To send update or not?

[longhorn09]

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First of all, I've checked to make sure that there's no recent thread on this topic.

When you guys talking about "update to schools", do you guys mean new transcript coving summer and fall semester, or just a letter stating what activities you've done after summer, or both?

And, is it really that benefitial to send such update to schools, or the schools just don't care much about it and they pretty much stick with your AMCAS app and interview?

PS. If update means just the transcript, should we send it to amcas or to the schools directly? (It causes a lot more for the latter case...)

Good luck everyone
-longhorn09

 

[JJMrK]

It means a letter sent to the school addressing things you've done since submitting your AMCAS and why you are interested in the school. It's probably most beneficial to send them places you've been WLed or put on hold.

 

[Schwann]

I have been sending updates that indicate why I am interested in the school and what activities I have been doing since AMCAS submission. I haven't been including my recent grades since they haven't changed my gpa.
Should I also be updating grades?

 

[Catalystik]

You can't send a transcript to AMCAS to update schools after the initial submission. If you want them to know your more recent grades, which are not expected to be updated, you may just summarize in the update letter what your semester's GPA is, perhaps mentioning classes specific to a med school curriculum. An official transcript, IMO, is way overkill, but some do it.

Then update on accumulated hours in important ECs, or new activities you'd want them to know about.

Then say why their school is a good fit for you. You look forward to an interview invitation/or acceptance letter (whichever).

Do it all in one page or less.

Will it matter? At some schools it's regarded and at others it's ignored. Since you don't know which is which, just send them. It can't hurt unless you have been told not to submit supplemental materials (some do this).

 

[ahmcadams]

People send updates with new official grades, recent accomplishments (e.g. recently accepted publications, conference presentations, etc.), or basically anything else minor or major they can think of to keep their name in the adcom's minds.

I don't think these updates really improve your standing (unless you have something particularly meaningful to add), but they don't hurt your chances and at the very least enable applicants to remain engaged in the process without worrying about what else they could've done.

 

[JJMrK]

People send updates with new official grades, recent accomplishments (e.g. recently accepted publications, conference presentations, etc.), or basically anything else minor or major they can think of to keep their name in the adcom's minds.

I don't think these updates really improve your standing (unless you have something particularly meaningful to add), but they don't hurt your chances and at the very least enable applicants to remain engaged in the process without worrying about what else they could've done.

I think they're most useful as a way of expressing continued interest in the school.

 

[DocMcCoy]

People send updates with new official grades, recent accomplishments (e.g. recently accepted publications, conference presentations, etc.), or basically anything else minor or major they can think of to keep their name in the adcom's minds.

I don't think these updates really improve your standing (unless you have something particularly meaningful to add), but they don't hurt your chances and at the very least enable applicants to remain engaged in the process without worrying about what else they could've done.

I know the impact of an update letter is highly debatable, but it has personally been a benefit to me this application cycle. At a minimum, they do not hurt. My approach was to first email the Adcoms directly, including the dean, to ask if an additional letter would have any impact on my application. Two of the five schools I did this for, I received an email back from the deans asking me to send them the letter directly. I included an LOR from a doc I shadowed, plus a list of the classes I took and grades received, plus additional ECs and info about the new tutoring job I acquired.

I received an interview invite a week later from my top choice school directly from the dean, and just recently and acceptance letter.

 

[7starmantis]

I know the impact of an update letter is highly debatable, but it has personally been a benefit to me this application cycle. At a minimum, they do not hurt. My approach was to first email the Adcoms directly, including the dean, to ask if an additional letter would have any impact on my application. Two of the five schools I did this for, I received an email back from the deans asking me to send them the letter directly. I included an LOR from a doc I shadowed, plus a list of the classes I took and grades received, plus additional ECs and info about the new tutoring job I acquired.

I received an interview invite a week later from my top choice school directly from the dean, and just recently and acceptance letter.

Wow, I didn't know that. Thats awesome. 👍

 

[ronaldo23]

wait so if you take classes after your original AMCAS submission (like let's say I submit June 1, but take summer classes), you can't update your AMCAS GPA?

 

[Catalystik]

wait so if you take classes after your original AMCAS submission (like let's say I submit June 1, but take summer classes), you can't update your AMCAS GPA?

Correct.

I theorize that you might be able to do it if you repay all the fees again, but I've never seen a post from someone who did this. You can update personal contact information without a problem though.