I made it past the first round and I am now a Fulbright semi-finalist — should I tell the graduate programs I applied to?

[LopeyTall]

I have not heard from any of the programs (Physics PhD) I applied to yet. My thoughts on the effect of a brief email to the graduate coordinator are:

Pros — The admission committee at the graduate program will have the knowledge that another committee (for a prestigious scholarship) has reviewed my project/profile/etc and found me of a high caliber.

Cons — The admission committee may be annoyed by my contact, viewing me as trying to score some "brownie points." It is only semi-finalist, I still have to be selected in the final round.

Edited January 27, 2019 by LopeyTall

[Noegenesis]

I wouldn't contact the graduate programs. Your LORs should already attest that you are "of a high caliber" and a one-line addition to your resume would probably not affect your chances significantly anyway.