Do gap year activities NOT described in primary or secondary have an impact on acceptance?

[deleted993098]

I wrote in my secondary some of my plans (e.g. I plan to volunteer, do research, etc.) for the gap year, but didn't had anything set in stone at that point so it was mostly plans. Now I have been volunteering at a hospital, food bank, and have a secured research and shadowing opportunity to start in late October. However, I never wrote about any of these and schools don't know about them. I was wondering if these would have any benefit to my cycle at this point?

I also mentioned that I had a paper (where I am a middle author in a low IF, nothing special) submitted for publication in my 2ndaries (it was accepted, but not published). I think it will be published in a journal in late October, so idk how I can talk about this besides at an interview (but I feel like it would help me get an interview if schools knew about it since my research experience is subpar).

 

[Lampy]

I m not an expert, but I think this sort of stuff is when you should send updates to schools that allow them?

 

[deleted993098]

I m not an expert, but I think this sort of stuff is when you should send updates to schools that allow them?

I am planning to do that once I get published and just tack on the other stuff. But a lot of schools don't allow pre-interview updates. And the only school I got an II at does not allow updates at all and the interview format is MMI :/ so i doubt i'll have a chance to mention anything.

 

[Goro]

I wrote in my secondary some of my plans (e.g. I plan to volunteer, do research, etc.) for the gap year, but didn't had anything set in stone at that point so it was mostly plans. Now I have been volunteering at a hospital, food bank, and have a secured research and shadowing opportunity to start in late October. However, I never wrote about any of these and schools don't know about them. I was wondering if these would have any benefit to my cycle at this point?

I also mentioned that I had a paper (where I am a middle author in a low IF, nothing special) submitted for publication in my 2ndaries (it was accepted, but not published). I think it will be published in a journal in late October, so idk how I can talk about this besides at an interview (but I feel like it would help me get an interview if schools knew about it since my research experience is subpar).

Plans mean nothing, what you've done is what counts.

Words are easy, doing is harder.

 

[deleted993098]

Plans mean nothing, what you've done is what counts.

Words are easy, doing is harder.

That's what I figured. I actually have actually done the stuff I planned to do now, but schools don't know that. Is it worth updating to schools? I was thinking of waiting till I get published (maybe in 2 months) and making an update letter that mentions that plus the gap year activities that I have actually done.

 

[Goro]

That's what I figured. I actually have actually done the stuff I planned to do now, but schools don't know that. Is it worth updating to schools? I was thinking of waiting till I get published (maybe in 2 months) and making an update letter that mentions that plus the gap year activities that I have actually done.

Getting a publication is worth an update at schools that welcome updates. Merely having a paper submitted is not worth an update.