Update Letter

[surfandturf1]

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Hi all,

I am currently applying this cycle, and I wanted to submit an update letter regarding a potential publication that is soon being submitted for review and a change in my research position. I previously was working for a professor for my gap year, but because our lab recently won a grant to explore my independent project of the last two summers, I now am managing my own project for my gap year.

What would be the appropriate time to send a letter like this? And is what I mentioned appropriate?

 

[Med Ed]

Hi all,

I am currently applying this cycle, and I wanted to submit an update letter regarding a potential publication that is soon being submitted for review and a change in my research position. I previously was working for a professor for my gap year, but because our lab recently won a grant to explore my independent project of the last two summers, I now am managing my own project for my gap year.

What would be the appropriate time to send a letter like this? And is what I mentioned appropriate?

Neither of these is update-worthy, and save the love letters until after interviewing.

 

[Catalystik]

I am currently applying this cycle, and I wanted to submit an update letter regarding a potential publication that is soon being submitted for review and a change in my research position. I previously was working for a professor for my gap year, but because our lab recently won a grant to explore my independent project of the last two summers, I now am managing my own project for my gap year.

What would be the appropriate time to send a letter like this? And is what I mentioned appropriate?

Wait until after your manuscript is accepted for publication. "Submitting" a paper (or getting close to submitting) adds no value to your application at all. Neither does a newly acquired position in the lab. Give it a few months. If you are the one who wrote for the grant, mention it at the same time, along with additional hours accumulated in volunteer positions..

 

[blanketstatement]

Wait until after your manuscript is accepted for publication. "Submitting" a paper (or getting close to submitting) adds no value to your application at all. Neither does a newly acquired position in the lab. Give it a few months. If you are the one who wrote for the grant, mention it at the same time, along with additional hours accumulated in volunteer positions..

Hi Catalystik, I did list a publication as "submitted" on a handful of my secondary applications but our manuscript was finally accepted today. Should I call and/or email these schools to update them?

 

[Catalystik]

Hi Catalystik, I did list a publication as "submitted" on a handful of my secondary applications but our manuscript was finally accepted today. Should I call and/or email these schools to update them?

Congratulations! Do you know when it will appear? How much of a full citation (or PMID#) would you be able to include? Or, when will you know?

 

[blanketstatement]

Congratulations! Do you know when it will appear? How much of a full citation (or PMID#) would you be able to include? Or, when will you know?

Thank you! Great question. I'm not quite sure. I have the "draft" version that my PI helped with, which is the one I sent to schools already. The title or anything hasn't changed.

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you! Great question. I'm not quite sure. I have the "draft" version that my PI helped with, which is the one I sent to schools already. The title or anything hasn't changed.

Ideally you'd give enough information so the article is easily found. You don't want to be premature and then need to update yet again about when it will appear in a journal or be an e-pub ahead of print. See if the PI knows the answer.

 

[blanketstatement]

Ideally you'd give enough information so the article is easily found. You don't want to be premature and then need to update yet again about when it will appear in a journal or be an e-pub ahead of print. See if the PI knows the answer.

Excellent. So once I have all the information, you would advise me to contact schools to update them then?

 

[Catalystik]

Excellent. So once I have all the information, you would advise me to contact schools to update them then?

Yes, but don't call. An email update would be fine. Or use the school's online portal if that is an option.

 

[ak-aka-dak]

@Catalystik Should an update note of a new publication include a link or should it just be a citation?

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik Should an update note of a new publication include a link or should it just be a citation?

Give the full citation for sure. It won't hurt to add the direct link, as well, if the full article is publicly available.

 

[ak-aka-dak]

Give the full citation for sure. It won't hurt to add the direct link, as well, if the full article is publicly available.

Thank you! The link would just go to PubMed or to the publisher’s website and would just get to the abstract, but not the full article unless it’s paid for. Knowing that, should the link to the abstract still be included in the update?

 

[Catalystik]

The link would just go to PubMed or to the publisher’s website and would just get to the abstract, but not the full article unless it’s paid for. Knowing that, should the link to the abstract still be included in the update?

Then include the link if you want, but I suggest you add, "Abstract viewable here:"