Time to Secondary/Update Letters

[Crash88]

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So basically I've been working in this lab for a while and this summer we are trying to get out some publications. The only thing is, I would like to be able to put this publication (if accepted) on my application. I'm assuming it won't be ready by the time I submit my primary (mid July) but I would like it to be ready by the time I submit my secondary. Typically (especially for research heavy schools like Stanford) how long does it take for a school to send a secondary after primary submission? Also, how effective are update letters if I don't make the secondary deadline for my publication? Will they have already made a decision and update letters are relatively ineffective, or do they consider them and add them to the secondary file?

Thanks

 

[Crash88]

bump

 

[witness23]

update letters (from my experience) are usually all that not helpful, especially if you don't get an interview. some schools do notice so you should try anyway. a publication will not make or break you. do not sink your app season for ONE school.

 

[BlueElmo]

update letters (from my experience) are usually all that not helpful, especially if you don't get an interview. some schools do notice so you should try anyway. a publication will not make or break you. do not sink your app season for ONE school.

So should I not send an update letter unless I at least get an Interview invite?

 

[witness23]

nah, update if it makes you feel better. it depends on the applicant, but i'm sure you will feel desperate at one point or another and I think thats when you should update (if you have something to tell them). just to make yourself feel better though.


i think its suppose to carry more weight if you are on a waitlist or something. we can never know exactly though.

 

[pharaoh88]

I'm in the same boat as you on this one, as I will likely get a pub or two out of my research that will not be accepted until early fall or late summer. I would say submit AMCAS/secondaries as soon as you can and send an update to the schools you really want to attend or that are research-intensive. I'm planning on sending one after my pub to my top 5ish schools, regardless of whether or not I have been asked to interview. I can't see it hurting.😀