On my CommonApp application, I listed myself as leadership for a council in 11th and 12th grade. However, I missed the application deadline for the council this year, so I wasn’t actually in the council in 12th grade. The only reason I listed it originally was because I knew that I would be selected, as it isn’t very competitive and I’ve been involved all through high school. Just wondering how serious this is in the college admissions process? Will I get my admissions rescinded? Should I tell the schools I applied to? For context, I applied to most of my schools Early Action and have already heard back from a couple.
Is it serious? Yes, in the sense that you put it so you should do it - so in theory, you should let them know you weren’t able to serve.
Will you be rescinded? I can’t imagine - just like it’s unlikely it’s the reason you get in - and it’s unlikely they will ever find out.
The right thing to do would be to inform them. Others may say it’s immaterial.
I highly doubt anything will come of it either way - but if you want to do the right thing, then yes, you can let them know with a simple email. Don’t say why you’re not on. Just note you expected to be on and it didn’t happen.
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It’s not enough to be rescinded. I wouldn’t send a note to admissions because everyone understands that some of the 12th grade activities an applicant puts on their app in the summer/fall are intended activities because they haven’t happened yet. It’s not a big deal.
If you really want to tell the schools, you can do so. Follow the directions from each school for application updates…some might want an email to general admissions, some to your AO’s email, some may only want updates thru the portal. Follow their directions. But there is no risk that you will be rescinded. Good luck.
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I cannot predict how many college or university will react to this misstatement made by you, but you should correct it ASAP via a letter of explanation.
As another poster said, after applying, kids then change their plans for 12th grade in all sorts of ways for all sorts of reasons, including not just activities but also class schedules.
Usually the change is not actually material to the college, meaning it won’t matter to them, and won’t be something they consider as a grounds for rescission.
But if you are feeling nervous, I think it is fine to send an update on your plans. It can be short and not particularly defensive. Like, “I am writing to let you know that although I originally stated in my application I planned to do X this year, I have decided [to do Y instead, to focus on Z instead, etc.].” Again, I don’t think this is always necessary, but fine if you are concerned.
ETA: And as the other poster also said, do any such update in the way they want updates.
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No it doesn’t. Obviously OP isn’t going to say they missed the application deadline for leadership roles.
I can only speak for myself as an AO…as I said above 12th grade activity plans change, and frequently. Injuries prevent athletic competition, needing voice rest prevents a role in the musical, applicant becomes a co-captain rather than captain, applicant can’t afford the travel required for vex robotics, etc., etc etc. If we received notes for all of the 12th grade activity changes, the volume would be very high.
Like I said above, if OP wants to tell their AOs they can, but OP has to follow the way each school wants an app updated. For example, do not send an email if the school wants updates thru the portal.
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Yeesh.
Relax, OP. This ain’t like you forgot to include your felony conviction. Agree with others that the only real reason to update them is if you can’t sleep at night.
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Thank you everyone! If I did choose to let them know, would that delay my admissions decisions? Most of my EA schools are coming out in a couple of weeks.
No it won’t - nor will it change any decision (I imagine it will not). It’s a big yawn. I also doubt it would be why you’d get in anywhere).
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I also find that pretty implausible. I think the most likely outcome is it has no practical impact at all. Like my understanding is they usually have some sort of internal policies about what information provided in an update might even plausibly rise to the level they would want to consider changing an admissions decision they have already made internally (for good or ill, like a lot of people send in updates hoping it will help, sometimes secondary schools are sending in midyear transcripts, and so on), and I am fairly confident this sort of thing would not be deemed even close to that level of significance.
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