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DISCUSSION FORUM

• Mistake in Essays From: wharlord  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 3

  Hi,  I submitted my Wharton application yesterday. While verifying my application, I noticed a mistake in my essay on professional goals where I have, by mistake, written a small paragraph twice. How will this affect my application? Is there a way to rectify this now? The rest of my application is fine. Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: victormlee  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 2,526

  In reply to

  wharlord, There isn't a way to rectify the mistake, at this point. It will be up to each application reader to assess what weight they will give this error. On the one hand, the mistake could signal a lack of sufficient proofreading, poor planning ahead (to give enough time for review), or both. On the other hand, in the grand scheme of the overall application, if everything else is strong, this kind of mistake is unlikely to have a major impact on your final decision. I wouldn't worry about it, at this juncture. -Victor WG '11 Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: wharlord  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 3

  In reply to

  Thanks Victor, I am livid with myself for making such a mistake. It's totally unlike me. However, the other 3 essays that I have submitted are very strong. At least, that's what I feel. I just wanted to confirm whether finding such a mistake in the 1st essay itself would lead the committee to form an initial opinion about my candidature, and hence, affect my chances. I am aware that the committee evaluates each application holistically. Still, this totally uncharacteristic mistake worries me.   Regards Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: victormlee  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 2,526

  In reply to

  In my opinion as a former reader, chances are such a mistake will not undermine an otherwise solid application. AdCom readers form their assessment based on the totality of information presented to them. It is not a process where the discovery of one "mistake" automatically leads to a rejection.  I wouldn't worry about it. Save the energy for more important things! :) -Victor Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: wharlord  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 3

  In reply to

  Thanks for the encouraging words, Victor! Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: victormlee  Jan 05, 2012 Posts 2,526

  In reply to

  No problem. Good luck! -Victor Reply

• Re: Mistake in Essays From: Fanaticalfan  Jan 12, 2012 Posts 1,159

  In reply to

  Just further to Victor's posts, if Wharton eliminated applicants with grammatical or typographic errors from further consideration, it would be a very empty class indeed. Seriously, every application has them somewhere (I know mine had at least 3, and that's just the ones that I know of). It really only becomes a problem where it changes the meaning, or the mistakes are so numerous and prevalent that they indicate general sloppiness rather than isolated errors. FF Reply