My reference misspelled my name. Am I screwed??

[surynguyen]

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Hi all!
I need help for advice. One of my general dentists who I have shadowed for about 70 hours agreed to write me a recommendation letter. It was super sweet of him to voluntarily send his letter to me after submitting it to the application on Wednesday. However, after reading it, I found that he misspelled my first name wrong. It should be Trang but he wrote Tramg. It's nothing major and my name is not very common, so I understand why he got it wrong.

However, what should I do now? I have not told him about this since I am still unsure what to do. Do you think that I should call the ADEA to ask them about this procedure or tell my dentist to call the ADEA and fix the letter? Or Should I just leave it like that? Fyi, I waived my right to read these letters. Also, I just submitted my application in the beginning of this week and it has not been verified.
Thanks advance for your time.

 

[Likkriue]

If you waive the right to read those letters, how did you find out he misspelled your name?

Anyways I don't think it's a big deal, I would leave it alone as you violated the rules by reading letters you don't have rights to read. If you intend on reading/proofreading letters you do not waive your rights to read them.

 

[cooliyak]

If you waive the right to read those letters, how did you find out he misspelled your name?

Anyways I don't think it's a big deal, I would leave it alone as you violated the rules by reading letters you don't have rights to read. If you intend on reading/proofreading letters you do not waive your rights to read them.

I agree. I think the bigger issue is that you read the letter when you waived your rights to them. Anxiety about your name being misspelled is what you get for that.
On a lighter note, I know someone who got in even though their evaluator put the wrong name in their letter. It's not good, but it's not the end of the world either. With a mistake that small, I wouldn't worry.

 

[princessdentist]

I think it's not something you should worry too much about! Also, during the application process some schools accept additional LORs that your recommendor can send directly to the school email. So if you see you're waitlisted or waiting for an interview you can always do that but hopefully you won't need to

Also to everyone giving you a hard time for reading the letter, I don't think it's a big deal. A lot of recommendors offer for the student to read the letter and hand it to them it's no crime

 

[surynguyen]

If you waive the right to read those letters, how did you find out he misspelled your name?

Anyways I don't think it's a big deal, I would leave it alone as you violated the rules by reading letters you don't have rights to read. If you intend on reading/proofreading letters you do not waive your rights to read them.

Hi!
I have never asked my references to send me LORs. My dentist just gave me a folder after my shadowing and said read it. Literally. i was surprised when i opened the folder out at home.
Thanks for your input. 🙂

 

[surynguyen]

I agree. I think the bigger issue is that you read the letter when you waived your rights to them. Anxiety about your name being misspelled is your punishment.
On a lighter note, I know someone who got in even though their evaluator put the wrong name in their letter. It's not good, but it's not the end of the world either. With a mistake that small, I wouldn't worry.

Hi!
Yea. I guess it's my fault since i already waived my right before that. But i never intentionally read the LORs or fix it. I went to the predental enrichment last year, and during the lecture, the admission said that the applicants have to make sure that the references wrote their name right (still dont know how unless reading it), that's why i worry about this.
Thanks. Your story made me feel a little better. 🙂

 

[surynguyen]

I think it's not something you should worry too much about! Also, during the application process some schools accept additional LORs that your recommendor can send directly to the school email. So if you see you're waitlisted or waiting for an interview you can always do that but hopefully you won't need to

Also to everyone giving you a hard time for reading the letter, I don't think it's a big deal. A lot of recommendors offer for the student to read the letter and hand it to them it's no crime

I hope so too .
Yea, i know some of my friends's references did so even before submitting the LORs. However, i was still really surprised when i saw the letter in the folder that he gave me since none of my references have done so in the past.

 

[aj30]

I may be wrong but my understanding is that waiving your right does not mean that you're not allowed to read your letter if the writer or recipient shows it to you-it simply means you no longer have a right to demand to see it if they don't. It's based upon a law that states that you have a right to see letters of recommendation written about you, as in they can't be withheld from you, unless you waive your right to see them, in which case they can be withheld, but of course don't have to be. So I don't think you did anything wrong by reading your letter.
As for the spelling mistake, I don't think it's an issue. It's not a computer system is matching the names-a person will be reading it and it'll be clear it's a typo. You can try to resubmit it with the correct spelling but I don't think it's necessary.

 

[Likkriue]

As far as I know, I was told if I intend on proofreading my LOR I should select not to waive my right.

I didn't waive my right to read my dentist letter and I still got in. Not a big deal because most adcoms know dentists aren't the best writers.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

It's a stupid typo. The keys are literally adjacent to one another. Why on earth would you think this is an issue? I'm more worried that you're worried about it. You're absolutely fine.

Big Hoss

 

[Incis0r]

my understanding is that waiving your right does not mean that you're not allowed to read your letter if the writer or recipient shows it to you-it simply means you no longer have a right to demand to see it if they don't. It's based upon a law that states that you have a right to see letters of recommendation written about you, as in they can't be withheld from you, unless you waive your right to see them, in which case they can be withheld, but of course don't have to be. So I don't think you did anything wrong by reading your letter.

This, 100%.

Also, OP, don't worry about it. Adcoms read so many letters they likely won't notice, and in the event that they do, they'll understand it was an honest typo.

I get that it's a really anxiety-inducing time because of applications, but rest assured that you will be fine!

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Adcoms read so many letters they likely won't notice

This.

Big Hoss

 

[FanOfCostco]

This.

Big Hoss

I will notice.

 

[allantois]

It's fine, it's not a typical name

 

[surynguyen]

I may be wrong but my understanding is that waiving your right does not mean that you're not allowed to read your letter if the writer or recipient shows it to you-it simply means you no longer have a right to demand to see it if they don't. It's based upon a law that states that you have a right to see letters of recommendation written about you, as in they can't be withheld from you, unless you waive your right to see them, in which case they can be withheld, but of course don't have to be. So I don't think you did anything wrong by reading your letter.
As for the spelling mistake, I don't think it's an issue. It's not a computer system is matching the names-a person will be reading it and it'll be clear it's a typo. You can try to resubmit it with the correct spelling but I don't think it's necessary.

Thanks! just wondering incase if I want to resubmit, do I have to send another LORs request to my dentist or is there a way for my dentist to resubmit the new one and cancel the previous one without me sending him another request?

 

[surynguyen]

I think you will live

🙂)) I hope for the same!

 

[surynguyen]

It's a stupid typo. The keys are literally adjacent to one another. Why on earth would you think this is an issue? I'm more worried that you're worried about it. You're absolutely fine.

Big Hoss

Thanks! And I love your positive thinking!

 

[surynguyen]

This, 100%.

Also, OP, don't worry about it. Adcoms read so many letters they likely won't notice, and in the event that they do, they'll understand it was an honest typo.

I get that it's a really anxiety-inducing time because of applications, but rest assured that you will be fine!

Yea, you are right, I am more nervous since my application is little late and won't be verified for another 2, 3 weeks. Another question, can I update my extracurricular activities while my application is being verified by ADEA? and if its okay, would it make the verification process take longer?

 

[SpartanWolverine]

I may be wrong but my understanding is that waiving your right does not mean that you're not allowed to read your letter if the writer or recipient shows it to you-it simply means you no longer have a right to demand to see it if they don't. It's based upon a law that states that you have a right to see letters of recommendation written about you, as in they can't be withheld from you, unless you waive your right to see them, in which case they can be withheld, but of course don't have to be. So I don't think you did anything wrong by reading your letter.
As for the spelling mistake, I don't think it's an issue. It's not a computer system is matching the names-a person will be reading it and it'll be clear it's a typo. You can try to resubmit it with the correct spelling but I don't think it's necessary.

You're absolutely correct. A letter writer voluntarily sending you a letter is not at all against 'the rules'. Waiving your FERPA right gives them the freedom, as letter writers, to write an 'honest' evaluation (or at least that's the perception). Basically, waiving your right is a signal that you have nothing to hide and that the evaluation may be more candid and thus taken at face value. If they want to share their evaluation with you that is their prerogative -- but you have no legal grounds to request it from the school.

 

[drcrentistdds]

Thanks! just wondering incase if I want to resubmit, do I have to send another LORs request to my dentist or is there a way for my dentist to resubmit the new one and cancel the previous one without me sending him another request?

I wouldn't worry about this much since it's a small typo, but the dentist can change it by contacting AADSAS himself. A similar thing happened to me (it was a little worse-- he put a similar but incorrect last name) and he was able to change it.