Vague Updates

[Art Vandalay]

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I have a couple of activities that I am starting up... like volunteering, shadowing, and clinical research. I have some planned for a month or two down the road so I'm not 100% sure on what I'll be doing. For instance, I know I'll be volunteering at the hospital... just don't know what I'll be doing. I know what department I'm going to do research in... just don't know what I'm going to do. In the interest of time, I want to send updates to schools now. Is it ok to be vague and list what I have planned? Obviously, if I get waitlisted I can give them the details in a couple of months. There's always the scenario that something else comes up, and I can't fulfill my planned activities... I might look like an idiot if that happens.

 

[Megalofyia]

I went to talk to someone at the school I'm most interested in and the dean asked me what I had planned this semester. I gave him what I vaguely had planned to do. He said that's great why dont you send that in an email to the school. I asked, "before I know exactly what is going on?" He said yes that they like to be kept up to date as to what is going on.

I am gonna wait till Monday to send the email just because I want to have the details on at least one of those things first.

So I don't know if it helps or not but this.

 

[Law2Doc]

I have a couple of activities that I am starting up... like volunteering, shadowing, and clinical research. I have some planned for a month or two down the road so I'm not 100% sure on what I'll be doing. For instance, I know I'll be volunteering at the hospital... just don't know what I'll be doing. I know what department I'm going to do research in... just don't know what I'm going to do. In the interest of time, I want to send updates to schools now. Is it ok to be vague and list what I have planned? Obviously, if I get waitlisted I can give them the details in a couple of months. There's always the scenario that something else comes up, and I can't fulfill my planned activities... I might look like an idiot if that happens.

While some schools respond positively to update letters prior to waitlist, I would be hesitant to send letters which don't reflect activities you have already started, or at least lined up in the details -- I'd be concerned that they would frown on letters which indicate what you hope/expect to do. They have a ton of incoming correspondence to deal with, and might look at it as an abuse of their resources if you have nothing actual to report...

 

[Law2Doc]

I went to talk to someone at the school I'm most interested in and the dean asked me what I had planned this semester. I gave him what I vaguely had planned to do. He said that's great why dont you send that in an email to the school. I asked, "before I know exactly what is going on?" He said yes that they like to be kept up to date as to what is going on.

I am gonna wait till Monday to send the email just because I want to have the details on at least one of those things first.

So I don't know if it helps or not but this.

Obviously if a dean tells you otherwise, you should disregard my prior post...

 

[Megalofyia]

Obviously if a dean tells you otherwise, you should disregard my prior post...

No.. I agree with your post.. that's why I wasn't too sure on the helpfulness of my post. I think that the update thing can be rather school specific.

 

[Art Vandalay]

That helps. I have things lined up already. I started the research stuff, and the volunteering is contingent on safety training at the end of the month. The shadowing, I'm a little shady about... the people who I've contacted haven't given me solid answers. I might just mention that I'm trying to do it.

 

[Art Vandalay]

Ok... so the best thing is to just update on what's for sure. The other stuff can make for a good update in a few weeks.