Waitlisted. Should I send an update with this?

[turkeytomato]

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I've been given an award for volunteering. The volunteering I do clinical. Is this an update-worthy accomplishment?

 

[tiedyeddog]

I've been given an award for volunteering. The volunteering I do clinical. Is this an update-worthy accomplishment?

I think that would be OK as long as this is your first and only update. More than that will most likely not help you.

 

[gyngyn]

At this point, the perceived strength of your application is not going to be dramatically revised.
At many (most?) places your desirability has already been decided by a committee that is no longer meeting.
The admissions officer may well be in charge of carrying out their wishes in line with the needs of the school.
The only potential benefit of an "update" might be for those whose acceptances are at better schools where the candidate prefers the waitlist school.

 

[Goro]

Do you really think that the Admissions dean is going to scream out to his secretary "We HAVE to accept this kid; he won a clinical volunteering award!!!"

??

I've been given an award for volunteering. The volunteering I do clinical. Is this an update-worthy accomplishment?

 

[turkeytomato]

Do you really think that the Admissions dean is going to scream out to his secretary "We HAVE to accept this kid; he won a clinical volunteering award!!!"

??

I didn't know the only material worthy of updating are nobel prize nominations. I guess there's no point to even include volunteering activities on the AMCAS since they fall short of that.

 

[turkeytomato]

At this point, the perceived strength of your application is not going to be dramatically revised.
At many (most?) places your desirability has already been decided by a committee that is no longer meeting.
The admissions officer may well be in charge of carrying out their wishes in line with the needs of the school.
The only potential benefit of an "update" might be for those whose acceptances are at better schools where the candidate prefers the waitlist school.

Thank you. I realize that at this point, updates do not have a significant effect. I will not be sending an update.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'd say that it's worth a shot. Maybe the admissions dean won't scream as @Goro said, but at this point of time I'd be content with a whisper.

 

[whitemagic]

@Goro With due respect, are you saying that the only accomplishment worth merit is finding a cure for cancer? A clinical volunteering award at my university is something you can get only after volunteering 1000 hours minimum. If that doesn't mean anything then damn.

 

[noleknight16]

At this point, the perceived strength of your application is not going to be dramatically revised.
At many (most?) places your desirability has already been decided by a committee that is no longer meeting.
The admissions officer may well be in charge of carrying out their wishes in line with the needs of the school.
The only potential benefit of an "update" might be for those whose acceptances are at better schools where the candidate prefers the waitlist school.

So if we send in a letter of intent, that will basically have no effect since most admissions committees are no longer meeting?

 

[gyngyn]

So if we send in a letter of intent, that will basically have no effect since most admissions committees are no longer meeting?

When you are holding an acceptance at a "better" school, an "LOI" may have an effect after waitlist movement has started (at a school with an unranked waitlist).

Even if the committee no longer meets, their votes and comments are still available to the admissions officer in charge of the waitlist selections.

 

[BillrothI]

At this point, the perceived strength of your application is not going to be dramatically revised.
At many (most?) places your desirability has already been decided by a committee that is no longer meeting.
The admissions officer may well be in charge of carrying out their wishes in line with the needs of the school.
The only potential benefit of an "update" might be for those whose acceptances are at better schools where the candidate prefers the waitlist school.

When, if ever, do update letters have an impact on admissions? Pre-interview? Post-interview? Shortly after 04/30?

I get the impression that update letters (and LOIs) are simply appended to the applicant's file. If the applicant has already been ranked on the WL, or if his or her application has been placed in the "low priority" interview pile, then an update will have zero effect. Is that accurate?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[gyngyn]

When, if ever, do update letters have an impact on admissions? Pre-interview? Post-interview? Shortly after 04/30?

I get the impression that update letters (and LOIs) are simply appended to the applicant's file. If the applicant has already been ranked on the WL, or if his or her application has been placed in the "low priority" interview pile, then an update will have zero effect. Is that accurate?

Thanks,
Bill

The only time that I can reliably say that these communications may have an effect is for a waitlisted candidate at a school with an unranked waitlist when the candidate is holding at an arguably "better" school, after waitlist movement has begun.

Most of the time, you are correct. They are like the "close door" button in the elevator. They probably do nothing but make the button pusher feel like they are doing something to get where they want to go!

 

[BillrothI]

The only time that I can reliably say that these communications may have an effect is for a waitlisted candidate at a school with an unranked waitlist when the candidate is holding at an arguably "better" school, after waitlist movement has begun.

Most of the time, you are correct. They are like the "close door" button in the elevator. They probably do nothing but make the button pusher feel like they are doing something to get where they want to go!

Thanks, gyngyn. Love that analogy!

-Bill

 

[einsteinm]

Even if it wouldn't make a difference, I would probably send an update anyways as it wouldn't hurt and miracles do happen.

 

[QuentonCassidy3]

The only time that I can reliably say that these communications may have an effect is for a waitlisted candidate at a school with an unranked waitlist when the candidate is holding at an arguably "better" school, after waitlist movement has begun.

Most of the time, you are correct. They are like the "close door" button in the elevator. They probably do nothing but make the button pusher feel like they are doing something to get where they want to go!

Would a new letter of rec from a graduate of X university 's medical school ,with whom a student worked closely for two years in a lab ,help a student holding no acceptances at this point?

 

[gyngyn]

Would a new letter of rec from a graduate of X university 's medical school with whom a student worked closely for two years in a lab help a student holding no acceptances at this point?

Nothing is going to change the fact that there are no positions open (yet) and we already knew they would come (even without the letter!).

 

[Goro]

A publication might be appreciated by the research powerhouses, but I would think that when you applied and interviewed, that you already showed how many volunteer hours you had on your app. Going from 600 to 1000 is admirable, but it's gilding the lily for Adcom improessions.

Pay very careful attention to what gyngyn is saying. After the interview, your fates are pretty much sealed. Admissions and school Deans have thier own criteria for pulling people off of wait lists. For some, it's by GPA, and for others, it's by MCAT score. Think of ot as being in line on an escalator. If you towards the bottom, you eventually move up, but rarely do applicants do something that merit them cutting in from of other people.

Keep in mind that a few schools will welcome updates. Many schools simply ignore them, and others specifically refuse to accept them and state this fact.

But I suppose that people just have to hit that elevator button!

@Goro With due respect, are you saying that the only accomplishment worth merit is finding a cure for cancer? A clinical volunteering award at my university is something you can get only after volunteering 1000 hours minimum. If that doesn't mean anything then damn.