How beneficial are Update Letters?

[TunaSub]

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When I submitted my primary app, I had identified an experience as the most significant in my undergraduate career. At the time I was just about to finish the long training requirement. I have not heard from many schools yet, though that is probably because I submitted many secondaries from mid to late September. Since the time I submitted my primary, I have completed training and have had a ton of interesting experiences. I was wondering how much impact an update letter about this activity would make, and also if it may just annoy the adcom. Thanks in advance.

 

[TunaSub]

btw, my primary was submitted early June

 

[kpcrew]

dunno but make sure to check if the school accepts them. i know that albany doesn't take any.

 

[gettheleadout]

You marked an experience as most significant while you were still in the training stage? In any case, the impact of update letters in general is greatly dependent on what you include in them and the relevance it has to your application. For DO schools, for example, including an update that you've shadowed a DO when you previously had no experience with the osteopathic profession in particular can effectively elicit results. If you're worried about annoying the adcom, consider the actual content of your letter. Sending it in itself won't annoy them as long as they don't explicitly state they don't accept them (as kpcrew pointed out) but imagine reading it from their perspective. Is the letter going to give them some new, meaningful information about you as an applicant? If so, I'd say you're good.

 

[TunaSub]

You marked an experience as most significant while you were still in the training stage? In any case, the impact of update letters in general is greatly dependent on what you include in them and the relevance it has to your application. For DO schools, for example, including an update that you've shadowed a DO when you previously had no experience with the osteopathic profession in particular can effectively elicit results. If you're worried about annoying the adcom, consider the actual content of your letter. Sending it in itself won't annoy them as long as they don't explicitly state they don't accept them (as kpcrew pointed out) but imagine reading it from their perspective. Is the letter going to give them some new, meaningful information about you as an applicant? If so, I'd say you're good.

Thanks for your input. "Most significant" was a poor choice of words--I did express that the experience would be most meaningful to me in the future though. The training lasted a month and a half and I was already doing a majority of the work already--just wasn't certified yet. Also, considering that this experience is a major thing that makes my app unique, I think an update would help...atm they don't know if I quit during training, etc...

 

[235788]

Some people have great luck with them. Just use it as an opportunity to also discuss why you belong to school x.

 

[gettheleadout]

Thanks for your input. "Most significant" was a poor choice of words--I did express that the experience would be most meaningful to me in the future though. The training lasted a month and a half and I was already doing a majority of the work already--just wasn't certified yet. Also, considering that this experience is a major thing that makes my app unique, I think an update would help...atm they don't know if I quit during training, etc...

In this case I would agree that an update could be beneficial, though of course this is up to your judgment as you know more about your app than we do.

 

[TunaSub]

Some people have great luck with them. Just use it as an opportunity to also discuss why you belong to school x.

In this case I would agree that an update could be beneficial, though of course this is up to your judgment as you know more about your app than we do.

I think I'll put a letter together then. Merci beaucoup for the discussion.

 

[BoulderDash]

In my experience I found that update letters were far more helpful post-interview, since the chances are your update won't be the "tipping point" in itself to sway adcoms in favor of offering the interview. The exception would be if you included fall semester grades (either in undergrad or an SMP). Assuming you are not in an SMP, then we are not at that point yet. However, if you make sure the update has actual content and are able to connect it to why that school is good FOR YOU, it will not hurt, at the very least. Some schools are more receptive than others as posters above said. In addition to Albany, I recall Penn State as another school that is not receptive to update letters. Others, such as Vermont, were certainly accepting of them pre-interview.

 

[TunaSub]

In my experience I found that update letters were far more helpful post-interview, since the chances are your update won't be the "tipping point" in itself to sway adcoms in favor of offering the interview. The exception would be if you included fall semester grades (either in undergrad or an SMP). Assuming you are not in an SMP, then we are not at that point yet. However, if you make sure the update has actual content and are able to connect it to why that school is good FOR YOU, it will not hurt, at the very least. Some schools are more receptive than others as posters above said. In addition to Albany, I recall Penn State as another school that is not receptive to update letters. Others, such as Vermont, were certainly accepting of them pre-interview.

Great points. I think I will wait a little then. I already discussed my experience with the schools I've interviewed at...I'll talk it over with an adviser as well.

 

[MedicalBeast]

i've you have got something major to update them with.. then definetly send an update letter. otherwise its not gona make a huge difference.

 

[TunaSub]

i've you have got something major to update them with.. then definetly send an update letter. otherwise its not gona make a huge difference.

Good stuff. Thanks.