Sort the Mistake Before You Act
The most important thing to do after discovering a post-submission error is to correctly categorise it before taking any action. Errors that misrepresent factual information about your credentials — wrong grades, wrong test scores, wrong dates — need correction. Stylistic issues in essays — sentences you would phrase differently, word choices you regret — should generally be left alone. Contacting admissions offices for non-material stylistic changes draws more attention to imperfections than the imperfections themselves would receive.
Three Piles of Errors
Material factual errors. These misstate your credentials: a wrong GPA, test score, course level, graduation date or the name of your school. They matter, and you should correct them.
Moderate errors. Examples are a missing activity, an incorrect activity description, or the wrong school's name in a supplemental essay. These are worth a short correction if they change meaning or could confuse the reader.
Cosmetic errors. Typos, awkward phrases and word choices you regret. These are generally best left alone.
What You Can and Cannot Change
Once you submit an application to a college, you cannot normally edit what was sent. In the Common App, changes you make afterwards apply to colleges you have not yet submitted to. Some colleges let you update information through an applicant portal, and some prefer a short email. Check the college's instructions, and follow them.
How to Contact Admissions
- Send one clear email, not several.
- Use a plain subject line, such as "Correction to application, [your name], [application ID]".
- State what the error is and what the correct information is.
- Attach a document if it proves the correction, such as an official score report.
- Keep the tone factual and polite, and avoid long apologies.
A sample message: "I am writing to correct my application. I entered my SAT score as 1420, but my official score is 1470. A copy of the official report is attached. Thank you for your help."
Special Cases
Wrong college name in an essay. This is a common slip and it is usually forgiven, but it looks careless. If the essay is a supplement for that college, ask whether you can upload a corrected version. If it appears in a different college's essay, you may need to contact that college.
Wrong test scores or grades. Official reports will show the true numbers, so a mismatch can raise questions. Correct it quickly. Leaving a known error in place can be treated as a misrepresentation.
An activity you forgot. If it is significant, such as a major award, you can mention it in a short note or through an update portal. A minor omission is not worth a message.
What to Leave Alone
Do not email a revised essay unless the college has invited updates. Do not contact the office about a single typo or a word you would rewrite. These messages draw attention to flaws without helping your case, and admissions officers know that applications are written by teenagers, not copy editors.
Timing
Act within a few days of finding a material error, and before decisions are made. If the deadline has passed, still contact the office, because many will accept corrections. If you are unsure, ask your counsellor to help you decide.
Preventing the Problem
Before you submit:
- Export the application to PDF and read every page.
- Ask a counsellor, teacher or parent to check names, dates and numbers.
- Compare your scores and grades with official documents.
- Read the essays aloud.
- Search each document for the name of any other college.
A calm review is better than a rushed submission, even on deadline day. If you discover a mistake later, treat it as a normal part of the process, correct what matters, and move on.