The autumn often becomes a waiting game for medical school applicants. You will wait for interview invitations and admissions decisions. And it can be excruciating! But there’s more to do. You can begin writing your update letters. If you haven’t heard anything from a school for two-four weeks (after submitting your application or interviewing) or you’ve been waitlisted, you will want to send them a letter that includes recent professional or academic updates since submitting your application, reiterates your interest in the program with specifics, and makes the yield protection statement where applicable (if admitted, I will attend).
Examples of updates that are significant enough to merit communication include:
Examples of updates that are significant enough to merit communication include:
- Publications: You contributed to a research article accepted for publication, authored an article published in a regional or national magazine or journal, or were interviewed for a published article
- Professional Development: You presented at a national/regional conference, played a major role in organizing/executing the conference, just finished a successful project, or received a promotion with additional responsibility at work
- Awards/Recognition: You received a prestigious award (e.g., Phi Beta Kappa), fellowship (Fulbright), or other honor
- Extracurricular Achievements: You took on a leadership position in a club/organization, significantly expanded the scale or reach of a club/organization, started a club/organization (not previously noted in your application), or a club/organization you lead received an honor or award
- Significant positive changes to your GPA
