Basic update letter/letter of interest questions

[doinmybest5840]

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Okay, these might be dumb questions, but I'd rather ask them and do the right thing than do it wrong because I'm embarrassed.

1. When writing an update letter/letter of interest, should I address the envelope/letter to whoever the dean/head of admissions, or just address the envelope to the admissions office and the letter as "To whom it may concern"?

2. If I want to include updated grades, do I need to send an official transcript separately? Or would it be acceptable to print an unofficial copy myself and include it in the letter?

Thanks.

 

[doinmybest5840]

Anyone?? Please?

 

[batm0nque]

i dont know anything about letters of update (and would be interested) but in terms of grade updates---im out of college and take evening courses--so one of the classes listed on my amcas gave out grades after i had submitted my primary. for these most schools will accept an e-mailed copy of the grade and dont require an official transcript

 

[Jolie South]

I'd send the letter to the dean. At the schools that I've interviewed at, they mentioned specifically to send letters to him/her.

 

[154465]

Instead of starting a new thread I will just post my questions here. I should lurk moar but I have pretty specific questions, I guess.

I will hopefully have gotten like 2 or 3 new positions within the next couple of weeks. 1 is a research position, 1 is a job at a hospital, and 1 is a coordinator of a volunteer program. I want to let the schools know that I will be doing these things for the next year, but I haven't yet started any of them. If I send an update letter after like 2-3 weeks of starting work on any of them would that be OK?

Also, I'm not doing as well in my classes as I would normally. I never want schools to see this semester until I (hopefully) get an acceptance. Will schools ever request an updated transcript mid-cycle?

 

[btc8]

To the Poster:

The easiest thing, probably, is just to contact the school(s) and ask them. Chances are it's not going to matter to whom you address the letter, the Dean, the Admissions, whomever, as it will go to where it needs to go (I've worked in Admissions offices, and everything always seems to get to where it needs to go, just takes a few days). I would call about the grades just to be safe.

 

[shadowclaws]

2. If I want to include updated grades, do I need to send an official transcript separately? Or would it be acceptable to print an unofficial copy myself and include it in the letter?

Thanks.

An unofficial is fine. They only require official transcripts if you get in. And you can just include it with the letter.

 

[pluripotent]

Anyone?? Please?

dean of admissions without a doubt is the person who will read your LOI. The adcomm may. Address the LOI to him/her whilst the letter is address to the admissions office. Its prudent to email the dean of admissions with the LOI first, wait for a response, and if none, then try the vice/assistant dean of admissions. This is a smart move because they are required to forward it to the dean so it is guaranteed to get there. Additionally, who's email is the dean more likely to read... yours or his vice dean? I had one vice dean reply to me very favorably and said he is going to forward it to Dr. so and so and put a stamp of enthusiasm alongside my LOI. I felt great. 😀

 

[154241]

dean of admissions without a doubt is the person who will read your LOI. The adcomm may. Address the LOI to him/her whilst the letter is address to the admissions office. Its prudent to email the dean of admissions with the LOI first, wait for a response, and if none, then try the vice/assistant dean of admissions. This is a smart move because they are required to forward it to the dean so it is guaranteed to get there. Additionally, who's email is the dean more likely to read... yours or his vice dean? I had one vice dean reply to me very favorably and said he is going to forward it to Dr. so and so and put a stamp of enthusiasm alongside my LOI. I felt great. 😀

Should we expect a response? I sent an LOI and didn't hear a thing back, but I figured they just put it in my file...

 

[alwaysaangel]

Write the letter to the Dean of Admissions, you should be able to find out who that is on the website.

Unofficial transcripts should be fine.

Generally, schools don't ask for new grades mid-cycle. I've heard of it happening on occasion but its not likely.

Sending a letter shortly after you start a job should be fine. But have more to say than just "I started a new job." You really want to put as much into a LOI or update letter as possible. Talk about the things you love about the school that you couldn't mention in secondary. Then mention the updates you want to add in.

The last thing I would say about LOIs is to send them when its most beneficial for you. In general, schools will rereview your file when they receive an update letter from you. So wait until you know they've reviewed your file (because they put you on hold, on waitlist, whatever). Then send a letter - that way they have to review your file again. The more times your file is reviewed the better off you are.