<p>Okay, so I'm not entirely sure how big of a mistake this is. The thing is, I wrote the explanation in October when I was applying to Georgia Tech so I've written things like "I will be doing this in November and I will do that in December" and I just sent it in to nearly all my colleges without checking it again. I feel like such an idiot. -_-
Will this hurt my application and can I fix this somehow? ):</p>
<p>Bump. Still need help!</p>
<p>Did you write this in the Additional Info part of the Writing section?</p>
<p>No the “Required Explanation” part.
Also, CMU has a supplement where they’re asking me to explain the reason behind my gap year. Should I apologize for the mistake I made in that supp or just let it be? I mean, they’re giving me an opportunity to explain it again… :/</p>
<p>Sorry umm, I’m on a gap year as well after graduating secondary school and I didn’t notice any ‘Required Explanation’ part in the Common App. I’ve written my details in the Additional Info part right now. Could you kindly tell me where the section you are talking about is?</p>
<p>Common App > Education > Education Interruption. There’s an option in there that says “did or will take a gap year”.</p>
<p>“if your progression through secondary school was or will be delayed or interrupted”</p>
<p>I’ve graduated secondary school. And then taken a gap year. There were no interruptions through it. Which is why I’ve ticked it as ‘I have no interruption to report’ right now. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>I think “did or will take time off” means an interruption during secondary school and gap year means one after. Gap year is generally supposed to mean a year you take off after completing secondary school or undergrad.</p>
<p>Yeah you’re right that is its definition. I was taking it too literally as if someone took a year off between, say, the eleventh and twelfth grade. Now that I’ve ticked the gap year box, I see the Required Explanation part in the Writing section. Thanks for the guidance. I’m sorry that I don’t have an informed answer to your question, hope someone else can provide that. Email/phone the colleges asap maybe?</p>
<p>No problem.</p>
<p>I guess I could do that but I’m not even sure if it’s that big of an issue.</p>
<p>Still need help ):</p>
<p>@KingintheNorth is right - I contacted the Common App support and asked, and they said to check that box ONLY my gap year came before I graduated high school, which it didn’t. So, gap year students are supposed to use the additional information section. As long as they don’t think your gap year interrupted your progression through secondary school and you get all the needed info across, though, it doesn’t matter very much.</p>
<p>As for your original question, I don’t think it would hurt your application, but it may confuse your admissions reader. I would email that person or the admissions offices at the schools to which you sent the outdated version of the essay, apologise and say that you neglected to change the essay from the version you wrote back in October, and just confirm that you did/are doing all the stuff mentioned in the old version of the essay, and if you aren’t, then provide them with updates. Some schools (Harvard comes to mind) have a specific webpage where they want you to submit application updates, rather than emailing them. Keep this in mind as you’re sending out emails.</p>
<p>Oh, well, that’s another mistake in my application. That bit was kind of confusing though so I’m guessing it won’t hurt too much.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I’ll do that. I just hope it doesn’t adversely affect my application.</p>
Hahaha damn now I’ve submitted the apps with that box ticked and written everything in the Required Explanation box. I mean I’ve written a “NOTE:” in bold at the very start clarifying that I took the gap year AFTER graduating sec.school so I’m hoping it won’t be an issue.