Help Phrasing an Update Letter

[themadchemist]

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Hey guys...Quick question.

So I just found out yesterday that I got an interview for a Rhodes Scholarship...I'm really really really excited. I mean, I never would have expected it.

Anyway, what I want to know is...How I can share this exciting news with medical schools in a way that won't make me sound like a big jerk?

One way that's been suggested is to be like, oh, I'm interviewing for the Rhodes on 11/18-19, so I won't be available for an interview then, if you were thinking about it. The other I've heard is to just say, I wanted to update you on what's going on in my life, and include the Rhodes interview as the first among several things.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions on wording?

 

[Saluki]

I'm a little confused. From what my friend told me who did the process last year, there are several sets of interviews. The first one is for everyone who applies; then if you get beyond that one, you go to a regional interview. If it's an automatic thing, then there's not going to be anything special about it. I've applied for the Fulbright, but I'm not going to write anything unless I actually get it.
If you've made it through some kind of competitive cut- you've been invited to the regional interview, then I'd say something, but if it's just the one for your state, I wouldn't bother. But that's just my opinion...

 

[themadchemist]

I'm a little confused. From what my friend told me who did the process last year, there are several sets of interviews. The first one is for everyone who applies; then if you get beyond that one, you go to a regional interview. If it's an automatic thing, then there's not going to be anything special about it. I've applied for the Fulbright, but I'm not going to write anything unless I actually get it.
If you've made it through some kind of competitive cut- you've been invited to the regional interview, then I'd say something, but if it's just the one for your state, I wouldn't bother. But that's just my opinion...

Well, the one that is (presumptively) for everyone who applies would be your campus interview. But actually, at my school, they cut about half of the people who applied for a campus nomination before the interview. After this, your application actually goes to the Rhodes Commission. In past years, they would make a cut at this point and then invite some applicants for a state interview. From the state interview, two applicants would be forwarded to the district interviews, at which point each district would select two individuals as Rhodes Scholars.

Now, they've gotten rid of the state interviews. So, after your university makes its cut an nominates certain people, the district (in my case, the states of NC, SC, and GA), chooses among its applicants for those who it wants to interview. So I'm pretty sure a significant cut occurs at this stage. Then, of all the people the district interviews, it picks two Rhodes Scholars. So in essence, I'm in final rounds now.

 

[argonana]

Wow!! Congrats!! I like the idea of dropping it as a line when you're noting that you can't interview at your schools on those days. It may look a little contrived to do this, but I think it's better than already sending an official update letter, unless you have other serious, new accomplishments to mention.

 

[Saluki]

Well, the one that is (presumptively) for everyone who applies would be your campus interview. But actually, at my school, they cut about half of the people who applied for a campus nomination before the interview. After this, your application actually goes to the Rhodes Commission. In past years, they would make a cut at this point and then invite some applicants for a state interview. From the state interview, two applicants would be forwarded to the district interviews, at which point each district would select two individuals as Rhodes Scholars.

Now, they've gotten rid of the state interviews. So, after your university makes its cut an nominates certain people, the district (in my case, the states of NC, SC, and GA), chooses among its applicants for those who it wants to interview. So I'm pretty sure a significant cut occurs at this stage. Then, of all the people the district interviews, it picks two Rhodes Scholars. So in essence, I'm in final rounds now.

Then, if you want to go ahead and say that you're a district finalist, or whatever that corresponds to. If you want to put it as part of a letter saying that you're unavailable for those dates, that would probably be fine. However, they wouldn't necessarily stick that in your file once that date is past (I'm not sure whether I'm expressing that clearly) So, if it's really important to you, just send a straight update letter....

 

[pallcare]

Then, if you want to go ahead and say that you're a district finalist, or whatever that corresponds to. If you want to put it as part of a letter saying that you're unavailable for those dates, that would probably be fine. However, they wouldn't necessarily stick that in your file once that date is past (I'm not sure whether I'm expressing that clearly) So, if it's really important to you, just send a straight update letter....

Although it's a great personal accomplishment, I'm not sure being a state finalist for the Rhodes will really mean much to the med schools. You obviously must have great stats in order to be a finalist, but the med schools already know that. I would hold off on any letter. Later on if you are waitlisted you can include this in your update letter.

 

[themadchemist]

Although it's a great personal accomplishment, I'm not sure being a state finalist for the Rhodes will really mean much to the med schools. You obviously must have great stats in order to be a finalist, but the med schools already know that. I would hold off on any letter. Later on if you are waitlisted you can include this in your update letter.

See, the advice I've been given is that this is an important thing to let med schools know because they want to get people who do well in these fellowships and stuff. One of my recommenders, the moment he heard, told me, now go e-mail all the med schools and tell them! And my pre-med adviser mentioned to me, when I asked about whether schools would grant deferments for fellowships, that the schools really like to be able to say that people who attended had done the fellowships. So from what I hear, it might actually help me secure an interview at some places to have this. And right now, I've only got one MSTP interview, and that's at my undergrad institution, so I definitely want to do all I can to try to up that.

argonana: Thanks for the congrats! I'm really excited about this...My only problem with being like, oh, I can't interview that date, is that it feels to me like I'm presuming that they would invite me for an interview. The last thing I want to do is to come off as arrogant. I never expected that I would get interviewed for this scholarship, but now that I am going to, it seems like it would be smart to let med schools know what I'm up to.

 

[Risa]

Hey madchemist,

Congrats!

Let your schools know the news in a straightforward, professional way. The "oh by the way I'm busy on these days for my Rhodes interview" thing makes absolutely ZERO sense. Zero. It's not a logical communication. Why don't you ask your advisor about what he or she would recommend as to the format of your update letter?

Good luck, and congrats again 🙂

 

[themadchemist]

Thanks for the help folks. If anyone else has input, lemme know, otherwise I think I'm going to go with a direct update.

 

[curlytop]

I wouldn't under any circumstances try the "I'm busy because I've got Rhodes interviews" thing. You're absolutely right that it'll come off sounding like you think you're owed an interview and that obviously they'll be inviting you...even though you clearly aren't that person.

Is there enough time to update them AFTER you've interviewed and heard a decision? That way you can give them one update: either you were interviewed or you actually were selected for it.

Good luck with both!

 

[Seven of Nine]

First off, congratulations!

However, not to be a little black rain cloud but I feel like it is a bit presumptuous in your proposed strategies to assume that you will a) be getting an interview or b) definitely be a scholar. Like you've heard, as have I, schools absolutely LOVE having students with prestigious honors. Read: have, not are interviewing for. I'm not sure this warrants its own update letter until later decisions have been made by the Rhodes administration. Wait until you hear more, like being granted a definite title for your accomplishments so far in the competition. If you have other significant updates, then it would be okay to mention as an afterthought.

Plus, if you send an update about your Rhodes interview and are granted an interview at a school, what happens if you only get an honorable mention/don't win it? "Interviewer: So what are you planning to do as a Rhodes scholar? Themadchemist: Oh, actually, I ended up not being named one, I had just interviewed for it. I met some really inspiring people though throughout my experience." Although interviewing is a positive accomplishment, you've overshadowed it with the negative of not getting the recognition/losing.


Hope it goes well!

 

[sustentacular]

I wouldn't under any circumstances try the "I'm busy because I've got Rhodes interviews" thing. You're absolutely right that it'll come off sounding like you think you're owed an interview and that obviously they'll be inviting you...even though you clearly aren't that person.

Is there enough time to update them AFTER you've interviewed and heard a decision? That way you can give them one update: either you were interviewed or you actually were selected for it.

Good luck with both!

Did you resurrect a thread from 2005 on purpose or did you really not notice?