<p>My research paper was recently published by a scientific journal for high school students. Should I send an update for this to top schools? I am slightly worried that it is not worth it because the journal is, after all, designed only for high school students. All the editors have Ph.Ds though.</p>
<p>Yes, I recommend updating them about it. However, don’t simply mention the award.</p>
<p>This is a personal idea: colleges like subjectivity. This is verified by essays playing an important role on the admission process. Sometimes, then, it’s not about the “size” of the award you’ve, but how it somehow influenced you. At some schools, adcoms are tired to read boring “qualified for AIME”, “national merit finalist” and other fancy statements. Sometimes, they find to be more interesting to read how you worked to get a specific award; what you learned for the future and what perspective did you have of your accomplishment.</p>
<p>It comes down that, IMO, anything that happened since your application submission and that was important to you is worth reporting.</p>
<p>^My main application essay is about science research so is it necessary to reiterate my interest? Wouldn’t the admissions officer find it slightly redundant?</p>
<p>Does the essay describe your experience with this one research? If so, there will be no need in updating them. If not, you can still write something about your research experience.</p>
<p>This was sent to me by a prestigious college: “We’ll be most interested in your research experience: how you got interested in the field, how you acquired your research opportunity, your results, what you learned, how this experience influences your future plans, etc.”</p>
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Yes.</p>
<p>But should I still send the update?</p>
<p>Then make it a complement for your essay; they will probably like to see you are still motivated with your activities.</p>
<p>How to make it a complement? Could you be a bit more specific? </p>
<p>Also, I think it’s very obvious from my application that I am science-oriented so I think the admissions officers will easily be able to regard this update as a further support for my interest in this field without much embellishment on my part. </p>
<p>Right now I am just thinking about following the format of “Dear XXX, I’d like to send an update. My research paper blablabla. Thank you for your time.” Could this work?</p>
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<p>Absolutely. You’re the one speaking through the application; if you feel that that will give a good addendum to the already mentioned enthusiasm for science, go for it.</p>
<p>Since you have already mentioned in your essay everything to which I referred, simply expanding your achievements in the area is a good and brief way to update your situation.</p>
<p>I, in fact, did this once. On my applications, I gave colleges a prediction of my Brazilian Standardized Test results. After the scores came out, I sent a simple letter of update to the already mentioned situation.</p>
<p>^Thank you very much!</p>