Should I send an update letter?

[SecondBestDoctorEver]

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Since I sent in my application, I have acquired around 30 more hours of shadowing experience, 30 more hours of volunteer experience as a certified application counselor to help underserved populations enroll in healthcare,10 more hours volunteering at the homeless shelter, and have accepted a job as a mcat tutor (this contradicts what I put in my original application which stated I would become CNA).
1. Is this substantive enough for an update letter even with the contradiction?
2. Also, I would also like to express my interest to this school because it is my number 2 choice. However, would it be detrimental to state my interest because then the admissions committee would automatically know the school isn't my number 1 choice. Without a statement of intent, I feel as if it would be a dead giveaway that the school is not my number 1.
3. I've already been interviewed so all of these updates would be sent in post interview.

 

[SecondBestDoctorEver]

bump

 

[gyngyn]

I can't imagine these "updates" would have any effect on a decision in process.

 

[kevinsword91]

I don't think its worth sending unless the school states they accept them.

However, it seems you are only padding more hours to experiences you listed on your primary app. I doubt admissions would be like: "Wow, this applicant has a total of 70 more hours in experiences we already knew about. We were on the fence about this applicant, but those extra 70 hours really push this applicant into the accepted pile".

 

[Ace Khalifa]

You definitely should not say, "This school is my #2." Where's your common sense? Say that it's your top choice or if you would rather not lie, say it's one of your top choices. Don't just send an update with hours. Explain why each activity is still important to you and what you have learned/gained from each experience since you interviewed. It may not do anything in the end, but sending a strong update letter post-interview is better than sending a weak one.

 

[Goro]

Do you really think that the Admissions dean will immediately call the Dean and scream out "We HAVE to admit this kid! He's added more shadowing and volunteer hours!!!" ?????

Since I sent in my application, I have acquired around 30 more hours of shadowing experience, 30 more hours of volunteer experience as a certified application counselor to help underserved populations enroll in healthcare,10 more hours volunteering at the homeless shelter, and have accepted a job as a mcat tutor (this contradicts what I put in my original application which stated I would become CNA).
1. Is this substantive enough for an update letter even with the contradiction?
2. Also, I would also like to express my interest to this school because it is my number 2 choice. However, would it be detrimental to state my interest because then the admissions committee would automatically know the school isn't my number 1 choice. Without a statement of intent, I feel as if it would be a dead giveaway that the school is not my number 1.
3. I've already been interviewed so all of these updates would be sent in post interview.

 

[SecondBestDoctorEver]

Do you really think that the Admissions dean will immediately call the Dean and scream out "We HAVE to admit this kid! He's added more shadowing and volunteer hours!!!" ?????

No haha but shadowing/volunteering was one of my weakest sections on my applications while everything else was stellar (including my interview). I only had around 50 hours of medical volunteer experience when I sent in my application so by now I have almost doubled that. However, I believe showing interest in a school could possibly offer me a boost, but saying "it's one of your top choices" would seem to hurt more than help because then the school would know it's not the number one choice. So obviously I would not say that it is my number 2 choice but (and maybe i'm over thinking it) saying "it's on of my top choices" would indirectly say that. Either way, if you don't think it will make a difference then I won't send it. I just want to know I did everything I could to get in.

 

[Goro]

You also need to find out if said school even accepts updates and love letters.

No haha but shadowing/volunteering was one of my weakest sections on my applications while everything else was stellar (including my interview). I only had around 50 hours of medical volunteer experience when I sent in my application so by now I have almost doubled that. However, I believe showing interest in a school could possibly offer me a boost, but saying "it's one of your top choices" would seem to hurt more than help because then the school would know it's not the number one choice. So obviously I would not say that it is my number 2 choice but (and maybe i'm over thinking it) saying "it's on of my top choices" would indirectly say that. Either way, if you don't think it will make a difference then I won't send it. I just want to know I did everything I could to get in.

 

[SecondBestDoctorEver]

You also need to find out if said school even accepts updates and love letters.

They do. Well admissions said we can email the dean directly.

 

[karayaa]

I can't imagine these "updates" would have any effect on a decision in process.

Do they help at all? Is it a waste of time?
Besides "expressing interest" and (maybe?) ensuring a re-view of your file, what's the benefit?

 

[gyngyn]

Do they help at all? Is it a waste of time?
Besides "expressing interest" and (maybe?) ensuring a re-view of your file, what's the benefit?

If you have already been interviewed, your file if in the hands of reviewers. I know of no software that will update them with your news.
If you have already gone to committee, your update will have no effect.

 

[MedBrah 19]

If you have already been interviewed, your file if in the hands of reviewers. I know of no software that will update them with your news.
If you have already gone to committee, your update will have no effect.

Kind of related. One school I interviewed at takes transcripts as the only update. I interviewed there earlier this month and just uploaded my Fall 2014 grades (straight As), trying to do anything possible to get accepted. You think this helped or does it just make me look annoying like the OP?

 

[samsunimomo]

If you have already been interviewed, your file if in the hands of reviewers. I know of no software that will update them with your news.
If you have already gone to committee, your update will have no effect.

So do more substantial updates actually matter? I can't imagine that even an accepted publication will make an adcom member go, "We HAVE to accept this kid!"

 

[gyngyn]

Kind of related. One school I interviewed at takes transcripts as the only update. I interviewed there earlier this month and just uploaded my Fall 2014 grades (straight As), trying to do anything possible to get accepted. You think this helped or does it just make me look annoying like the OP?

If they specifically said no updates and you sent them a transcript before the decision, it's probably only going to perceived as moderately annoying since technically, transcripts are acceptable.

 

[gyngyn]

So do more substantial updates actually matter? I can't imagine that even an accepted publication will make an adcom member go, "We HAVE to accept this kid!"

I have never seen an update make a difference in a decision.

 

[BurbyPrep89]

I have never seen an update make a difference in a decision.

This said, if the school accepts updates and you want them to know you still have a strong interest in them, then please go ahead. Some schools say, explicitly that they do not accept updates. Some schools only allow updates from people who have interviewed.

In any case, I believe that this is the true purpose of all updates:

"Hey, I still like you, don't forget about me. Also, I think you're awesome, for all these reasons, so I've done all these additional things. Just for you, see? Because, you're awesome. So, yeah, just letting you know that I still think you're awesome."

I never sent an update to a school believing that that update would turn the tides in my favour. I sent them because, as my PI said, it is a clear sign of commitment/sustained interest (and you don't need to say I WILL GO TO YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR SCHOOL ALONE).

Also, Jesus Christ OP, were you really going to say, you're my Number Two??

 

[MedBrah 19]

This said, if the school accepts updates and you want them to know you still have a strong interest in them, then please go ahead. Some schools say, explicitly that they do not accept updates. Some schools only allow updates from people who have interviewed.

In any case, I believe that this is the true purpose of all updates:

"Hey, I still like you, don't forget about me. Also, I think you're awesome, for all these reasons, so I've done all these additional things. Just for you, see? Because, you're awesome. So, yeah, just letting you know that I still think you're awesome."

I never sent an update to a school believing that that update would turn the tides in my favour. I sent them because, as my PI said, it is a clear sign of commitment/sustained interest (and you don't need to say I WILL GO TO YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR SCHOOL ALONE).

Also, Jesus Christ OP, were you really going to say, you're my Number Two??

Yeah this is what I was going for when I sent my updates. I really like the part in quotations haha really summarizes updates well.