Updating applications for recent grad Forum

[mollywood]

When is it appropriate to update applications if I'm already under review? I graduated this semester, so obviously I need to send in fall grades. How much will a .1 or .2 boost in GPA help (3.79 -> 3.8 or 3.81 depending on one last grade that hasn't been submitted yet)? Is it possible (and, more importantly, advisable) to submit a resume update with the legal internship I'm doing now? Would sending in a letter of recommendation from my current employer be helpful? I initially just submitted two from professors. And if there are schools that I didn't initially submit a "Why X" essay to, would doing so now be helpful? Sorry to bombard you with questions, but we all know the waiting game breeds crazy obsessive behavior...

[lymenheimer]

Just a quick note: a .1 or .2 boost does wonders. That is not what you have here. You have a .01/.02 boost. This is negligible, though showing a 3.8X rather than 3.7X may give some sort of advantage, but likely only minimal if at all. You don't have to update your transcript unless asked to do so. It is possible to update your resume, but not necessarily advisable because you just got this internship I assume, so you haven't done much work (if any), so the actual effect of having a week-old internship on your resume is also minimal. Don't throw in another LOR. Won't help (a la Spivey blog). If you want to send Why X essays, you can, but I wouldn't unless you have been asked to or get waitlisted, same as the above.

tldr; no need to update anything unless you get waitlisted or asked to update.

[mollywood]

Just a quick note: a .1 or .2 boost does wonders. That is not what you have here. You have a .01/.02 boost. This is negligible, though showing a 3.8X rather than 3.7X may give some sort of advantage, but likely only minimal if at all.
tldr; no need to update anything unless you get waitlisted or asked to update.

whoops...I promise I do actually know the difference and just made a mistake because I typed this in a hurry...

[lymenheimer]

Just a quick note: a .1 or .2 boost does wonders. That is not what you have here. You have a .01/.02 boost. This is negligible, though showing a 3.8X rather than 3.7X may give some sort of advantage, but likely only minimal if at all.
tldr; no need to update anything unless you get waitlisted or asked to update.

whoops...I promise I do actually know the difference and just made a mistake because I typed this in a hurry...

haha. That's what I figured, and I was really excited for you for a second. Essentially, the only reason you would update during "under review" is if some major consideration occurred (Nobel prize, great LSAT boost, big GPA bump, etc). if it was .1 or .2, I would've suggested you update. But since your developments are fairly minimally influencing, I'd hold off unless needed. If you're concerned with length of time, don't be. It's the holidays. Things will really start to hit the ground running in Jan/Feb.