I wanted to update the schools I applied to with some extra information, but I have a few questions.
Do I mail a physical letter to the school or upload it in my student portal?
Do I address it "to whom it may concern", or to my specific regional admissions officer?
What's worth mentioning?
As of right now, my letter mentions:
-a 4.0 unweighted gpa so far through senior year, with the toughest courses available
-scholastic arts and writing northeast region honorable mention
-some freelance writing that I’ve started doing (I mean, it hasn’t been super successful, but I didn’t mention that )
-an abstract that I contributed to is being presented at a medical conference soon
-national merit finalist (I actually haven’t gotten confirmation for this, but I think it’s likely)
-I just completed a community college course in Bio 1 and am moving on to Bio 2 (I also sneak in a mention of the Astronomy and American Literature courses I’ve taken at community colleges previously - I didn’t get to mention this on my common app.)
-I’m participating in a model un conference soon
Is any of that information totally unnecessary? should I mention my grades if my counselor is sending a midyear report?
Nothing above is mentioned in my common app, hence my desire to write it out for the adcoms. I’m just worried that this letter might potentially hurt me. Thoughts?
I don’t believe a letter/e-mail is necessary or desirable:
Won’t the 4.0 – which IS important – be officially documented in your mandatory first semester grade report?
Is that Northeast Region Honorable Mention truly substantive and relevant to admissions?
Freelance writing is not particularly germane (and what substantiates that it’s GOOD writing).
Medical Conference Abstract is likewise near-irrelevant (moreover, it could easily be assumed that you were a “gofer,” not a primary author).
National Merit Finalist should not yet be included (it’s simply improper to list an honor or accomplishment that has not yet been officially awarded); however, if you receive formal notification of this distinction, by all means advise admissions.
Don’t the universities receive transcripts documenting these CC academic efforts?
Model UN (yawn, this certainly is not “hard core” admissions information).
It is my opinion that the ONLY item worthy of admissions’ time – in the busiest months of their annual admissions cycle – is your 4.0 (sincere congratulations), which will be documented in the required mid-year report. The majority of these items appear petty, pesky, time squandering, not very pertinent, and near-desperate.
Having participated in the Scholastic Awards myself, I don’t think the honorable mention is so distinctive that it will set you apart or make the admissions officer impressed. Can’t offer any opinions about the rest of the list, though.
@TopTier Yeah, if you look at my original post, I wasn’t sure if there was a point to including the GPA. I understand that the freelance writing isn’t particularly relevant, and that honorable mention isn’t particularly impressive, so I likely won’t include those. I just wanted to bounce those ideas off of someone.
In regards to the rest, however – I’m actually a co-author on the abstract… so I’m definitely not just a “gofer”. The internship that I completed the research at was also one of my main extracurriculars, so I’m offering this information as a follow-up to what I already (very briefly) mentioned on the common app.
Also, I’m planning to send the update letter after receiving official notification of National Merit Finalist status next week - so it not being official won’t be a problem at that point.
The CC courses actually aren’t on my transcript, nor are they mentioned anywhere in the common app (the common app allows you to denote that you attended a CC and that transcripts are available, but you can’t specify your courses or the grades you got in them [in my case, all A’s]). That’s why I was thinking about mentioning them.
The only reason I considered mentioning the model un conference (I realize that participants in these are a dime a dozen), is that I have a track record of winning awards at conferences, and (hopefully) another award is forthcoming. Also, this relates to my intended major. Again, however, I see your point and likely won’t mention this.
In light of those additional details (mostly regarding the abstract, NMF, and CC courses), does the update letter still seem “petty, pesky, time squandering, not very pertinent, and near-desperate”?
Hey Top Tier–could you help me with a decision?
I didn’t initially send my NMF update to the Ivies I applied to because I didn’t want to be a pest and wasn’t sure they cared. But now as the admissions dates are getting closer, I’m wondering if I should? Do you think at this point I shouldn’t bother them --90% of semis become finalists and semi is on my CA? OR should I use that news to make contact with them and demonstrate interest? Brown, Col and Penn specifically. Thanks for any advice.
@justwaitingtoo (re post #6): I honestly don’t know. NMF selection is a significant distinction (in my opinion), but the secondary question is, will this update add truly pertinent information to your file? I suspect it will; therefore, I would send e-mail updates, HOWEVER, I urge you to make them concise and very polite (one sentence indicating ardent, continued interest would be fine, but please do not elaborate). It’s 14 March, in about two weeks acceptance decisions will be rendered . . . admissions’ staffs are incredibly busy and stressed right now, SO BE BRIEF.
)
Can’t offer any opinions about the rest of the list, though.