I've been reading conflicting things. Some people say we need to send separate cards to the PC, PDs, and all of the people who interviewed us. Others say send 1 for everyone. What is the consensus?
I've been reading conflicting things. Some people say we need to send separate cards to the PC, PDs, and all of the people who interviewed us. Others say send 1 for everyone. What is the consensus?
All the program directors at my school said to not send any
seriously. If you want to make an impression, send cookies and beer.
I've been reading conflicting things. Some people say we need to send separate cards to the PC, PDs, and all of the people who interviewed us. Others say send 1 for everyone. What is the consensus?
This is for residency, not medical school, but I'd imagine thank you letters are as worthless 99.9% of the time to a PD as they are to an acdom.Pay very careful attention, because I really want to put a stake in the heart if this annoying pre-med urban legend:
Thank you cards have ZERO effect upon your acceptance. By the time the interviewer recives the card, the Adcom has already met, and the decision has already been made. Even NY the time you email your interviewers, they've already made up their minds.
I throw away cards unopened. Perversely, I'll read an email and acknowledge it. But no Adcom member will ever say "gee, how polite this fellow is, I'll accept him".
Capeesh?
If you choose to send thank you notes, I do not encourage you send them to the coordinator to hand out. Speaking for myself, I manage 8 GME programs and 1 UME program. I barely have time to check my own mail never mind send someone else's mail.
The coordinator at the program I interviewed with recently, specifically told us to send any notes to her to hand out. Mind you, this is a single program in a small town, so she is in charge of everything.
Some days, I would probably want to change places with her. But, with my personality, I would get bored.
If the PC tells you to can send thank you notes to them to pass out, by all means do so. But, if you aren't given that direction, don't assume it's okay.
Send a thank you to whoever you'd like. Honestly, I don't think it's worth the writer's cramp of sending one to everyone who said more than two words to you, but do whatever is going to allow you to sleep at night. Send it because you think it's the right thing to do, not because you think it will ultimately affect your rank position (it won't). The type of paper doesn't matter, but I've never seen them sent as actual post cards or left on the day of the interview. My program is good with email, but that's not true everywhere. Gifts are definitely out of bounds and very awkward.I had some questions about thank you notes.
- Typically you would give one to those who interviewed you does that include the residents as well if they have interviewed?
- Should you write a thank you note to the Program coordinator?
- When should you give them, I can write them out before but should it be right after the interview ends by leaving or should I mail it after. I'm worried if I mail it and it gets lost in the hospital mail they will never get it
- Many people say to give hand written notes, is that done on a blank computer paper or lined paper? Can you write it on the back of a postcard or does that look unprofessional.
- Are small gifts against the rules if you really want that program?
...When should you give them, I can write them out before but should it be right after the interview ends by leaving or should I mail it after. I'm worried if I mail it and it gets lost in the hospital mail they will never get it...
So I sent thank you cards to my top program and didn't get a response. My friend who sent an email got a response. Do we just assume that they only respond to emails? That they didn't get my card? Should I send a "rank high" email in January then? I don't want them to think I was rude- I sent them the morning after the interview. I should have tracked them haha.
Is it allowed as per the NRMP rules to say to a program that I'm ranking them number 1? I know showing interest in a program in post interview communication is allowed.