My counselor told me that if you email a college an update, such as placing in an olympiad, unless it’s on your midyear report, it will never actually make it into your application. Is this really true?
You can’t prove a negative. And he certainly isn’t the overseer for every circumstance. What he may be telling you is that many schools really don’t care about piddly updates. I suppose it depends on the college – but how would you know?
I think most schools decide on you (good or bad) as soon as your application and scores etc are reviewed. once that is done unless you do something really bad like get drunk and punch a taxi driver and a video of it goes viral or as you ask place as an Olympiad… on the positive side… it is a done deal. some schools like perhaps those in the ivy league or Stanford have so many applicants and so many who get in will matriculate they actually review, re-review and go to committee and possibly look at updates on a few applicants they are on the fence on but have not yet rejected. but, it is probably better to do all your great accomplishments before you submit your applications and avoid getting on the news for something bad before, during or after applying.
Bottom line is nobody can guarantee that every college reads every piece of information they get sent. But if you have a meaningful update, send it.
I think it is not true. If you have a meaningful update, send it. My D2 had some solid updates (top finish in a state academic competition and a top 5 state finish in an athletic competition, both in January after apps went in). She sent them to the general email for admissions, asked that they please be considered as part of her app, and reiterated her interest in the school. She got in everyplace she applied.
I believe colleges make a diligemt effort to read all the materials they get on an applicant. If they have already decided to reject you, it might not help. But if they haven’t read your app yet or you are on the cusp, it can help.
Thanks for the responses. That’s exactly what I was thinking: how could you know for sure that they don’t receive it? intparent, that’s really encouraging to hear that you think your daughter’s updates not only had actually been received, but they played a role in her acceptance.
The olympiad I plan on doing, Computing Olympiad (USACO) has events in December, January, and February. My hope is to be able to update colleges if I advance a division (though I imagine by late Feb. they will already have made a decision on me.)
I sure hope that USACO Platinum wouldn’t be considered a “piddly update.” (Not assuming I’ll get Platinum, but based on where I am in the training pages now, other USACO people have told me it’s doable.) While not central to my app, it would certainly be a large boost if I got it, hopefully large enough to tip my file into the “admit” pile.
Either way, there’s no harm in going all out on computing olympiad. The rest of my app is fairly strong, and I love that kind of problem-solving.