Update Letters to Colleges

Is now an appropriate time to update colleges with new awards/achievements I earned since I applied? Would it be okay if I sent in one around early February and another one around late February?

You don’t need to send in two updates; adcoms are pretty busy as is. If you have some significant new achievement that you believe would add to your overall application, go ahead and send it in, but just the once. Good luck!

Thank you for your response. If I earn an achievement between the time that I send the update and late February, should I inform my colleges of this or would it be too late?

Any other opinions?

@givemethtcheese I would send an update asap because the admissions committees are reviewing RD applications now. DO NOT send two updates; one is enough and keep it to one page. Unless your new achievement is something that tips the scales in your favor in terms of admissions, I would not notify them.

It would need to be something big. All-state band? No. You won the teen tournament on Jeopardy!? Yes. You are a STEM person with a publication in the scholarly literature? Yes. You got the lead in a school play? No.

Send a maximum of one update. Only send an update if there is a material achievement or change since you submitted your application. Recognize that admissions officers are swamped right now and are not looking for additional material to read unless it is truly meaningful. If you have something to add I’d send a very brief update (one short paragraph) soon as applications are currently being reviewed.

Thanks for all your responses. Should this update be sent through the applicant portal or through an email to a regional admissions officer?

If there is a portal where you can put an update in I’d use that, if there is no portal then send an email.

I’m not sure your achievements in such short succession will make any difference.

If there was one, huge achievement-- say, winner of a national science competition-- then perhaps you would want to let them know. But two letters within a few weeks? I can’t imagine what you would have to report that would be seen as important enough to bother them with.

@givemethtcheese I sent mine through email to admissions and through regular mail. Some of my schools immediately replied with “thank you for your update, we have added it to your file”