known a freshman applicant to write a “Why Harvard” essay and be accepted. So, without even reading your essay, you may have done yourself a favor by omitting the last two paragraphs and just writing about your passion, commitment and drive for your intended major. In addition, Harvard does not encourage or want students to send in certificates, so again you may have done yourself a favor by submitting jpg’s which, not being in the correct format, won’t be read. My gut reaction is for you to let it go.
I’m kind of in the same situation, but mine has to do with a few minor errors within certain sentences (wrote “ended it succes” instead of “ended in success” and “… are A natural parts”). These mistakes were corrected right before I attached the document in the common app, but when I re-read the essay today, the mistakes were still there. Should I at least notfiy Harvard that I realized I attached the wrong file? I’m completely freaking out.
Every publication – from the NY Times, to the WallStreet Journal, To Time Magazine – have small errors in them. Although every writer and editor tries to catch those errors, some slip through. I think Admissions understands that, as they are reading for content, tone and a sense of your “character” and not for punctation, grammar and missing words. I would let it go as you’d be calling attention to something that AO’s probably won’t notice.
@aalewis, those errors are not grounds for “completely freaking out.” More than likely, the AOs reading your essay have become so inured to autocorrect and similar errors in their civilian life that they will barely notice. Or, you could email them and make sure that they notice
I’m going to assume that “completely freaking out” is youthful hyperbole. If it isn’t, well, be careful what you wish for.