Updating submitted applications

International applicant here who got deferred from Harvard and applied to a couple of other colleges (Stanford, Yale, Chicago, Cornell, UMich, USC). I recently won a pretty big national-level award and am wondering how I can convey this information to the colleges. Should I write a letter (in particular a LOCI to Harvard)? Or do most of these colleges not accept updates?

Write a short email to your regional admissions counselors for each of the schools as an update. Don’t write an essay about it (except maybe for your LOCI for Harvard). Admissions officers have a lot to read this time of year so keep it concise.

I’d send it to Harvard for sure; it’s your call on the others. If you only have this to update the other schools on, I wouldn’t bother sending it in. Also depends on the context of the award. “National award” doesn’t really mean much.

It is fine to send a note but keep it short and sweet. Agree that I would not send to the other schools unless you have a significant update. Admission officers have enough to read this time of year.