Should I send an update/Interest letter

[DZ2106]

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Hey guys!

So I've had a pretty successful cycle so far. Thanks to @KnightDoc I ended up applying to and getting accepted to one of my top schools! I'm really excited about this acceptance and there are really no other schools in the 15-30 range that I would choose over it

For the T10-15s however, I do wanna see if I can send them an update and continued interest letter. I'm a reapplicant, but with a 3.86cGPA, 3.9sGPA, and 521 MCAT. I'm First Gen and LGBT. My WARS seems to be a 93 from:

ZERO name recognition for my alma mater, but I'm an adjunct at that college
2000+ research hours with 2 middle-author pubs and 1 abstract
1600 clinical hrs, 300 volunteering w/ nursing homes in underserved communities
200 nonclinical volunteering
2000+ hours in part-time jobs
200 shadowing hrs
2100 tutoring hours
Started my own club, also was treasurer of my frat
Put down 1000+ hrs of bjj as my hobby, no special trophies or achievements

So I've had 10IIs and 2As this cycle, but none of them were from T20s. I applied to 5 T20s for the first time in July and have only heard of an R from Pitt and a hold from Mayo. I'm a reapplicant to like 7 more that I applied to in August.

I currently got a job as a medical transcriptionist for a clinic of ortho and neurosurgeons, with shadowing in the OR whenever I want it. I also have a 4th author pub that has been submitted but not accepted. Is this enough to justify an update? If not, can I just send a continued interest letter?

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Can’t hurt but everybody is interested in T10 schools. I’ve found that it helps more at mid to low tier schools

 

[DZ2106]

Can’t hurt but everybody is interested in T10 schools. I’ve found that it helps more at mid to low tier schools

RIP

Yea I'm already in at UVA, a school which I love. I really wouldn't pick any mid-tier school over it, not even some of the lower T20s.

Thank you so much!

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hey guys!

So I've had a pretty successful cycle so far. Thanks to @KnightDoc I ended up applying to and getting accepted to one of my top schools! I'm really excited about this acceptance and there are really no other schools in the 15-30 range that I would choose over it

For the T10-15s however, I do wanna see if I can send them an update and continued interest letter. I'm a reapplicant, but with a 3.86cGPA, 3.9sGPA, and 521 MCAT. I'm First Gen and LGBT. My WARS seems to be a 93 from:

ZERO name recognition for my alma mater, but I'm an adjunct at that college
2000+ research hours with 2 middle-author pubs and 1 abstract
1600 clinical hrs, 300 volunteering w/ nursing homes in underserved communities
200 nonclinical volunteering
2000+ hours in part-time jobs
200 shadowing hrs
2100 tutoring hours
Started my own club, also was treasurer of my frat
Put down 1000+ hrs of bjj as my hobby, no special trophies or achievements

So I've had 10IIs and 2As this cycle, but none of them were from T20s. I applied to 5 T20s for the first time in July and have only heard of an R from Pitt and a hold from Mayo. I'm a reapplicant to like 7 more that I applied to in August.

I currently got a job as a medical transcriptionist for a clinic of ortho and neurosurgeons, with shadowing in the OR whenever I want it. I also have a 4th author pub that has been submitted but not accepted. Is this enough to justify an update? If not, can I just send a continued interest letter?

@KnightDoc helped you get admitted into a MD program? He has that much pull?

 

[DZ2106]

@KnightDoc helped you get admitted into a MD program? He has that much pull?

You underestimate him, he knows people. /s

Nah I was a reapp so I was very selective on choosing a well-balanced school list and avoiding schools I applied to last yr. Once August came around I asked whether it's a good idea to apply to some of the tougher schools that I'd be a reapplicant for. Knightdoc was basically like "shoot your shot king," so I did. And one of those schools was UVA, which I am proud to say I got the A for.

 

[MyOdyssey]

You underestimate him, he knows people. /s

Nah I was a reapp so I was very selective on choosing a well-balanced school list and avoiding schools I applied to last yr. Once August came around I asked whether it's a good idea to apply to some of the tougher schools that I'd be a reapplicant for. Knightdoc was basically like "shoot your shot king," so I did. And one of those schools was UVA, which I am proud to say I got the A for.

Congrats on your success as a reapp. How did you boost your application?

 

[DZ2106]

Congrats on your success as a reapp. How did you boost your application?

Thank you! To keep it short I added like 1300 clinical/shadowing hrs (300->1600), an MD LoR, another pub, and STRONGLY improved my writing for my PS/Activities/Secondaries between cycles

 

[MyOdyssey]

Thank you! To keep it short I added like 1300 clinical/shadowing hrs (300->1600), an MD LoR, another pub, and STRONGLY improved my writing for my PS/Activities/Secondaries between cycles

Did the schools you received As from require MD LoRs?

What did you do to improve your writing?

 

[KnightDoc]

You underestimate him, he knows people. /s

Nah I was a reapp so I was very selective on choosing a well-balanced school list and avoiding schools I applied to last yr. Once August came around I asked whether it's a good idea to apply to some of the tougher schools that I'd be a reapplicant for. Knightdoc was basically like "shoot your shot king," so I did. And one of those schools was UVA, which I am proud to say I got the A for.

And the advice doesn't change now!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! You are going to have a GREAT 4 years, and are going to be a MD. As far as shooting for a possible upgrade right now, nothing changes from before. An extremely meaningful update is better than a routine one, but you have to work with what you have and play the hand you are dealt.

@voxveritatisetlucis is right. These letters are less impactful at the top schools because everyone is chasing them, and they know it. Still, they don't hurt, other than at schools like Hopkins that specifically say they don't want them, so make sure the school is receptive before sending.

Other than that, especially pre-II, always express the interest as part of an update, rather than on its own. No, nothing you have done "justifies" an update, but I'd send it anyway if you want to, just to maybe trigger them to take another look at you and maybe send you an II if you are on the bubble. Not because a new job or a publication submission is earth shattering news, but because any news, combined with the extra effort involved in the mere submission, might be enough to push you over the top. As before, there is no reason not to take the shot.

Good luck, and once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

 

[DZ2106]

Did the schools you received As from require MD LoRs?

What did you do to improve your writing?

They don't require MD LoRs in the same way they don't require research/pubs. It's not technically required, but I don't know of anyone accepted without them.

As for my writing, I kinda followed the Dr. Grey method of doing things. I focused my PS on why medicine and built it around a cohesive narrative. My activities had descriptors focusing on what I personally did and learned from the experience. If the experience was plain, I'd tell the infamous story about some of the interactions I've had and their benefits. For secondaries more on analysis of the benefits I've gained from my experiences (I'd describe an event and always say this event helped me grow as a person or made me a better candidate for medicine because...). If I said I liked X, I'd back that up with real-world experiences.

So all in all, my stories were more cohesive, introspective, preferred to show not tell (with explicit stories/activities to back me up), and focused more on answering the real question that underlies the prompt. (i.e. "what is your biggest weakness" vs. "are you capable of humility and acknowledging your faults, and are you willing to work on yourself to become a better human")

 

[DZ2106]

And the advice doesn't change now!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! You are going to have a GREAT 4 years, and are going to be a MD. As far as shooting for a possible upgrade right now, nothing changes from before. An extremely meaningful update is better than a routine one, but you have to work with what you have and play the hand you are dealt.

@voxveritatisetlucis is right. These letters are less impactful at the top schools because everyone is chasing them, and they know it. Still, they don't hurt, other than at schools like Hopkins that specifically say they don't want them, so make sure the school is receptive before sending.

Other than that, especially pre-II, always express the interest as part of an update, rather than on its own. No, nothing you have done "justifies" an update, but I'd send it anyway if you want to, just to maybe trigger them to take another look at you and maybe send you an II if you are on the bubble. Not because a new job or a publication submission is earth shattering news, but because any news, combined with the extra effort involved in the mere submission, might be enough to push you over the top. As before, there is no reason not to take the shot.

Good luck, and once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Got it, I'll definitely do my due diligence before sending them out. Thank you for the reply and thank you so much for all the advice. Wishing you the best as well!!!