What Reviewers Look For in the Medical School — Application Update Letter

This rubric looks at whether your letter clearly identifies what has changed since your application or last contact and explains the new information in a concrete, useful way. It also checks that the letter is clear, organized, professional, and complete while following any school instructions you provide. An update can cover a new responsibility, completed course, corrected fact, changed circumstance, or meaningful progress in an ongoing activity; it does not need to be a new personal statement or a promise to attend.

What We Check

Mistakes We Flag

Saying you are still involved without explaining what changed

Simply stating that you are still volunteering or remain interested does not tell the reader what progressed, what you learned, or what responsibility or circumstance is new.

Repeating information already in your file as though it is new

If you mention something previously submitted, identify the addition or correction rather than relabeling the same information as an update.

Presenting a future plan as a completed result

Keep planned or pending events separate from accomplishments that have already happened.

Naming a title, project, or award without explaining it

A new role should say what responsibility changed, and an unfamiliar project or award should identify what you did, what was recognized, or what changed.

Making broad claims instead of describing the update

Statements such as claiming an experience proves you will be an exceptional physician can replace the concrete account the reader needs.

How this rubric reads your essay

• Built from published reader guidance — the sources are listed below.
• Scored per section against defined criteria, not general impressions.
• Calibrated for consistent scoring, so a better draft shows up in the score.

References

Frequently Asked Questions