Is a two-page update letter too long?

[The Deep]

I went to an open house a couple of weeks ago to my top-choice program and have a lot to say about why I'd love to go there. I also have about a page's worth of information to update them on, so, with the information about why I would fit into the program, my planned update letter comes out to a little over a page and a half. I've had friends look it over and they told me it was fine and that none of it read as extraneous. Should I trim it for the sake of making it shorter, or keep it as it is to authentically show my enthusiasm?

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[LizzyM]

Try to get it to one page. The school knows why it is wonderful and everyone wants to go there .... tell them all the ways that you are wonderful too and let them connect the dots as to why you would be a good fit.

 

[The Deep]

Thank you; that makes a lot of sense. So you would probably recommend I spend a majority of the page discussing what I've been doing in a little more depth, with a short blurb about why I want that school/would be a good fit, over something more balanced with relatively concise descriptions for my activities?

 

[AJS59]

Thank you; that makes a lot of sense. So you would probably recommend I spend a majority of the page discussing what I've been doing in a little more depth, with a short blurb about why I want that school/would be a good fit, over something more balanced with relatively concise descriptions for my activities?

My thought process (defer to the adcoms here) is KISS - Keep it simple stupid. Describe what's new - i.e. publications, jobs, volunteer experience that could not otherwise be gleaned from your application and give just enough to detail to indicate its impact. If your updates happen to link to the school's mission then you don't even really need to spell it out for them.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Run it through ChatGPT with a prompt to summarize it into a single paragraph.

 

[Rachapkis]

Your job is to show that you will be an excellent medical student and doctor as well as a good fit for this school in particular. Every sentence of your letter should add something material in this regard that you haven't already told them. I would definitely not exceed one page. Keeping it short shows that you respect their time, and do not have an overblown perception of your own importance.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I honestly think an update should be no more than 4-5 sentences. As noted above, you should have said why you want to attend in your secondaries. An update really should be about what is new.

 

[The Deep]

I honestly think an update should be no more than 4-5 sentences. As noted above, you should have said why you want to attend in your secondaries. An update really should be about what is new.

I read that it's common to combine Letters of Interest with Update Letters into one document to kill two birds with one stone.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I read that it's common to combine Letters of Interest with Update Letters into one document to kill two birds with one stone.

It is common, though I don't think it is wise to do so unless it's one of those schools that is needy and asks for frequent engagement.

Waxing poetic about how awesome the school is runs the risk of making them miss your actual update when they're skimming your letter. And frankly it just doesn't do anything and is redundant with what you presumably already said in your secondary and interview.

 

[AJS59]

I read that it's common to combine Letters of Interest with Update Letters into one document to kill two birds with one stone.

They have 2 different effects. LOIs are only really useful in the event of waitlist, not before a decision is made

 

[The Deep]

It is common, though I don't think it is wise to do so unless it's one of those schools that is needy and asks for frequent engagement.

Waxing poetic about how awesome the school is runs the risk of making them miss your actual update when they're skimming your letter. And frankly it just doesn't do anything and is redundant with what you presumably already said in your secondary and interview.

The school hasn't explicitly stated that they love updates, but my friend, who is a third year at the school, told me he sent them multiple ~3 paragraph LOIs+updates, which he correlates with how he received a late II (after Christmas) and eventually got off the waitlist at the school.

 

[The Deep]

They have 2 different effects. LOIs are only really useful in the event of waitlist, not before a decision is made

Maybe, but I honestly don't feel like I wrote enough about why that school during my secondary (they didn't have that explicit question). Instead, I wrote about what I aspire to do and the lessons I learned from my experiences. Now that I attended their open house, I can list legitimate reasons that they're my top school.

 

[Goro]

Maybe, but I honestly don't feel like I wrote enough about why that school during my secondary (they didn't have that explicit question). Instead, I wrote about what I aspire to do and the lessons I learned from my experiences. Now that I attended their open house, I can list legitimate reasons that they're my top school.

Have mercy on the people who have to read these.

I can see that you're going to send a long letter despite the advice above, so let us know how it works.

 

[GoSpursGo]

The school hasn't explicitly stated that they love updates, but my friend, who is a third year at the school, told me he sent them multiple ~3 paragraph LOIs+updates, which he correlates with how he received a late II (after Christmas) and eventually got off the waitlist at the school.

I bet there are others who didn't send long update letters who got a late II and eventually got off the WL. Correllation=/=causation

Anyways, if it'll help you sleep better at night then you do you. My general advice is to keep things short and that the 2-3 least important points you're trying to make could be omitted to make your most important points stand out better.

 

[The Deep]

I bet there are others who didn't send long update letters who got a late II and eventually got off the WL. Correllation=/=causation

Anyways, if it'll help you sleep better at night then you do you. My general advice is to keep things short and that the 2-3 least important points you're trying to make could be omitted to make your most important points stand out better.

Thanks, this is really helpful advice 🙂

 

[The Deep]

Have mercy on the people who have to read these.

I can see that you're going to send a long letter despite the advice above, so let us know how it works.

Haha, I'm working to trim it down as best as I can. I'm worried that if I trim too too much, it comes off as bare bones and generic.

The quote that stood out to me most was "do not have an overblown perception of your own importance" and it's helping me find the healthiest balance.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Thank you; that makes a lot of sense. So you would probably recommend I spend a majority of the page discussing what I've been doing in a little more depth, with a short blurb about why I want that school/would be a good fit, over something more balanced with relatively concise descriptions for my activities?

My basic answer to this question is yes. However is this a school that you have already interviewed at?

 

[gyngyn]

Two pages is two pages too long.