I want to submit updates abt my recent achievements to my colleges, should I email, mail, fax or upload to the school portal? Or try a combination of a few methods?
Also, when admissions officers read your application, will your application be in hardcopy or softcopy?
I’ve read that for the most part decisions are done by now. We just don’t have them because now the financial aid office is processing items. So, if that’s true any updates won’t make a difference. Sorry if it is.
Schools vary on how they want to receive updates. Check the portal of each school and see if it provides an email address for submitting updates or directs you to a section of the portal for uploading the updates.
@CathJR Hi, could you give me the link to your source, please? 
Thanks!
I’ve spoken to three adcoms at top-25 schools and they unequivocally deny this claim, fwiw.
@marvin100 thanks for your comment! what would you suggest I do about updating my schools? I’m wondering if my application will be viewed in softcopy or hardcopy form by the admissions officers, so that I know how I should send my updates (softcopy-email/upload on portal; hardcopy-mail, fax). Thanks!
I recommend email. I’ve known hundreds (maybe even thousands) of students who have emailed updates just fine.
@marvin100 mmhm so even if I’m given the option to upload a document (detailing my updates) via the applicant’s portal, I should also email just to be safe?
Ah, if there’s a portal option, that’s certainly fine too.
Agree if portal option, use it, but it doesn’t hurt to also email it in to admissions and/or your specific admissions rep. It is not too late. If you have solid updates/achievements, send them!
To answer your hardcopy vs softcopy question: many colleges are trying to be “paperless” - at the university where I worked, we had a document imaging system and anything received in paper format was scanned into the system and attached to the applicant’s record. Computer storage is less expensive than physical storage. I’m guessing that a lot of schools are going that route.
Unless the school wants you to use the portal. 
Admissions tends to prefer that applicants follow its suggestions. If the college in question does not say how it wants updates sent, email/call and ask.
Agreed.
Thanks for your comments, everyone! Just a quick question: I submitted my updates in pdf form, and included my full name + common app ID in both the document and the email. However, I’m now wondering if I should have included my date of birth + school name, since I just spoke to an admissions officer, and they said they normally operate by d.o.b + school name… should I change it?
I believe that this is the minority; most colleges will include the Common App ID. Regardless, it will take the college 2 nanoseconds instead of one nanosecond to match the update to the original. Don’t sweat it.
DOB + School name definitely works–students I’ve worked with have consistently used that as the subject line of their emails (updates, app. withdrawals, etc.).
@marvin100 unfortunately I didn’t include DOB + school name… 
I only included my full name and my common app ID. Should I write in to the schools to let them know my DOB + school name?
No, I’m sure that’s fine, @Harvardbound2017 . Don’t worry, and don’t bother writing again. They’ll figure it out
@marvin100 @skieurope okay thanks so much for your advice, everyone! Sorry for freaking out but those updates are extremely pertinent to my application and might actually help in tipping the decisions in my favour. But thanks so much everyone; really appreciate all your feedback
No worries, @Harvardbound2017 – and good luck!