Is it necessary to write Thank you letters to the PDs after interviews

[Winged Scapula]

My two cents:

I personally think all this T-you notes are a gigantic waste of time. I have never changed someone's position on a rank list because of a thank you note. I certainly don't keep track of who sends one and who doesn't. I can't speak for all PD's, and maybe there are some out there who really care, but I bet they're the minority. My Prog Administrator, on the other hand, loves getting them -- she likes seeing what stationary different people use (after she's met you during your interview). Still, they never change ranking decisions.

I'm thinking of starting to tell this to people who interview, to save them the bother.

But again, the point of sending thank you letters is NOT to get something (ie, change ranking decisions), but because its the polite thing to do when someone has invited you over, fed you, spent time with you.

If applicants are sending these because they hope to influence ranking decisions, I agree - that's a mistake. But I would not discourage people from sending them because its the polite, and IMHO, the right thing to do. Perhaps I was raised a little more formally than others.

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[WatchingWaiting]

But again, the point of sending thank you letters is NOT to get something (ie, change ranking decisions), but because its the polite thing to do when someone has invited you over, fed you, spent time with you.

If applicants are sending these because they hope to influence ranking decisions, I agree - that's a mistake. But I would not discourage people from sending them because its the polite, and IMHO, the right thing to do. Perhaps I was raised a little more formally than others.

I'd like to know the gender of all parties making these thank you letter comments. Some of these comments about how pretty the stationary is and what not makes me wonder if there is some gyno component to this (let's exchange pretty cards; let's not hurt other's feelings, etc.). As a male, I generally don't like the idea on principle, especially for something like a job interview. Because, seriously, I'm interviewing for a job where I am going to work like a dog for the next several years and the hospital is going to be getting around $100K per year for that work, while paying me approximately half that. I'm not sure what exactly I should be thanking everyone for. It's a mutual exchange of information in preparation for a situation from which both parties benefit, I, by getting further training, they be getting cheap labor.

 

[pdintheusa]

My 0.02 - I think that they are a simple gesture that reflects well on you and a sign of a mature [and polite] individual- and I look at every single one. I can't say it affects ranking decisions, but it clearly doesn't hurt.

A little tip - sending my Program Coordinator a note reflects extremely well on you. She works incredibly hard and gets very little in the way of thanks from most applicants. She always makes a point to show me all of her thank you notes - and by the way, she tells me if you act nasty as well.

That is the kiss of death. I have not ranked relatively good applicants because they were ugly [outside the bell curve] to my Program Coordinator. Ill-tempered people at that stage are a risk to turn out to be ill-tempered residents.

As far as the previous comment - remember that we [the program] are not pocketing money in exchange for your 'cheap labor' - and all of my faculty could make double-triple their salaries in private practice - we take lower paying jobs willingly because we think training the next generation is a noble and important thing to do.

And I also believe that etiquette still has a place in contemporary society -whether you're in the business sector or in medicine. I could care less if it is an email or on "pretty cards" - it shows you are mature - and that you appreciate the time we took to review your application, treat you to dinner and lunch, and coordinate a day around you.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'd like to know the gender of all parties making these thank you letter comments. Some of these comments about how pretty the stationary is and what not makes me wonder if there is some gyno component to this (let's exchange pretty cards; let's not hurt other's feelings, etc.). As a male, I generally don't like the idea on principle, especially for something like a job interview. Because, seriously, I'm interviewing for a job where I am going to work like a dog for the next several years and the hospital is going to be getting around $100K per year for that work, while paying me approximately half that. I'm not sure what exactly I should be thanking everyone for. It's a mutual exchange of information in preparation for a situation from which both parties benefit, I, by getting further training, they be getting cheap labor.

While I agree that the comments about the appearance of the thank you cards seems more of interest to females, the fact of the matter still stands: being polite is gender neutral. It has nothing to do with "not hurting other's feelings", etc.

No one cares if your thank you cards are "cute". No one cares whether or not you will be "working like a dog" for the next several years, or that you'll be working for less money than you think you should earn (BTW, hospitals lose money on residents because it COSTS more than the government gives them to educate you, factor in the extra expense for overordering labs, xrays, etc., give you benefits, and your salary...its not like they're pocketing $100K, giving you $40K and then they run laughing all the way to the bank.).

Regardless of the situation, whether its a medicine interview, business or a friend's parents inviting you over for dinner, a thank you note is the commonly accepted form which exhibits your good breeding in our society and should be proferred. Yoy may choose to ignore that, and many do, but IMHO it reflects poorly on you. And men don't get any more breaks on this custom than women do - so feel free to choose more masculine stationary if you wish.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

But again, the point of sending thank you letters is NOT to get something (ie, change ranking decisions), but because its the polite thing to do when someone has invited you over, fed you, spent time with you.

Hard to disagree with this. My cynical side figured that the question was asked because people assumed it would somehow help their application. It is a simple, nice gesture.

 

[maverick_pkg]

This may sound stupid, but what is preferable - thank you cards with handwritten note OR a typed/handwritten letter.

If a letter, than on a normal A4 size paper folded into an envelope would be fine right (sounds an even more stupid question)?

 

[sophiejane]

I still don't understand all the fuss about this.

Didn't anyone else's parents make them write thank you notes the day after their birthday and christmas? I have been doing this since I could hold a pencil, pretty much.

Takes about 5 minutes. Notecards are fine, get them at Walgreen's/Walmart/Target, whatever. Don't need to special order monogrammed handmade paper. Handwrite a few lines, sign it, put it in the mail.

People are acting like this is some kind of moral dilemma, fretting over it, arguing against it.

It's a darn thank-you note, people. Suck it up and learn to be polite. At least you can give the impression that you were raised well.

 

[Samoa]

Well, I was raised by wolves, so there you go. No thank you notes from me.

 

[Faebinder]

Well, I was raised by wolves, so there you go. No thank you notes from me.

Mine was a pack of hyenas and they all liked my lion meat.

 

[Wahoos]

I hand wrote all of my Thank you notes to the programs that I interviewed at. If you are going for something competitive, it can make a difference. Just showing interest in the program will make you stand out. For example, Given 2 applicants, both with 240s on Step I, top 25 medical school, strong letters of rec, research experience, Aced 3rd year and the ortho clerkships. One person has written a thank you note to all the people who interview him/her, and the other person did not..... I can almost gurantee that when it is time for the program to make a rank list, if two canidates are equal, the thank you notes will come up and "your" level of interest in the program will rise you above the other person and that might make the difference in the Match process. Programs want people who wants to be there. If you have gone through 4 yrs of med school working hard, busted your butt for the boards, then spent all the money / time to interview, why not finish it in style so that you will have no regrats. It does not take long to write a short thank you note. Most of the places that I had interviews at was with 5-8 attendings and or chief reisdents x 10-15 interviews = 50 to 100 thank you notes. Yes it is some work, but I think it is worth it. Personally writing them out on a small Thank you card looks better than a printed version that you just signed and mail to everyone. Just my 2 cents

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hard to disagree with this. My cynical side figured that the question was asked because people assumed it would somehow help their application. It is a simple, nice gesture.

No doubt that IS why most people are asking (at least those that were raised by wolves ), but for some of us, it is just a learned response to a invitation, gift, etc.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I still don't understand all the fuss about this.

Didn't anyone else's parents make them write thank you notes the day after their birthday and christmas? I have been doing this since I could hold a pencil, pretty much.

Takes about 5 minutes. Notecards are fine, get them at Walgreen's/Walmart/Target, whatever. Don't need to special order monogrammed handmade paper. Handwrite a few lines, sign it, put it in the mail.

People are acting like this is some kind of moral dilemma, fretting over it, arguing against it.

It's a darn thank-you note, people. Suck it up and learn to be polite. At least you can give the impression that you were raised well.

Thank you for validating my confusion.

Perhaps you and I had the only parents left in the Western World who made up write thank you notes for gifts, invitations, etc.!

 

[njbmd]

I still don't understand all the fuss about this.

Didn't anyone else's parents make them write thank you notes the day after their birthday and christmas? I have been doing this since I could hold a pencil, pretty much.

Takes about 5 minutes. Notecards are fine, get them at Walgreen's/Walmart/Target, whatever. Don't need to special order monogrammed handmade paper. Handwrite a few lines, sign it, put it in the mail.

People are acting like this is some kind of moral dilemma, fretting over it, arguing against it.

It's a darn thank-you note, people. Suck it up and learn to be polite. At least you can give the impression that you were raised well.

Thank you for validating my confusion.

Perhaps you and I had the only parents left in the Western World who made up write thank you notes for gifts, invitations, etc.!

I sure wrote my fair share of "thank-you notes" too. My mum is a "beast" when it comes to manners. I always dropped a little note to the Program Director and the Program Coordinator back when I was on the interview trail. It could be as simple as an e-mail or a short hand-written note. One of my most memorable interviews was one where there was a little bag of Hershey's Kisses and Tootsie Rolls along with a welcome note at the hotel desk when I checked in. That was nice and I knew the program coordinators had to have made up those little welcome bags and deserved a "thank-you" note.

 

[gagolden]

This may be a stupid question, but does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy professional looking thank you notes? The ones I have seen (at Walmart, etc) have all been rather cheap looking.

Opps. Ive been using cheap ones. Oh well, maybee they will think Im a frugal, money-wise person.

 

[deleted113029]

WTF people! Who cares if one writes a thank you note or not?! OOOOH, my parents are the bestest, kindest blah blah blah, and therefore, I'm better than all you b!tches!

Most PDs have said to me that they will contact me at a later date. I will await their calls and save some stamps in the meantime.

 

[Winged Scapula]

WTF people! Who cares if one writes a thank you note or not?! OOOOH, my parents are the bestest, kindest blah blah blah, and therefore, I'm better than all you b!tches!

Most PDs have said to me that they will contact me at a later date. I will await their calls and save some stamps in the meantime.

I doubt anyone here is claiming that we're better than anyone else because we were raised to write thank you notes. This is a COMMONLY accepted form of regards in a polite society.

Choose to ignore that if you wish; it makes no difference to me whether or not someone writes a thank you note, but IMHO it does reflect poorly on you and I'm sorry, your upbringing.

 

[DebDynamite]

I doubt anyone here is claiming that we're better than anyone else because we were raised to write thank you notes. This is a COMMONLY accepted form of regards in a polite society.

Choose to ignore that if you wish; it makes no difference to me whether or not someone writes a thank you note, but IMHO it does reflect poorly on you and I'm sorry, your upbringing.

Completely.
The point of a thank you note can better be understood by someone who has been around enough to get that certain "conventions" are actually acts of kindness. While I think many modern "conventions" are too influenced by commercialism (buying everyone you know holiday gifts, for example), some of the more standard acts of etiquette (saying please, thank you, writing notes, deferring your seat on the bus to the elderly) are actually rooted in the concepts of reciprocity & kindness. If I ever become a program director, I'll take note of who sends the thank you as much as what they wore to the interviews.

 

[deleted113029]

I doubt anyone here is claiming that we're better than anyone else because we were raised to write thank you notes. This is a COMMONLY accepted form of regards in a polite society.

Choose to ignore that if you wish; it makes no difference to me whether or not someone writes a thank you note, but IMHO it does reflect poorly on you and I'm sorry, your upbringing.

Thank you note Nazi's! No rank for you!!!

 

[Doc Ivy]

Thank you note Nazi's! No rank for you!!!

You still don't get it do you???

Writing the note is about acknowledging someone's effort. It is a "Thank You", pure and simple, not some sort of leveraging tool to move up the rank list.

If you live your life being kind considerate to only those who have something to offer you you WILL miss out.

 

[defanim]

Can you say "redundant"?

 

[gng930]

i say no. i dont think they ever see them. i guarantee you the receptionist does and she tosses them in the trash, or just sticks it in your file...

She must have also forged 2 doctor's signatures and utilized 2 different forms of handwriting too when she sent me a note in return. I'm pretty sure she had a bug in the room too.

 

[comedone]

Wondering if any of you feel the 'thank you' letter vs email situation has changed since 2006-2007.

My school requests emails. I prefer sending both if I really like the place.

 

[atsai3]

Wondering if any of you feel the 'thank you' letter vs email situation has changed since 2006-2007.

My school requests emails. I prefer sending both if I really like the place.

1. Why would things have changed?
2. If a program requests e-mails, then regardless of what you prefer, do what they say.
3. Some 2009-2010 thoughts on thank you notes here, here, here, here, and here.

-AT.

 

[comedone]

Wow 12 interviews is a lot. This must be for an ultra competitive specialty like Derm or Urology.

Let me give you some uncommon tips before you start writing.

Make sure you send all 12 faculty members the SAME design of thank you cards. I know medical students sometimes send the coordinator a "cheaper" card and the PD the "nicest" card. Everybody is equal in this process, and you need to send everyone the same type of card. This is often overlooked.

Secondly, it's necessary that you personalize each and every card. 12 is a lot and this is why it sucks so much. But each card needs to be different. Don't send a generic card to everybody. The reason is because the cards sometimes go into your application file, and when it's time to rank, they will see all 12 cards. That's when they realize that you wrote the same generic thing to everybody. So personalize each card, but same one design of card.

Third, you need to include the program coordinator or secretary in your thank you cards. So you really have 13 to write. Again, everybody is important in this process, especially the PC who helped schedule and plan your entire day. Sometimes, the program coordinator can have a say in the process. And send the secretary the SAME design of card. Don't make this common pitfall that I've seen too many times.

Fourth, spend the money on nice thank you cards. Please don't buy the 50 pack bulk ones that you see at Walmart for $4.99. Walmart sends very nice designs in 10 pks for $3.99. Target does too. These designs are very much. These extra couple of dollars will go a long way.

Sound good?

This one is really good. Thanks, AT!

Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy writing my thank you notes. It is pretty amazing that we get the opportunity to meet some of the top people in our arena of interest during interview session. They all should be acknowledged regardless of match outcome.

-C-man

 

[Grace34]

Regarding emails...
Please do not send too many emails. In my program the residents get together with the PD, the program coordinator, and anyone else who has MET applicants and we go through all the interviewees. We had one applicant who had emailed all of the residents at every holiday with "good wishes" etc. but it ended up a bit annoying.
Also, however you end up communicating, make sure you use correct grammer, complete sentences, etc. because people are paying attention. I have no interest in supervising an intern that I also have to re-write half of their note every day. If I get email that indicates a less-than-optimal command of the language, I definitely pass that on to the PD.

 

[Deferoxamine]

at there even being a discussion about whether or not to send Thank You notes. Completely laughable. Why would you work your asses off for 3+ years "to get into the best residency possible *jittery* blah blah blah", only to blow it in the 11th hour by forgetting a simple common manners gesture?

I sucked it up and paid $10.99 for a 40-pack of standard Thank You notes and bought some stamps for the year. I handwrite my notes, in front of the TV. Not that big of a deal. Yes, email is okay, but ONLY after I've sent the paper Thank You and have further questions later in the season.

Email as the only form of Thank You to a program is an absolute joke... hell you might as well add some emoticons and invite them to "Friend" you on Facebook.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Email as the only form of Thank You to a program is an absolute joke... hell you might as well add some emoticons and invite them to "Friend" you on Facebook.

I would disagree. Media of the world has changed. Email is pretty standard for everything these days (there is a reason that the applications, letters of recommendation, interview invites, coordination of dates, and almost all follow-up from programs is done via email/electronic systems).

Per all my advisors email is perfectly acceptable for thank you's. It is a polite way to thank them for their time and is simple and easy to be read and responded to by the PD/faculty/residents. Whereas hand-written notes have to be received by the primary office, delivered to the appropriate person, and opened and are more difficult to respond to.

 

[confuse]

Unless the PD specifically tells me to do emails, I plan to hand write all of my thank you letters. Emails have its benefits, ie. recipients can respond back to you immediately. After receiving some postcards from programs, I felt bad for sending a couple of thank you emails even to the programs that told me to.

 

[jenesaispas0005]

I had a program director come out and say that the only benefit of sending a paper thank you note was that they had to actually go to the trashcan to throw it away rather than simply pushing 'delete' on their email inbox. Come on, people. No program is going to judge you on what method you chose to send a thank you note.

 

[Samoa]

I think the lesson here is that no matter what you do, some people will approve and some will disapprove, others won't care either way. So your options are 1) email, hand-write or do nothing and hope that you don't offend anyone's sensibilities with your choice, or 2) try to figure out what each person prefers, and cater your response accordingly.

Personally, while I can believe some would find it inconsiderate not to send a thank you note at all, I don't believe anyone would be offended because you sent it by email rather than writing it by hand. I do, however, think that while some (like WS) might be charmed by the personal touch of a hand-written note, others (like some other surgeons I've met) would consider that same note evidence of an overly anxious and potentially irritating prospective colleague. There's simply no single right answer.

 

[Darlene]

I emailed the prog director and the assoc prog director (who actually interviewed me). The prog director emailed back and stated how they would love to work with me. The assoc prog director never emailed me back--during the interview I felt like she didn't like me. Am i screwed? I really liked this program..... Geeez.

 

[natashana]

I can definitely see how some would find hand written thank you notes overly anxious and maudlin. That's just me... let my application and interview speak for itself, hmm? I'd hope they could tell I'm a respectful and gracious person, but also very busy.

 

[atsai3]

I emailed the prog director and the assoc prog director (who actually interviewed me). The prog director emailed back and stated how they would love to work with me. The assoc prog director never emailed me back--during the interview I felt like she didn't like me. Am i screwed? I really liked this program..... Geeez.

Chill out.

-AT.

 

[atsai3]

I can definitely see how some would find hand written thank you notes overly anxious and maudlin. That's just me... let my application and interview speak for itself, hmm? I'd hope they could tell I'm a respectful and gracious person, but also very busy.

This is a great perspective. Would that all of the anxious and overly neurotic applicants on SDN behaved liked this.

-AT.

 

[smq123]

I can definitely see how some would find hand written thank you notes overly anxious and maudlin. That's just me... let my application and interview speak for itself, hmm? I'd hope they could tell I'm a respectful and gracious person, but also very busy.

I understand that you're busy. But how busy are you to write a quick thank you note?

At least write a nice one to the program coordinator. They have to arrange for food, email everyone, herd all the residents and faculty together to coordinate interviews (which is a lot like herding kittens), make nametags, arrange for a hospital tour, arrange for parking vouchers, and then collect all the interview evals from the interviewers. It's a tough, thankless job, and I think that most would appreciate a nice note, letting them know that you appreciate the effort they went through. Even at our small program, our coordinator is often around until 10PM the night before, getting everything ready.

As busy as you think that you are, they are just as busy!

It's not about kissing up, or trying to get higher on the rank list. It's just about showing your appreciation for someone who went to a pretty good amount of effort to organize the interview day. Don't know why your application or your interview have anything to do with whether or not you should send a thank you note.

 

[DoctaJay]

I just sent emails because 1) I hate hand writing anything 2) emails arrive quicker which helps for programs that make their rank lists directly after the interview day.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Darlene]

Chill out.

-AT.

LOL, I really need too. AT your comments are always so timely and appropriate.

 

[atsai3]

It's not about kissing up, or trying to get higher on the rank list. It's just about showing your appreciation for someone who went to a pretty good amount of effort to organize the interview day. Don't know why your application or your interview have anything to do with whether or not you should send a thank you note.

YES!!!!! Finally someone states the obvious. Residency program coordinators do so much work when it comes to interview day.

-AT.

 

[Prof Moriarty]

Wow. Did any of you holier-than-thou, better-manners, raised-better, my-mom's-better-than-your-mom people ever learn that it's actually considered rude and arrogant to tell people that their parents raised them poorly and you're better than them because you sent a thank you letter? Keep dreaming. If you need to validate your superior manners and put other peoples' parents down online, you have revealed your true selves and no amount of thank you notes is going to change that.

The most important thing is not the thank you letter. It's treating people with kindness, common decency, and respect. In person. Start there. If you send a thank you note too, that's fine.

 

[sara223344]

Wow. Did any of you holier-than-thou, better-manners, raised-better, my-mom's-better-than-your-mom people ever learn that it's actually considered rude and arrogant to tell people that their parents raised them poorly and you're better than them because you sent a thank you letter? Keep dreaming. If you need to validate your superior manners and put other peoples' parents down online, you have revealed your true selves and no amount of thank you notes is going to change that.

The most important thing is not the thank you letter. It's treating people with kindness, common decency, and respect. In person. Start there. If you send a thank you note too, that's fine.

Send a note, or don't. Certainly no one is waiting around for it. If you're thankful send it-- email, handwritten, calligraphy, smoke signals.. all roads lead to rome. Bet it wont affect your rank list a bit, and surely there are other venues in life to flaunt your cultivated manners if the darned note isn't your style.

 

[Samoa]

Residency program coordinators do so much work when it comes to interview day.

-AT.

That's actually who I usually send them to, if I do so at all.

 

[rgerwin]

I wrote most of my notes through email. I made them as polite and personalized as I could. I got a couple of nice replies. In some ways, it does open up the option for an individual dialogue versus the letter.