For colleges making requests of applicants, I have a suggestion. If your request–whether to update information, send an additional letter of rec, or schedule an interview–should in no way be taken as a bad sign, please say so. Use direct communication like, “Please don’t worry about this,” or “This is not something that you should stress about.”
Kids and parents feel enormous anxiety around this process, much of it unnecessary. Anything we all can do to remove unnecessary stress is good for kids, parents and the process.