update letter, but bad fall grades

[premed272727]

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Hello everyone,

I am applying straight through, submitted most of my secondaries between end of august and early october. 1 interview scheduled for january, 4 R's, awaiting news from the other 24 places. I was planning on sending an update letter schools, but I wanted to be strategic since there is some good stuff and some not so good stuff.

Good stuff:
1) More non-clinical volunteering (~50 hours) which is a weak point in my app.
2) New lab position which I've been absolutely grinding in (~200 hours).
3) Publication in submission from an REU i did last summer. Very low author, but author nonetheless.

Not good stuff:
Probably did not do so well academically this semester. currently have a low 3.8x amcas gpa, but this semester I likely will have gotten around a 3.2 to 3.4 (9 graded credits), grades not finalized yet.

I wonder if I send the update letter before winter break, before grades are finalized, I could possibly skirt the expectation that my update letter would include fall grades? Or would this move be transparently obvious to adcoms.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Sometimes not shedding light on something may raise more questions that you want. Most people are sending in academic updates right now, so if we know you are in school and you don't mention an academic update...

We don't really think about it at the outset, but we also don't like surprises. In the end, you must send your final transcript.

Crush your grades. Don't worry about that update letter until you are done with those exams.

 

[geopigeon]

Sometimes not shedding light on something may raise more questions that you want. Most people are sending in academic updates right now, so if we know you are in school and you don't mention an academic update...

We don't really think about it at the outset, but we also don't like surprises. In the end, you must send your final transcript.

Crush your grades. Don't worry about that update letter until you are done with those exams.

Hijacking to ask this, I sent an update letter end of October with current grades and new hours. I graduated this past weekend. Do I update again with finalized grades or is there no need?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hijacking to ask this, I sent an update letter end of October with current grades and new hours. I graduated this past weekend. Do I update again with finalized grades or is there no need?

Are you updating schools that have ghosted you or where you have interviewed?

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Hello everyone,

I am applying straight through, submitted most of my secondaries between end of august and early october. 1 interview scheduled for january, 4 R's, awaiting news from the other 24 places. I was planning on sending an update letter schools, but I wanted to be strategic since there is some good stuff and some not so good stuff.

Good stuff:
1) More non-clinical volunteering (~50 hours) which is a weak point in my app.
2) New lab position which I've been absolutely grinding in (~200 hours).
3) Publication in submission from an REU i did last summer. Very low author, but author nonetheless.

Not good stuff:
Probably did not do so well academically this semester. currently have a low 3.8x amcas gpa, but this semester I likely will have gotten around a 3.2 to 3.4 (9 graded credits), grades not finalized yet.

I wonder if I send the update letter before winter break, before grades are finalized, I could possibly skirt the expectation that my update letter would include fall grades? Or would this move be transparently obvious to adcoms.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

Grades are one component of an update. The other "Good Stuff" is also important. The most important component of an update letter is to CONTINUALLY demonstrate your interest in the field of medicine and the program that you are applying to. Although it is important to send schools updates regarding the "check box" components of your app, such as a GPA shift or an update on hours, don't forget that ADCOMS want more evidence that you are committed to the field of medicine. This can be achieved in a multitude of ways!

 

[geopigeon]

Are you updating schools that have ghosted you or where you have interviewed?

I have only interviewed at one early December and I’m unsure if I should send anything before a decision. It’s schools that have ghosted me I am considering. Both the school I interviewed at and the ones who ghosted me received the same update end of October

I have a new job that is just a continuing role of my last one I updated them about, just a different system and location, and I graduated with final semester grades

 

[Med Ed]

Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

I known SDN makes updates seem de rigueur, but you don't have to send one. An extra week of volunteering, five weeks on a new job, a submitted publication... none of this is going to move the needle on your application. Focus on finals and interview prep.

 

[premed272727]

Sometimes not shedding light on something may raise more questions that you want. Most people are sending in academic updates right now, so if we know you are in school and you don't mention an academic update...

We don't really think about it at the outset, but we also don't like surprises. In the end, you must send your final transcript.

Crush your grades. Don't worry about that update letter until you are done with those exams.

Thank you for the advice. Right now I believe I'll end this semester with a 3.2 unfortunately, dropping my overall gpa from 3.79 to 3.74. Basically, I really would like to get in this cycle because I know that dropping the ball this late on would not be looked upon favorably in a reapplication.

I want to do anything in my power to get just a few more interview invites, even if it is just a personalized "this is what I'm up to, this is what I appreciate about your school and why I'd fit in there, and what I bring to the table for your school". Psychologically I just want to have the feeling that something about the admissions crapshoot is in my control in the current moment (other than my current academic and extracurricular responsibilities).

If nothing can currently be done (that is in my hands) to maximize my chances for acceptance this cycle, then I suppose I'll just have to start prepping for the reapp since that's in my control

 

[premed272727]

Grades are one component of an update. The other "Good Stuff" is also important. The most important component of an update letter is to CONTINUALLY demonstrate your interest in the field of medicine and the program that you are applying to. Although it is important to send schools updates regarding the "check box" components of your app, such as a GPA shift or an update on hours, don't forget that ADCOMS want more evidence that you are committed to the field of medicine. This can be achieved in a multitude of ways!

Well this is unfortunate since this semester I have done nothing medical related (swamped with the app cycle until mid october, due to an unexpected snafu I did not have the scribe volunteer position I thought I had). I acknowledge that these are excuses, but I want to focus on what is in my hands now.

I had the mindset that since my secondaries were submitted, I could focus strongly on the things that would be tangentially helpful for my application but also things I genuinely enjoyed doing. Mainly:
(new, +~75-100hrs) upper level chem TA position
(new, +250hrs) Wet lab research (15 hrs/wk for the first half of the sem, up to 20-25 in the second half, total ~250hrs in addition to my classes)
(new, ~50hrs) Non-clin volunteering (supporting local refugee families)
(continued, +60hrs) Non-clin volunteering (science outreach, but more academic than service)

I definitely dropped the ball in regards to GPA, but I didn't entirely check out from my outside involvements. Do you have any ideas/suggestions on what I can do moving forward in this cycle, or is it time for me to prep for the next?

 

[premed272727]

I known SDN makes updates seem de rigueur, but you don't have to send one. An extra week of volunteering, five weeks on a new job, a submitted publication... none of this is going to move the needle on your application. Focus on finals and interview prep.

Thank you for your advice. Pasting this from another comment I left on this post:

"...I want to focus on what is in my hands now.

I had the mindset that since my secondaries were submitted, I could focus strongly on the things that would be tangentially helpful for my application but also things I genuinely enjoyed doing. Mainly:
(new, +~75-100hrs) upper level chem TA position
(new, +250hrs) Wet lab research (15 hrs/wk for the first half of the sem, up to 20-25 in the second half, total ~250hrs in addition to my classes)
(new, ~50hrs) Non-clin volunteering (supporting local refugee families)
(continued, +60hrs) Non-clin volunteering (science outreach, but more academic than service)

I definitely dropped the ball in regards to GPA, but I didn't entirely check out from my outside involvements. Do you have any ideas/suggestions on what I can do moving forward in this cycle (if not an update letter), or is it time for me to prep for the next?"

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for the advice. Right now I believe I'll end this semester with a 3.2 unfortunately, dropping my overall gpa from 3.79 to 3.74. Basically, I really would like to get in this cycle because I know that dropping the ball this late on would not be looked upon favorably in a reapplication.

I want to do anything in my power to get just a few more interview invites, even if it is just a personalized "this is what I'm up to, this is what I appreciate about your school and why I'd fit in there, and what I bring to the table for your school". Psychologically I just want to have the feeling that something about the admissions crapshoot is in my control in the current moment (other than my current academic and extracurricular responsibilities).

If nothing can currently be done (that is in my hands) to maximize my chances for acceptance this cycle, then I suppose I'll just have to start prepping for the reapp since that's in my control

Uh... you said you had a 3.8x GPA... not that your drop is going to raise questions that much, but we don't know what you are taking and what you did to stop focusing on your classes.

Just make it work. Without more details, it's tough to say whether anything you are doing will deep-six your chances of acceptance this cycle or next.

 

[premed272727]

Uh... you said you had a 3.8x GPA... not that your drop is going to raise questions that much, but we don't know what you are taking and what you did to stop focusing on your classes.

Just make it work. Without more details, it's tough to say whether anything you are doing will deep-six your chances of acceptance this cycle or next.

Sorry that was confusing, my AMCAS GPA is a 3.83 (3.81 Science, 3.85 AO) but my university specific is 3.79. My AMCAS GPA would drop to 3.80 overall, with all of the drop in my science GPA.

My course-load this semester is 4 classes, but only 3 are for credit. 2 of those classes are unfortunately upper level chemistry which I received B's in. The other is non-science (A-).

As for what caused the drop, I made what I thought was a calculated risk. Spend less time on classes to focus on writing high quality, well researched secondaries (don't tank anything, but try to just do good enough). Then when secondaries are over, lock back in to classes. Unfortunately I did not anticipate how much time it would take, and I found out that spending 1.5 months locked in the library with minimal social interaction, minimal exercise, way too much caffeine, and awful sleep has negative long term consequences. I burned out very quickly (submitted 29 out of 41 schools from mid-august to early october) and made some poor choices in regards to studying/completing assignments. Regardless, I do believe that the secondaries I submitted were definitely well-researched and well written (proofread and approved by a friend who is good at those things).

I don't mind providing further details if it would help paint a more complete picture about what my outlook is this cycle. If you don't mind me asking which ones would you find helpful to know?

(Please don't quote)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I think I previously warned you that submitting your application with low service orientation hours might get your application screened out at most schools, and now, you have 1 interview to prepare for (where I would focus my energy to convert it). Could you get more interviews? Perhaps.

To your question to send an update letter to the other 24 schools that have remained silent so far, I guess it can't hurt you. Your status may already be sealed, but admissions teams are looking to fill vacant interview spots.

What is your school list with results?

Also, the explanation about what happened with your grades should wake you up. What is your year-by-year science GPA? You didn't take a lot of hours, especially with having 1 non-credit class. You need to show you are ready to go for medical school. You don't want a quarterback having more interceptions and fumbles than touchdowns over the two games before the playoffs start. You also don't say you had study help with your chem classes, or maybe you did to salvage your B's.

Again, you aren't forced to send an academic update, but adcoms and med school faculty hate surprises. You don't need to include it in your most immediate update if the purpose is a hail-mary check-in to shake out one more interview. But they have made a preliminary decision, and you just have to trust the process.

 

[Med Ed]

To summarize, you got two B's that dropped your GPA by five hundredths of a point.

I don't know what to tell you about the rest of this cycle. Send an update if you like, it won't hurt you. There is no one weird trick to markedly improve your chances. If there was, everyone would start doing it and it would rapidly become ineffective.

There are a few lessons here for posterity.
1. The pattern of strong metrics, strong research, strong clinical, and low service is a common one in reapplicants.
2. Applying with less than 150 hours of quality service is really kneecapping your application.
3. Don't apply to 41 schools. It's expensive, unmanageable, and beyond the point of diminishing returns.
4. Pre-writing secondaries is a good idea, and is ideally done during academic breaks.

Good luck.

 

[premed272727]

I think I previously warned you that submitting your application with low service orientation hours might get your application screened out at most schools, and now, you have 1 interview to prepare for (where I would focus my energy to convert it). Could you get more interviews? Perhaps.

To your question to send an update letter to the other 24 schools that have remained silent so far, I guess it can't hurt you. Your status may already be sealed, but admissions teams are looking to fill vacant interview spots.

What is your school list with results?

Also, the explanation about what happened with your grades should wake you up. What is your year-by-year science GPA? You didn't take a lot of hours, especially with having 1 non-credit class. You need to show you are ready to go for medical school. You don't want a quarterback having more interceptions and fumbles than touchdowns over the two games before the playoffs start. You also don't say you had study help with your chem classes, or maybe you did to salvage your B's.

Again, you aren't forced to send an academic update, but adcoms and med school faculty hate surprises. You don't need to include it in your most immediate update if the purpose is a hail-mary check-in to shake out one more interview. But they have made a preliminary decision, and you just have to trust the process.

(for anyone else reading, I made a WAMC post a few months ago with more details)

AMCAS sGPA trend (HS - dual enrollment, freshman, sophomore, junior, senior-IP):
3.88, 3.65, 3.86, 3.76, ...3.0(IP).

Overall gpa trend, freshman through junior year: 3.72, 3.81, 3.93, 3.2 (IP)
That's just to say that I have become a much stronger student throughout college, and that this is a blip in the exception not the rule.

This was a low credit hour semester, I dropped a class the last day I could when I started to realize the secondaries wouldn't be done as soon as I hoped, another calculation. I will still graduate on time with my minor, 15 graded credits next semester including thesis.

You also don't say you had study help with your chem classes, or maybe you did to salvage your B's.

Obviously the only thing that matters is the grade on the transcript, but I have no doubt that personal issues aside I am definitely academically capable of excelling in those 2 classes. I may have salvaged one of them since I'm pretty sure I got a 100 on the final but we shall see.

As for the wake-up call, in all the time I have spent picking up the pieces in my personal life, I have definitely learned my lesson and began to prioritize my mental and physical health before everything else.

School list with current results:

1 II - WVU SOM (OOS with strong tie)

Rejected:
URochester
NYU
BU
Mayo
Hofstra

Radio Silence post-secondary (Minus Pitt getting my hopes up by sending me an ad):
Einstein
Mt Sinai
NYMC
Upenn
U Cincinnati
Case western +CCLM
Upitt
UVA
Wash U
Columbia SOM
Northwestern feinberg
Tufts
Stony Brook
Wake Forest
Drexel
Sidney Kimmel TJ
Temple
EVMS
MUSC
VCU
Virginia Tech

Again, you aren't forced to send an academic update, but adcoms and med school faculty hate surprises. You don't need to include it in your most immediate update if the purpose is a hail-mary check-in to shake out one more interview. But they have made a preliminary decision, and you just have to trust the process.

Hail mary interview shakeout is absolutely my goal. There are absolutely significant weak points in my application. But I know exactly what I want in medicine and I believe in the narrative I communicate in my application. I want the chance to communicate that face to face to these schools.

I don't blame them for hating surprises whatsoever, in their position I wouldn't either. But I know I could really capitalize on a second look, so if it helps my cycle at all I'm still going to play the game.

 

[premed272727]

To summarize, you got two B's that dropped your GPA by five hundredths of a point.

I don't know what to tell you about the rest of this cycle. Send an update if you like, it won't hurt you. There is no one weird trick to markedly improve your chances. If there was, everyone would start doing it and it would rapidly become ineffective.

There are a few lessons here for posterity.
1. The pattern of strong metrics, strong research, strong clinical, and low service is a common one in reapplicants.
2. Applying with less than 150 hours of quality service is really kneecapping your application.
3. Don't apply to 41 schools. It's expensive, unmanageable, and beyond the point of diminishing returns.
4. Pre-writing secondaries is a good idea, and is ideally done during academic breaks.

Good luck.

To summarize, you got two B's that dropped your GPA by five hundredths of a point.

I do seem neurotic when you put it like that lol. It hit me harder because I already felt like my cycle was on shaky ground, but if I don't get in this cycle then I suppose that would be far from the nail in the coffin.

There is no one weird trick to markedly improve your chances. If there was, everyone would start doing it and it would rapidly become ineffective.

I agree in part, but my own life experiences have taught me otherwise. Sending the extra email and doing the smallest bit of extra legwork has opened doors for me that I had absolutely no business walking through. I worried that it might backfire on me to omit the grades, but I'm now thinking that it simply doesn't matter all that much.

Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate those lessons. Will definitely be prioritizing the service part of my application over the next few months.