Hello! I recently won a pretty big science award and wanted to update the schools I applied to regarding it. However, I am a bit unsure how to do so. Should I just contact the default “contact us” link or should I try to contact the school for my particular admissions counselor? Furthermore, should I send this information to schools I’ve been rejected from (I don’t think I should because I’m pretty sure that decision is final but I’m a bit unfamiliar with how this works), or just schools I’m waiting to hear from?
Thanks!
I would not share that information with schools where you’ve already been rejected; it will not change their minds and will leave you feeling awkward and bummed.
For schools where you haven’t heard yet, I would call the Admissions department during normal business hours and say, “Hi, I’m zeezeebee [maybe use your real name 
] and I’m waiting on an admission decision, and I just won an award I’d like to add to my application information. Can you help me with that?” The person on the phone should be able to add it to your file, or direct you to someone else who can assist you.
Congrats on your award!
@yankeeinGA offered terrific advice…just be sure that the award you won is significant enough to warrant a notification.
I think it is best done in writing. Get the email of your admission counselor if possible (if you can’t send it to the general admissions email) and send a note. Keep it short and sweet – mention your new accomplishment and express your continued interest in the school. Include your full name and the name of your HS so they can connect the email with your admissions file.
Do not send to schools that rejected you. The decision is final.
As others have said, zero point in sending it to schools that have rejected you (sorry). Most colleges have instructions on how to update a submitted application. Some want you to email the admissions office, some the regional admissions officer, some some other way. I would handle this on a school-by-school basis. Find out how the particular school wants an update (usually on the admissions section somewhere), and follow that. I don’t think there’s a one-size fits all solution.
@ChartresBlue Thank you for the advice! Do you know where the schools tend to state this sort of information, though? I almost feel like college websites are designed to be as confusing as possible, haha.
Also, what about schools I’ve been accepted to? Should I still send an update to them as well? Thanks!
If you are getting the advise not to contact schools that rejected you, the same goes for those that accepted you. In both cases, their decisions are final. The award won’t sway the “no’s” and the “yes’s” already know how great you are. The only reason I could think of to contact schools who have accepted you is if the award is important enough to get you scholarship money or into some previously-closed-to-you program at that school. It’s the schools who are still considering you that you want to contact, I would think.
@zeezeebee They do indeed make it difficult (on purpose?). Using search engines, spending time on the website, and searching school specific info here on CC are the only ways I know to find this out. Good luck!