Is this too odd for an update letter?

[Snuke]

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So I'm getting together activities for the fall for possible update letters, but one sticks out as rather out there. Can you spot it?

Peer Tutor (recommended position)
Captain of pep band
Working on campus
University Quidditch team

I am dead serious. We have a Quidditch team on campus, and for my senior year I'm going to something frivolous with my time.

When I send an update letter about my academic progress, leadership positions, etc, would it be inappropriate to include my involvement with an eccentric club sport? Or is it just odd enough to make my update letter memorable?

 

[blizzah]

Why would you send an update letter if you haven't started the activity yet. If you aren't going to elaborate on it on a personal level, it may make you seem like you are just throwing it in there.

 

[Don15]

Nothing wrong with that. It's actually pretty interesting, go for it.

 

[Snuke]

Why would you send an update letter if you haven't started the activity yet. If you aren't going to elaborate on it on a personal level, it may make you seem like you are just throwing it in there.

I'm starting the activity this week and won't send off the letter for nearly a month, maybe more, depending on the school. Plenty of time to have devoted time/energy to it, and I'm not planning on it being the central feature of any letter, just an additional - 'hey I'm doing this and it's kinda cool but I was able to do X.'

 

[blizzah]

I'm starting the activity this week and won't send off the letter for nearly a month, maybe more, depending on the school. Plenty of time to have devoted time/energy to it, and I'm not planning on it being the central feature of any letter, just an additional - 'hey I'm doing this and it's kinda cool but I was able to do X.'

Go for it then! Potentially stress the teamwork aspect


Our school did have quidditch team and played another university. I walked by, kinda looked like glorified soccer except people held brooms between their legs, but that's just me 😛

 

[gettheleadout]

More schools than you think have Quidditch teams, and that said I don't think you'd be seen as "weird" or "out there" for participating in it.

 

[Snuke]

More schools than you think have Quidditch teams, and that said I don't think you'd be seen as "weird" or "out there" for participating in it.

I actually looked it up, and there are a good amount, especially in the northeast area. Notables include: Harvard, Yale, Hopkins, Penn State, UPitt, UPenn, NYU.

 

[gettheleadout]

I actually looked it up, and there are a good amount, especially in the northeast area. Notables include: Harvard, Yale, Hopkins, Penn State, UPitt, UPenn, NYU.

Sounds legit to me then. 👍

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

I don't think it's worth an update letter. To me, it comes off as both annoying and desperate.

I've read that update letters are only for publications, awards, arrests, or other major changes.

 

[Charles Darwin]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSxPFNny4A4[/youtube]

I don't mean to hate on you, but that just looks ridiculous...

 

[duress]

not going to lie, that looks pretty cool and fun if you didn't have to hold the broom between your legs

 

[paul411]

Some friends and I were walking by the Quidditch team practicing and I went up to the Quidditch team with a twig in my hand an yelled out "Which one of you is Harry Potter?"

The people with the brooms between their legs did not find it amusing. It was a good laugh for us though.

 

[Snuke]

I don't think it's worth an update letter. To me, it comes off as both annoying and desperate.

I've read that update letters are only for publications, awards, arrests, or other major changes.

Really? I've heard that update letters are just that - updates about what you're doing, activities you've continued/started. In this case, I'll have one that I've continued, one that I was selected to do, a work experience, and a teamwork experience.

If this thread becomes a discussion on update letters, I'll be happy. When is it appropriate to send them, before or after Oct 15th? (I have interviews before this magic date).

 

[Snuke]

I don't mean to hate on you, but that just looks ridiculous...

Their capes are bright orange? Really? If it helps, our uniforms are sleek, and we have real professional brooms.

 

[NickNaylor]

You should send an update letter if you're on hold/waitlisted/continued. At this point, I wouldn't send a letter to schools that you haven't been invited to interview at. It's too early for that and, as others said, might be seen as a little desperate.

I also agree that those activities seem a little trite, but then again I've never understood what people could possibly include in an update letter that could be compelling. It's your choice, but I would probably wait until the end of the quarter/semester so that you can also include your most recent set of grades.

 

[Eric01]

If you have fun playing Quidditch then don't let anyone hate on you. But in terms of sending it to medical school that doesn't seem right. Unless you're affiliated with the university in terms of sports, (in which case it would represent a large amount of commitment, mental toughness, and performance) I wouldn't send it in. Maybe inter mural sports qualifies, but I don't know about Quidditch, that seems more a recreational thing.

Plus you don't want your interviewer asking you to demonstrate catching the snitch.

 

[isoquin]

If you have some non-insignificant amount of time dedicated to the activity, sure! The key with including things in updates is that you need to be able to talk about them and hold your own on an interview. If you play Quidditch for a week, send the update, and quit the next day, you're going to be sweating if it comes up. (Actually, given the odd nature of the activity, you may be able to get away with just describing how its played, but that's an exception to the rule.)

So yeah, if you're going to stick with it, put it down. 🙂

 

[Snuke]

Thanks for the input, especially on when to send it. Hopefully, I won't need to at all 🙂xf: for acceptance/not waitlists) though if I do, it'll be months away and I'll have something concrete to say.

I definitely wouldn't send anything to schools without invites - my particular timeframe in question was between interview and decision, but it sounds like I ought to wait until November at the earliest.

 

[AvidAvatar]

As a repeat offender (applicant), I agree with the advice here and your decision to wait until they are necessary. There is no reason to submit updates until you hit a snag. Your application is quite good, and I do not see any reason why you would need an update letter at all, unless if it is to help you slide off the waitlist at one or two of those fine institutions at which you have interviews.

I like you Snuke. Please do not put Quidditch on an update letter. The risk is too great that someone will look it up and see....that. I haven't been exposed to more than thirty minutes of Harry Potter in my lifetime, so I knew nothing about Quidditch until I looked it up on Wikipedia. It actually sounded like a good activity prior to my research. You should switch to snooker.