I noticed that I accidentally made a very common and terrible spelling mistake in my Johns Hopkins supplement essay AFTER I submitted it (I misspelled “Johns Hopkins” as “John Hopkins” ). I’m feeling really bummed now, but it’s already submitted and I can’t do anything to change it. It’s not that I didn’t care about the school…its just that coming from China I don’t know these things very well, plus my parents always called it “John Hopkins” and I never thought of doubting them…
I heard that Johns Hopkins really cares about this, so I’m considering if I should send an apology email. But I don’t know if that would help at all - perhaps it’ll draw attention to the spelling mistake and perhaps the admission officers won’t see the apology anyway. It might make things worse. Do any of you have suggestions about what I can do after the fact? Please don’t reply with a short remark like “You’re screwed,” I really want some advice about what I should do in this situation. Thank you!
I do not think writing an apology email would do you any good. All you can do, I think, is to wait it out and hope for the best.
But one thing I want to say is that it’s not a good excuse to say that “coming from China I don’t know these things very well…” (Especially when most international students attending JHU are from China!) I believe you do care about the school, but you should have researched more about the school you were applying to.
I wish you all the luck, and hopefully JHU admissions will accept you despite the blunder.
I would send a very brief courteous note and say that you were reviewing your records/transcript/notes of what you sent and was aghast to see that there was a typo in referring to it as John when you certainly know that it is Johns Hopkins. Most normal typos I would say don’t worry about it and just let it go but that particular one really does grate on the ears. I went to Hopkins and we do notice that one. I’m sure all would be forgiven with a simple explanation like that.
lol brings up memories of my tour there. They really seemed to emphasize it…“Please when you’re writing the essay, its JOHNS Hopkins, no apostrophe!!!” or something along those lines
). I’m feeling really bummed now, but it’s already submitted and I can’t do anything to change it. It’s not that I didn’t care about the school…its just that coming from China I don’t know these things very well, plus my parents always called it “John Hopkins” and I never thought of doubting them…