Should I start sending updates?

[Inspector JacquesClouseau]

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Hi, I was curious whether you guys think it would be prudent to send updates to schools. It's been about 10-11 weeks at all my schools, and I've yet hear back from 18 of them.


Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DocJuan]

"When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action."
-- Lois McMaster Bujold

Unless you have something substantial to update the school about and the school doesnt discourage updates or the school welcomes updates,
then updates would not be prudent. Otherwise the update can look like nothing more than padding and desperation that may work against you.
Worthy or significant updates would be :

Paper accepted for publication
Invitation to present at conference
Winning a worthy award
Successful completion of some major project or event (eg summer research at NIH)
semester's worth of great grades

For the most part, starting a new position is not, though a promotion "might" be worth it. Schools want to accomplishments not simply a new opportunity. Applicants are often too optimistic on how these will be viewed when an adcom can see these as a stretch or simply padding.

Just to sum up , from both an adcom evaluation point of view and a processing/workflow of the thousands of applications, updates of any kind rarely have impact.

Does this calculus change post-interview? I'm debating on whether or not to update my top choice school (post II) on my SMP grades (school is update friendly). I just finished up the med school portion of my SMP, but the classes were really hard and my performance this semester is lower than what's on my AMCAS primary (3.85). I ended up with a B+ in medical biochem and an A in physio and pharmacology (3.72 on 9 credits). Is this worth updating or should I wait for them to ask?

 

[DocJuan]

So you are going to update a medical school that you did worse in an SMP than you in your UG as reported on AMCAS? And this will impress them how exactly?

Sorry I was unclear. I mean my SMP GPA is reported as 3.85 because that's what it was when I applied. It's now lower after finishing the med school portion with a 3.72. So basically don't update? I was hoping the fact that they were med school courses would excuse the slight drop. I def don't want to update if it worsens my app!

 

[Goro]

I'd reject you out if I saw such drivel sent to my school.

Does this calculus change post-interview? I'm debating on whether or not to update my top choice school (post II) on my SMP grades (school is update friendly). I just finished up the med school portion of my SMP, but the classes were really hard and my performance this semester is lower than what's on my AMCAS primary (3.85). I ended up with a B+ in medical biochem and an A in physio and pharmacology (3.72 on 9 credits). Is this worth updating or should I wait for them to ask?

 

[DocJuan]

I'd reject you out if I saw such drivel sent to my school.

What's drivel, my transcript or my excuse? If the latter, it's not like I planned on sending that to someone official. I'm just pointing out that circumstances do exist.

 

[DocJuan]

There are no excuses!!!!!!!!!!

Again, it will impress no one that you are updating them with a lower GPA. And if you were to do so with some ill-written, excuse-laden verbiage about how this is the actual medical school portion and you should be expected to do worse, that will be laughable at best.

I don't think you're appreciating the fact that the school encourages updates.

Obviously I'm not going to send an excuse laden paragraph to explain a B+. Since they want descriptive paragraphs with grade updates I could just as easily write about getting the second highest grade in the class in the second med course or improving my study habits.

 

[Goro]

Your excuse. Your rationale for an update is equally poor. Overanxious.

What's drivel, my transcript or my excuse? If the latter, it's not like I planned on sending that to someone official. I'm just pointing out that circumstances do exist.

 

[sammiesings]

Although I have many other (excellent) letters, my current PI did not get around to writing my letter until just recently ( 🙁 🙁 🙁). Not for any other reason then he has been a bit selfish- doesn't want me to leave so isn't too excited about helping me get there. (Separate issue, obviously).

This is a clinical research job that I work full-time- includes grant writing, IRB project creations, as well as patient assessments, shadowing, direct patient contact etc- and I am a non-trad with 2 other research letters.

Did not having this letter affect me greatly and should I try to update schools with it now?

@Goro @gonnif

 

[Goro]

Applicants really, really overestimate the effect of LOr from PIs. We want to see LORs from your teachers.

Although I have many other (excellent) letters, my current PI did not get around to writing my letter until just recently ( 🙁 🙁 🙁). Not for any other reason then he has been a bit selfish- doesn't want me to leave so isn't too excited about helping me get there. (Separate issue, obviously).

This is a clinical research job that I work full-time- includes grant writing, IRB project creations, as well as patient assessments, shadowing, direct patient contact etc- and I am a non-trad with 2 other research letters.

Did not having this letter affect me greatly and should I try to update schools with it now?

@Goro @gonnif