Sooo... My Berkeley App says I can think of no place better to attend than Stanford, what should I do?

[UnfortunateEvents]

I realized this as soon as I submitted it, but was pretty sure I had no recourse, but then I decided "what the heck, I'll ask GradCafe".

First, just to be clear, I have the absolute highest admiration for the theory that goes on at Berkeley. All of it. Including related stuff in non-CS departments. They are one of the world-epicenters of CS theory, with paradigm-forging researchers, no dispute. I would love to go there. At the same time, it's probably a reach for all those reasons above, and I have some other acceptances already, so I feel less bad about my mistake, but still bad. I would love to have the option of Berkeley, but well...

Stanford is great too, but my Berkeley app doesn't win any points in the Stanford admissions process, so...

So, I'm aware this is kind of a big mistake, and I don't have any way to fix it at this point. Was I right to just wait it out and hope they laugh it off? (I do correctly name them, including specific professors, in some passages of my SoP!) or should I have sent/send a letter of contrition, begging them to overlook it?

[habanero]

Email the admissions office right away with an updated version. Apologize and say that you mistakenly uploaded the letter for another school. The office will fix it for you!

Good luck!

[PhDreams]

I've heard that Berkeley takes it personally when you miss the "extra" E, but I can't say how they would feel if you spelled Berkeley as "Stanford." Habanero is right, the grad offices have been really awesome in my experience. So, it wouldn't hurt to try. If your app has already been sent out for review than I wish you luck. I also hope your Stanford essay does well at... Stanford.

PS - Don't feel terrible. We all have SOP regrets. Just peruse the forums and maybe it'll ease your anxiety.

[TexasGuy]

lmfao....Oh god....if I was on the berkeley admissions committee that would crack the HELL up....its almost like a really good joke even though you didnt mean for it to be a joke

but yeah...email them....

[UnfortunateEvents]

I guess I should have done this a while ago! Oh well.

[runaway]

As an undergraduate applicant, I mistakenly gave BU an essay on why I wanted to go to a small, liberal arts school. I caught the error right away, emailed them the correct essay, and was admitted. It may have helped that the right essay was very specific and had detailed reasons why I was interested in BU. But I wouldn't count yourself out just yet - explain the error, and make sure that your corrected essay can speak specifically to your interest in Berkeley.

[hope4fall2012]

Isn't Berkeley v/s Stanford a major rivalry??

And weren't the Berkeley dadlines ages ago?? (Or maybe this was only in my field)

I think mailing the Grad Admin rightaway to get it corrected would be a good idea, especially if the deadline was just a few days away and the reviews haven't begun yet..

[unitname]

Welll...you'd think that Berkeley was confident enough to not get "offended" at such things...

I think your mistake is funny! I would also laugh if I read that. I am sure it happens a lot. I would call them immediately. Certainly they know people apply to other schools.

And you know what? If your application is kick-ass, and they realize you might have another offer from Stanford, it might get you an acceptance! Who knows.

But yea, definitely call! Just let them know clearly that you sent them the wrong SOP.

Don't freak out =) Good luck!

[unitname]

Oh, and LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!

***Including if you get in or not!

Edited February 8, 2012 by mjj58

[unitname]

Oh, and LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!

***Including if you get in or not!

[rose1]

I hope you e-mailed the admissions office and had them change it!!...I hate to be a downer but I work for a university and I've heard mentioning other schools by mistake in your SOP is a deal breaker. The absoluteness of your statement is also hard to explain given that the sentence basically said Stanford was your first choice school. It's hard to see how Berkeley AND Stanford could both be your "first" choice.

[CarlieE]

If it's any consolation I misspelled the last name of a POI... I don't think I did it on purpose, but my auto correct on word or something was on and it changed her name... I didn't catch that until MUCH MUCH later and it was wayyyy too late to call the grad office.

[washdc]

I hope you e-mailed the admissions office and had them change it!!...I hate to be a downer but I work for a university and I've heard mentioning other schools by mistake in your SOP is a deal breaker. The absoluteness of your statement is also hard to explain given that the sentence basically said Stanford was your first choice school. It's hard to see how Berkeley AND Stanford could both be your "first" choice.

I agree.

Also I think more than anything it shows that you had a generic SOP and just filled in the blanks for the correct university name/POI/department/program etc, instead of writing a custom SOP per school. Which is also why I agree with everyone else who said you should contact the admin office and send an updated version and just mention that you mistakenly sent the wrong SOP, rather than just sitting on the mistake and hoping they don't notice. Better to be proactive!