Hi everyone, I want to send an update email to the admissions counselors at the universities I applied to since I felt that these updates may prove to be vital to my application and make my application memorable. However, I do not know when would be the appropriate time to send it. I do not want to pepper my admissions counselor with emails. My last Academic Decathlon competition (if we do not continue to state championships–I am from California) is January 30th and February 6th.
My question is: Should I wait until February 13th to send the update with my decathlon awards (assuming I get some) along with the other updates listed below so that it doesn’t reach my application either too late or in a busy time for my counselor? Or should I send what I have now and then a much smaller update on the 13th should I receive medals (regional)?
- So far, one update is that I chosen to be the keynote speaker by my district assembly member (whom I intern for) at the Women of the Year awards. I will write and deliver a speech on Women's history. I am the youngest intern that they have ever had. (My Common App essay is centralized on feminism w/a life experience. This opportunity is very exciting to me as a feminist.)
- Another is that I will be traveling with my state senator to the state capitol (6 hours away) for 3 days to participate in a mock legislative session where I will design a bill with other students and debate/defend the bill on the Senate floor. (I love politics. Political Science is my intended major for most schools)
- I will be traveling to Cuba in March with my school's Spanish department for 11 days. I will practice the Spanish language, immerse myself in Cuban culture, and also volunteer at various national parks and preservations to create solutions to preserve diverse ecosystems and encourage conservation efforts in swampy areas. (I also do a lot of environmental work with a non-profit environmental organization so I am excited).
If you want more context, I recently posted on Cornell ILR’s 2020 thread with my stats and whatnot. Sorry that this post is so long. I did not intend it to be that long. Oopsie. Well, thanks for all your help!
I would not send two updates because admissions officers are busy reviewing applications now, and you don’t want to risk them not seeing your updates. If I were you, I would wait until February 13th to send in the update email. It will look better if you let admissions know everything that you want them to know right then and there. By including all of your new information together, it will look more impressive and professional (in my opinion). You definitely have an update worthy enough to send, but I would wait until you receive any possible decathalon awards to make the situation simpler.
I think I disagree slightly. I think now would be good. I think February is too last minute. They have already done the preliminary reviews and are probably already sending out likely letters to the selected few. If you have something to say in a follow up it will be almost a month away so you will not be too pesty if you write again.
Couple of things, are you Cuban? If you are great, highlight that. If not, then #3 is not on the same level as the others. Include it but make it less “I am going to a 3rd world country to build huts and realize all people are the same. Peace.”
Are either of the first two based on a competition or really an achievement you accomplished? Either way they should be highlighted but I would ask someone for help to make them pop a little more.
Absolutely mention the academic decathalon (whatever that is) and that you will be going to the regional competition on February 6 representing your school as a X against schools in the X region of California.
Also try to tie all this into how this benefits their school and how your experiences up to now tie into a particular major or activity at their school and what you will get from attending their school.
I tried to find you on the Cornell page but did not.
If you win regionals or state then you can email again, a short update starting with “I am sure this is a busy time for you, I just wanted to quickly let you know I am still very interested in WHATEVER College and that our team won the whatever competition and will be going to the state finals. Peace (ok kidding about Peace part.)”
I’m going to bump this because I got 2 completely opposite answers and I want quorum just to be safe. bump bump bump
I think you look like a strong candidate. I think when you write the letter have someone edit it to make it sound more enthusiastic than what you have here (the first two are real achievements).
As for timing, go back a year and see when the first likely letters came out from the schools you are interested.