Updates to Schools You Have Not Heard From
by Williams, Ellen Kathleen
Dear Applicants,
We are getting lots of emails about updating schools you have not heard from. This is not a one size fits all situation, so please feel free to get in touch if you have questions. You do not want to send updates to schools that do not accept updates, of course, and you want to be careful if a school has a limited number of updates allowed. You may want to be able to send those updates later in the process more than you want to send them now.
We estimate that about one third of invitations have not been sent out. This varies dramatically from school to school. For some of you, just waiting is the best strategy at this point.
1) Zero to two interviews. If you have received zero or only one interview at this point, we recommend that you send emails now to the schools where you have not yet been rejected. In those emails, be gracious and acknowledge that you realize that not all people are granted interviews, but that you would be honored to receive an invitation. You can briefly comment on why you are interested in this school and can briefly give some update if you have something you would like to share. Please also make an appointment with one of us at OCS and get in touch with your resident premed tutors at your House. We can help you map out a strategy from here. Lots of people who were in your situation last November are several months into their first year of medical school at this point.
2) Two or more interviews or an acceptance. If you have had two or more interview invitations and have not been rejected from those schools, there is not one right answer as to what you should do. You can either sit tight depending on the number of invitations you have received and how you feel about those schools or you can send updates to other schools. You may want to wait until just after Thanksgiving if you have had a number of interviews or have an acceptance at this point.
3) Post Acceptance. Once you have an acceptance to any medical school, neither OCS nor your House will be able to advocate on your behalf at any school. We are happy to advise you, of course, as you advocate for yourself in your quest to receive an interview invitation or an acceptance off a wait list.
Stay in touch if we can be of help. Please spread the word about joining this list serve among your fellow Harvard applicants.
With all best wishes,
Ellen, Emiko, and Oona
