Update Worthy?

[crazyasian]

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So I've been put on hold at several places (pre-interview) and pooled at several places for an interview. I'm thinking about sending an update letter to these schools. I tied up some lose ends for my research and submitted my abstract to present at a conference hosted at my university, as well as for publication (in my university journal). I won't hear back about either submission until late February but the research office on campus told me nobody has been rejected for either the journal or research conference when it was legitimately research. Is it worth it to mention this in my update letter? Other than new grades, its hard to find stuff to put in my update letter because I've kept the same EC's for the previous 4 years and I've continued to do them regularly and hate to ditch one for another that's less meaningful for me just for an update.

 

[WorldChanger36]

So I've been put on hold at several places (pre-interview) and pooled at several places for an interview. I'm thinking about sending an update letter to these schools. I tied up some lose ends for my research and submitted my abstract to present at a conference hosted at my university, as well as for publication (in my university journal). I won't hear back about either submission until late February but the research office on campus told me nobody has been rejected for either the journal or research conference when it was legitimately research. Is it worth it to mention this in my update letter? Other than new grades, its hard to find stuff to put in my update letter because I've kept the same EC's for the previous 4 years and I've continued to do them regularly and hate to ditch one for another that's less meaningful for me just for an update.

Yeah update them. Tell them about your research ( current and expected advances)e and any new grades you may have but also take it as an opportunity to express interest in something you really like about the program the medical school offers. Try to keep the update short and sweet and make sure you ask a question or two about the program to get a response and answers. This will cause them to at least glance over your file. In the end it can't hurt to remind the school you are still interested and it could be the one thing that could push someone to want to interview you. The jury is still out on if updates really help all that much but I know if I was an adcom I would be more friendly towards the student that expressed desire in my school over the quiet ones.

 

[kpcrew]

i dunno but make sure to check whether the school accepts updates. for example, albany is pretty dead set against them. probably wouldn't hurt you at most schools though

 

[dani6706]

What is the best way to send a letter of update, a physical letter or an email and to who? The contact person for the admissions committee? The person who interviewed me?

 

[RookTookIt]

What is the best way to send a letter of update, a physical letter or an email and to who? The contact person for the admissions committee? The person who interviewed me?

Depends on the school so call admissions and ask. I usually send emails with pdfs attached to the admissions contact.