<p>Now that midyear reports are going out I realized that the CommonApp schools only ever see midyear grades, and not any other developments that might influence the application. MIT, which I applied to, thankfully incorporates a section to report these developments, but none of the other schools I've applied to do.</p>
<p>Over the past few months all of my writing has made national qualifiers in a big competition (National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards), and I've made semifinals for an important scholarship. If I want to let colleges know this, do I e-mail them? Call?</p>
<p>As I recall from advice given a couple of years ago when DS was applying to selective colleges, the usual procedure is to update the appropriate admissions officer via a polite e-mail. If you have the contact information for the officer who is handling your application, address your e-mail to him/her. If you don’t know who that is, I suggest you call the admissions office, explain that you want to send a brief update, and ask the receptionist for the appropriate name and e-mail address to send it to. </p>
<p>You don’t even have to track down “your” admissions person unless you have already been in touch with them previously. Just use the generic admissions email on the website; they will make sure it gets to the right admissions person. Address your email:</p>
<p>“Dear MIT Admissions”. Say something like, "I have a few new accomplishments I was hoping could be considered as part of my application for regular decision. They include:
blah, blah
blah, blah
I am very excited about applying to MIT.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Hypcrates</p>
<p>If they are your first choice school, tell them so in your closing sentence. Also, send an update to all of your colleges, not just your top choice. You want to have as many choices as possible in April, and it might help bump you up in the admissions pool or merit aid consideration somewhere else.</p>