While there are practical reasons for medical school applicants to update or contact the admissions dean, there are some instances when it can actually work against you.

For example, once you have a letter of acceptance or rejection from a medical school, there is really no need to update that particular school. After all, a decision has already been made. However, if you are still on hold, there are several reasons why you’d want to update your medical school application.

[Understand the factors behind medical school admissions.]

Publications and Awards

As an admissions dean, I would want to hear from a candidate who just presented research findings at a national meeting or who recently published in a journal. I would also want to know if a candidate earned a significant award, such as Phi Beta Kappa, or was featured in a published article.

One of our candidates started a nongovernmental organization, which we already knew about from his application and interview. But after a magazine featured an article about his accomplishments as the founder, with quotes from others who worked with him, he moved off the hold list and onto the accepted list.

Keep in mind that this update would likely not have helped him much if his ranking wasn’t already high. Because he had the highest committee vote of those on the hold list, his update brought him an immediate offer.

Grades and GPA

If your grade-point average is lower than what you had hoped and you receive a string of A’s to add to your transcript, by all means, send an update. However, if your latest grades don’t affect your GPA, don’t send an update. Here’s the exception: Send an update if you complete a required course for the school after you submitted your application.

[Avoid four more common medical school application mistakes.]

MCAT Score

Once in a great while, students submit their application early — a good decision — but are uncertain if they will take the MCAT again. I recall a candidate who did not indicate this uncertainty on her application or during the interview. When the new score was later sent to the school, it was too late for her to be reconsidered. Had the school known to wait, it might have done so. My guess is that she decided to keep it a secret until she knew the score; sadly, it was too late.

That said, don’t misinterpret that the MCAT is the only component of the application that counts. It is not. However, if your earlier score is fairly low compared with the school’s average and you are planning to take the MCAT again, let the school know to wait.

[Follow these three tips for retaking the MCAT.]

School Rankings

It can be helpful to advise your No. 1 school that you would choose it over all others, assuming you’re sincere. I would caution you not to do that with multiple schools. Admissions deans are often good friends and communicate frequently. Your integrity could be in question if you told two schools they were both No. 1, and I have known that strategy to backfire on an applicant in the residency match.