Updating the Adcom?

[turnandburn]

---

Members don't see this ad.

One of the reasons I had postponed submitting my application so long was that I was waiting to hear back from a job in a veterinary clinic I had applied for. The interview went well (so I thought) and she said I'd hear back in a few days. I had this experience already written into my experiences section, just in case I got hired. I never got a call back, assumed I didn't get the job, deleted the experience from VMCAS, and submitted.

Sure enough, NOW I get the call back saying I got the job. Can I/should I email my college and tell them that? Or is that something I could bring up during the interview? What to do?😕

 

[EqSci]

Honestly, even if you had heard back from them before you submitted, I would've have included it. VMCAS stated specifically that you shouldn't list future/planned hours. Once you start if you feel it's a significant experience then yes, I would definitely mention it in my interview. Just what I would do!

 

[turnandburn]

Honestly, even if you had heard back from them before you submitted, I would've have included it. VMCAS stated specifically that you shouldn't list future/planned hours. Once you start if you feel it's a significant experience then yes, I would definitely mention it in my interview. Just what I would do!

I'm confused. Do you mean you wouldn't have included it? 😕

I had wanted to include it in my application because I wanted to show that I am continuing to gain experience, etc etc, and I would have listed what my job duties were going to be and made it clear that I had just started the job.

Maybe it's not as big of a deal as I'm thinking it is. I just wish she could have gotten back to me in time! 🙄

 

[EqSci]

Whoops, sorry!! I meant I would NOT have included it.

I do understand what you're saying, but I still think according to the instructions it would not have been appropriate.

I can sympathize, I can't tell you how many times I've waited to hear back from an interview. I think I have always been the one to call. Once I called twice and left messages and never heard back... obviously, I didn't get the position, but come on. Call and tell me I didn't get it! It does affect my life when I'm waiting to hear if I got a job or not. I know people are busy, but it's common courtesy.

 

[ri23]

You haven't gotten any experience that adds to your application. That fact that you got employment isn't something that will benefit your application. IF in the future you do amazing things, beyond the ordinary, it may be appropriate to send an update letter (later in the app season).

 

[OSJ]

I updated my schools a couple of times. Some schools won't accept updates and other will. After you get a significant amount of experience/ cool experience I'd update them. I updated most of mine by email.

 

[ShelterGirl]

Definitely check with the schools - some of them (Penn comes to mind) will accept email updates. IMHO it is absolutely fair game to discuss newer experiences in the interview. I certainly did.

 

[efab]

I can sympathize, I can't tell you how many times I've waited to hear back from an interview. I think I have always been the one to call. Once I called twice and left messages and never heard back... obviously, I didn't get the position, but come on. Call and tell me I didn't get it! It does affect my life when I'm waiting to hear if I got a job or not. I know people are busy, but it's common courtesy.

i was in a similar situation at a specialty hospital. i went for a verbal interview then a working interview - separate days - about 6 hours total including travel time. my subsequent inquiries were unreturned until i finally called the hospital manager to explain my situation. she completely agreed with me and within a day i got a call stating the obvious after 1 month of waiting - i did not get the job. but you are right, common courtesy includes calling all applicants to let them know about the outcome.
all this went down during my first few months at "the best specialty hospital" in my area. i learned from externs who did stints at both clinics that mine really is the best and the other corporate owned clinic is a nightmare for many employees and clients. so, i think i have learned that i would prefer to not work for an organization that doesn't communicate with all candidates.

 

[Electrophile]

Definitely check with the schools - some of them (Penn comes to mind) will accept email updates. IMHO it is absolutely fair game to discuss newer experiences in the interview. I certainly did.

Agreed, especially on the interview. If I remember right, I was asked something to the effect of "what have you done between now (February) and when you applied in October?" I did have additional stuff to add, so I shared it. I think it helps show them that your activities are benefiting you and your future profession, not just "oh, I applied, so now I'm done now!" as if it's a big checklist to be done with only when you hit submit.

 

[VAgirl]

I would call the schools and find out if they'll let you submit an update email where you can tell them a little bit about the new job/upcoming further experience.

Honestly, I don't think the criteria needs to be if it's something magnificent. You probably wouldn't want to waste their time by telling them you got a new shadowing experience for a few hours or something very small, but I think a new job is significant. Especially if you feel like it will add something extra to your app (maybe you were low on hours before, or it's a new type of vet med you haven't had experience with, whatever). I don't think it could hurt, so I would recommend doing it. Only one of the 6 schools I applied to said that they didn't want me sending them an update.

And, OF COURSE talk about it in your interview (I think that's a no-brainer). But my view last year was that interviews are later on and I wanted them to have the info on my new experience before they decided whether or not I qualified for an interview!

 

[turnandburn]

I would call the schools and find out if they'll let you submit an update email where you can tell them a little bit about the new job/upcoming further experience.

Honestly, I don't think the criteria needs to be if it's something magnificent. You probably wouldn't want to waste their time by telling them you got a new shadowing experience for a few hours or something very small, but I think a new job is significant. Especially if you feel like it will add something extra to your app (maybe you were low on hours before, or it's a new type of vet med you haven't had experience with, whatever). I don't think it could hurt, so I would recommend doing it. Only one of the 6 schools I applied to said that they didn't want me sending them an update.

And, OF COURSE talk about it in your interview (I think that's a no-brainer). But my view last year was that interviews are later on and I wanted them to have the info on my new experience before they decided whether or not I qualified for an interview!

This was kind of the train of thought I had too. I think I will wait a little bit, get settled in the job, before updating them. Like you said, it may or may not help, but it definitely won't hurt! 🙂