Is now an okay time for update letters?

[chobahni]

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I submitted all of my secondaries by late July and have yet to hear from any school about interview invites/rejections. Since then, I have obtained a 3rd author publication, have been working in a clinical research lab for 3 months (with great experiences), and have been volunteering. Would these things constitute a good update letter to my schools? Or, is it too early still to send an update letter?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I submitted all of my secondaries by late July and have yet to hear from any school about interview invites/rejections. Since then, I have obtained a 3rd author publication, have been working in a clinical research lab for 3 months (with great experiences), and have been volunteering. Would these things constitute a good update letter to my schools? Or, is it too early still to send an update letter?

While You Are Waiting: Processing Health Professions Applications | SDN Review

I often use the "marathon" metaphor when it comes to the timeline from preparing your application to stepping on-campus as a newly enrolled student, but

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[LindaAccepted]

I submitted all of my secondaries by late July and have yet to hear from any school about interview invites/rejections. Since then, I have obtained a 3rd author publication, have been working in a clinical research lab for 3 months (with great experiences), and have been volunteering. Would these things constitute a good update letter to my schools? Or, is it too early still to send an update letter?

I think it depends a lot on the school. I have interviewed for Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted's podcast, many med school admissions directors. Some say that updates are completely disregarded (Johns Hopkins for example). Others welcome them for the information they convey, the interest they demonstrate, and sometimes the judgement (or lack there of) they display. (Loyola Stritch for example) and others want them more later in the cycle. (Washington U of St. Louis, Hofstra Northwell for example) .

To answer your question, probably. 😉 Yes, if you did not have publications before, had limited clinical exposure when you applied as well as little community service. If you had a lot of similar experience in your app when you submitted secondaries or told them that this is what you would be doing, I would not now send an update. If this is really new and valuable experience, send updates to schools that welcome them, and just wait (I know it's hard) for those schools that don't welcome them.

 

[Goro]

I submitted all of my secondaries by late July and have yet to hear from any school about interview invites/rejections. Since then, I have obtained a 3rd author publication, have been working in a clinical research lab for 3 months (with great experiences), and have been volunteering. Would these things constitute a good update letter to my schools? Or, is it too early still to send an update letter?

Unlikely to move the needle.

 

[cj_cregg]

I'd say the time to consider sending an update would be the end of the fall semester and the end of the spring semester. Many applicants view updates as an opportunity to "show interest" or seem to think that sending an update will get them an answer faster. But that's not what it is - what you should ask yourself is "will this make the difference between an offer for an interview or acceptance?" It is REALLY unlikely that anything done in a couple months since you submitted your app will meet that bar, and I don't think the things you mentioned are to that level.