Hi all. What is the conventional wisdom on notifying colleges of honors and awards received after applying but before receiving an admit decision? I have seen some schools write that they like to hear, but I’m sure they’re also very busy. Also it feels like it can be an awkward drip, drip, drip of information if a student gets a few awards over, say, January through March of his/her senior year after applying Regular Decision on January 1.
Thanks for your thoughts.
My thoughts:
Colleges will assume that many applicants will continue to receive honors and awards after the application has been submitted. You can certainly update them with significant updates, which in my mind is something that makes the regional/national papers outside of the free local weekly. But to update them because you receive a varsity letter or the Most Improved Player Award? No. Colleges have more than enough information to make their decisions; blinding them with paper will not improve your chances, IMO.
Thanks @skieurope - sort of what I was thinking.
My D recently received two honors that I would describe as state-level - the kind of thing where 1-2 kids at each HS get that award, there’s a nice banquet, etc. - e.g. this week was a state scholar athlete award. So not just the Honor Roll but not curing cancer either… Hence the uncertainty on whether I should suggest to her that she reach out with a short note to admissions.
@saint68 I think your example is good example of what one should update a college on. Although, if the 2 honors came rather close together, I would suggest she include it in one update. Even if an applicant cured cancer this week and won a Nobel Peace Prize next week, I would not suggest that anyone needs to send a weekly (or monthly) update. Good luck to your daughter.
Also, as for the “how” to notify colleges, each college should have instructions - some may ask for updates through the portal, others may ask for an email. When in doubt, ask the colleges in question.
I think the colleges expect that top students will continue to gain significant awards. Our students didn’t send them in. Even if you send it in, there’s no guarantee anyone will see it. The time to update and send additional info is if you are deferred from ED2 and the college invites you to improve your app or at the time of WL and you are given an opportunity to send an enthusiastic letter of continued interest.
I think it’s fine to send an email describing your award and your continued interest in the school. It’s not overbearing a all, and maybe the school thinks it’s good you are continuing to work hard and reached out to them.
My son won a couple of awards around this time last year and took a picture of his award and sent it to the schools he was most interested in attending. He did get a few responses back from admissions, none negative.
I would just get your child to email the admissions folks a simple letter like this:
I thought it might be to my advantage to send you some additional materials, which, if appropriate, I’d appreciate your including in my application file. I’ve included with this email the following:
• Name and description of award
And include a screenshot of the award with the email.
@SMMom1 - I’d be turned off by your suggested “might be to my advantage” language, and would suggest something along the lines of “I thought you would appreciate learning that…”
Thanks everyone. So my takeaway is that especially noteworthy honors or awards should probably be communicated to colleges by the student in a short note or similar. And importantly, what is noteworthy for one college may not be noteworthy at another.