Timing of Update Letter Post-Interview

[efgih]

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Yo,

Have a substantial update, but the only problem is I'm not sure if I should send it in now or save it just in case I get waitlisted. The reason why I'm not sure if I should send it in now is that for two of the schools I'm pretty sure that the admissions committee has already met and reviewed my application. If this is the case, by sending in an update letter now would they re-look at my application?

Thanks everyone. And keep your heads up. It's a grueling process.

 

[Aubrey Graham]

I would wait if u r waitlisted. They already have all the info they need rn to make a decision


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[efgih]

Sorry to bump this folks, but I just called an admissions office and they weren't really helpful lol. Was wondering if perhaps the wise @LizzyM or @Goro could share their experiences. Thanks in advance!

 

[Goro]

What exactly is the "substantial update"?

 

[LizzyM]

Exactly! What is a substantial update? Are you adding something that was previously missing and therefore you might be considered deficient? If you were deficient, why did they interview you? What would lead to a waitlist or deferral of decision that could be changed by an update?

Is this update in response to a comment at the time of the interview that pointed out something you were lacking or had in insufficient quantity?

 

[efgih]

Exactly! What is a substantial update? Are you adding something that was previously missing and therefore you might be considered deficient? If you were deficient, why did they interview you? What would lead to a waitlist or deferral of decision that could be changed by an update?

Is this update in response to a comment at the time of the interview that pointed out something you were lacking or had in insufficient quantity?

@Goro I quit my full time job to volunteer for Americorps (working with children with learning disabilities). Might not be that substantial, but for me I had been contemplating about quitting my job to dedicate my time to volunteering, as volunteering is something I am passionate about and have a commitment to (this was also the theme of my application). I don't think I had anything deficient, per se. No decisions were made yet, but I love working there and am proud of what I'm doing, and it's something that I think would enhance my application.

 

[LizzyM]

Isn't Americorps a 10-12 month commitment? Doesn't medical school start < 10 months from now? Are you going to walk out on the program if you get into medical school?

Frankly, I think that this isn't something to advertise to med schools as it does not reflect well on you or the way you honor commitments you make.

Are you independently wealthy? Was your previous job horrible? With medical school coming up (you hope) why wouldn't you continue with a good paying job rather than volunteering and getting just a tiny stipend. This doesn't seem like good decision-making and again, another reason to keep this under your hat.

 

[efgih]

Isn't Americorps a 10-12 month commitment? Doesn't medical school start < 10 months from now? Are you going to walk out on the program if you get into medical school?

Frankly, I think that this isn't something to advertise to med schools as it does not reflect well on you or the way you honor commitments you make.

Are you independently wealthy? Was your previous job horrible? With medical school coming up (you hope) why wouldn't you continue with a good paying job rather than volunteering and getting just a tiny stipend. This doesn't seem like good decision-making and again, another reason to keep this under your hat.

I have some money saved up as I have worked all throughout college. It's actually a 6 month commitment (part-time of 900 hours) and the director of the program fully knows that I will be leaving for medical school (hopefully, like you said!). My previous job was great, but because my boss knew I was going to leave next year, I became more and more relegated to doing "special projects" which didn't feel as fulfilling as the stuff I was doing before. My boss has been incredibly supportive and understanding, and I still work there part-time sometimes to help out.

 

[LizzyM]

It is not likely that volunteering full-time is going to make you a more attractive candidate for admission than if you had kept your other job. Updating after interview would mostly be a waste of your time and the time of the person who would have to handle (upload, file) the update at the other end.

 

[DogDays123]

@LizzyM

Do you think sending in an update letter/LOI in December/January post-interview would be properly timed for a top 5 school that doesn't evaluate candidates until after the new year? I'm updating on a recent pub and a conference presentation.