What’s the best method of updating high-ranking colleges (like Stanford, Duke, Uchicago all RD) with my extracurricular activity developments that have taken place first semester of senior year? A couple things I did were complete a research paper on a five month, 15 hrs/wk project, and separately created a peer-to-peer mobile application (the concept Uber uses). Some of them, like Harvard and UChicago have places where I can upload supplementary documents. I’ve attached an updated resume and a research paper wherever possible. But many of the colleges don’t allow document upload on their applicant portals.
My high school’s mid-year report goes out this week, so I’m pretty sure they’re going to be taking a look at my application in the future and haven’t thrown it out completely. I thoroughly expressed my recent extracurricular achievements within my college interviews these past 3 weeks. There’s just a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that’s telling me I’m going to have big regrets if I also don’t inform colleges myself. I feel like colleges might sense a slight disconnect between what my CommonApp activities demonstrate and some of the newer commitments I’ve made senior year. (By the way, they are aware I’m doing a big five month research project, but it would be cool if they got to see my research abstract as well.)
I could write an email, I could attach an updated resume…I would even be willing to write a narrative essay (on my research and newfound interest in entrepreneurship). What do you all feel would be the optimal way to get in touch so colleges take me seriously ie. a good-sized email, a short email with a resume attached, an email with an essay attached, my research paper attached…
I realize I’m overly anxious about something that may not be too big a deal, but just wanted your thoughts.
Thanks
Unless it is a significant improvement, such as winning a national or international award, it is generally advised that the applicants should not send additional improvements.
It seems to me that the colleges already have an idea of your big research project. Unless there has been a significant change since the submission of your application or the colleges specifically ask for an update (i.e MIT’s February Form), you should not send anything.
But first call the individual colleges to confer with the AOs.
You probably will not reach an Admissions Officer; February/March is the busiest time of their entire, annual admissions cycle and taking individual telephone calls from one applicant is quite unlikely. IF – and this is a big “if” – you have something(s) to report that meets the difficult threshold of truly “admissions significant,” send an e-mail. If your updates do not meet this criteria (and that’s likely), consider that being perceived as a thoughtless pest – remember, these folks have likely been working 80+ hour weeks for over a month and will continue to until approximately 1 April – may not be the wisest thing during the very period when your dossier is likely to come before the Admissions Committee.
I think the bar for update worthy material is not as high as other posters believe. If something has resulted from your paper, report that. Also if your app is actually being employed in some way state that - not just what it can do. Do not, repeat do not send the paper.
Imagine you are an admissions person. Let us assume that you would like to know more. But you don’t have time to read too much.
I think it would not hurt to send a brief email outlining the new accomplishments and a link to the research paper. You could say that you can send a new resume if they are interested (but I am not sure they would be as they have the new items.).
That’s the thing, by mid/late-February I truly believe admissions organizations do NOT have the time “to know more” about “low influence” matters/u. Admissions has SO much CRITICAL analysis, evaluation, debate, and decision-making to conclude in the next month. If an update meet the “high threshold” (described in several earlier posts), that’s one thing; but VERY few will. We all know that the “meat” of selection decisions is GPA, curricular rigor, standardized test results, recommendations and essays; obviously ECs, too, are important – HOWEVER, the fundamental EC information has already be submitted.
Polite, brief ,significant updates don’t hurt. For most high school students a major team award or league award is significant. Most 18 year old students are not developing their own apps.A small percentage are very gifted and advanced.
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I agree with the SIGNIFICANT metric. However, it is ONLY significance in the perception of the admissions office – not the applicant – that is appropriate in February and certainly in March. I understand that senior X is justifiably elated at his or her selection as Central High’s winner of the American History prize, but it is unrealistic to believe that awards of that sort have any decision-relevance to university selection officials with a few weeks (at most) before “decision day.” It’s always important to consider questions from the other parties’ perspectives.
If you have established a relationship with your admissions counselor ( which may be more likely at smaller schools ) you can provide updates and yes, they should be significant .A state qualifier in a competition is significant.A team award may or may not be.Perception needs to be considered as well but remember what the Great Gretzky says." You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take."
My logic was that sending the update letter could potentially help, and I didn’t see a way in which it could hurt me (I don’t buy what people say about adcoms vindictively rejecting people who send in annoying letters lol), so I went for it.
It was a cost-benefit analysis. Could it help? Yes. Could it hurt? Probably not.
Thus, the letters were mailed out.
And fwiw, I was kind of late with mine - sent them out about a week ago. I still received emails confirming their receipt. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Mhm, I sent a brief update email a while ago. Some of the colleges accepted an updated resume as well. Marshmallowpop, I sent them for precisely the same reason. Thanks everybody!
