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Thank you card for interviewers?
Started by blizz
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I asked a pharmacist (who once conducted interviews for USC) I volunteer with about this. He said that it's a nice gesture, but it's not expected/necessary. A thank you card doesn't really help you because by the time they get the thank you card, they will have already made their decision. I guess that makes sense. I dunno, what do you guys think?
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I send a thank you email the same day (or as soon as possible). It's expected after any business interview, and barring some atrocious spelling errors or you getting their name wrong, I dont see how it could possibly hurt your chances. Plus, sending it asap after your interview increases the chances that they will receive it prior to deciding on you.
I was thinking of the "snail mail" kind of thank you card. 
Yeah, in that case, I think it doesn't hurt. I thought it would be unnecessary, seeing as how these schools are already bombarded with application materials... ? Job interviews are completely different since they are paying for you to be there, so you are more obligated to send them a thank you note.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
starsweet said:
I was going to send some--I even bought some thank-you notes--but it turns out I'm just too lazy. I think it's entirely unnecessary, but good to do if you are so inclined and are able to send it within a day or two of the interview. A thank-you will either have no effect or perhaps a slightly positive effect on your admissions prospects. Send the note to the person who interviewed you, and not to the school, and you won't be contributing to the "bombardment."
it will be nice if you want to send in thank-you card but i don't think it's necessary ...I didn't think of it until i read this thread....
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I plan on sending thank yous to my interviewers (assuming I get an interview - won't know for another month or so). I'll probably send a short e-mail to each person thanking them for their time and mentioning something specific that we talked about. I don't plan on laying it too thick though - I don't want to seem desperate.
I think that very little harm can come from thank you notes in general. I gave all of the people that wrote me LORs thank you notes (handed to them in person), and they all seemed to appreciate them.
I think that very little harm can come from thank you notes in general. I gave all of the people that wrote me LORs thank you notes (handed to them in person), and they all seemed to appreciate them.
I sent a thank you note along with some paperwork that needed to be submitted. 🙂
When I had multiple interviewers I sent each interviewer a card. I just addressed it to the COP, Attn, such and such. I did it because I thought it was the nice thing to do. If you don't think the same, then don't do it. It's not going to help your chances either way.
I sent a "Thank You" card to the director of admissions after my interview. I think it's just good policy, same applies to job interviews, residency interviews, whatever... Don't think that it's going to improve your chances of acceptance, but you never know how far a small gesture can go. It does help to make your name known and it shows sincerity. Most people underestimate the power of niceties and small gestures. Little things like receiving a "thank you" card can make a big impression sometimes. If you need a favor at some point down the road you'll be much more likely to get it from someone who knows you to be sincere and thoughtful. Besides, it's not like it takes much effort, and it only costs a stamp.
Sending a thank you note will not hurt, it's just etiquette. If you send one, do it soon after the interview.
This is a different situation, but I sent a brief thank you letter for a job interview, and it was enough to make me stand out from the other candidates (I was offered a position the same day he got my letter).
This is a different situation, but I sent a brief thank you letter for a job interview, and it was enough to make me stand out from the other candidates (I was offered a position the same day he got my letter).
starsweet said:
How was the UGA interview? What questions did they ask?
You are right about the first two things.bbmuffin said:
But every school is different on the last one. One of my schools had an ad com meeting directly after the interview session. They do that on every interveiw and immediatly discuss the applicants they just interviewed.
How do you guys get the contact info (address or e-mail) of your interviewers? Do you directly ask them for it? Do you ask the admissions office? I'm so nervous during an interview I can barely remember the interviewers' names.
DHG said:
My pre-pharm advisor made me write a thank you note. She made it sound like I was suppose to. She kept saying, Don't forget to send those!
And I asked her how I was suppose to know who to send it to, and she told me to ask them for an email address, or address, and to remember their names.
I don't think it's required, but it's a nice gesture.
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I had planned on sending thank you cards, but I ended up putting it off for too long. 🙁 When I interviewed at UCSD, the admissions lady made it seem like thank you cards were expected and she even looked up my interviewers' names for me..did anyone else experience this? Hmm, I feel guilty now..
Well, I don't think many people did send letters, so don't sweat it. I sent mine a couple days later so it probably was too late or something.
And now that I think of it, I don't think I did a very good job in writing them. Oh well.
And now that I think of it, I don't think I did a very good job in writing them. Oh well.
DHG said:
I've always done this with any interviews that I've done. I actually send it as an attachment to their email account. They usually appreciate the gesture and it shows that you were ambitious enough to search out that information. I also have a portfolio of about 18 pages that I offer them prior to my interview as well. It got me into UNC and Campbell, let's just say.
starsweet said:
The very first page is a professional pic of me with my credentials, then a table of contents, resume, cover letter, career summary and goals (like from ur pharmcas essay), Skills, Abilities and Marketable Qualities, and then samples of my work, like community service projects, program fliers that I've put on, organization. Then, I made it real pretty with colorful diagrams and what nots. The interviewers seemed to be real impressed by it.
I really hate sucking up to people and Thank You letters is a form of sucking up to me. Looking them in the eye and shaking their hand, genuinely thanking them for their time is good enough. Anything you do after that is just...BLEH.
Thank you cards:
I was pretty much wondering if we should send a seperate email to each person who interviewed us assuming there will be more than 1 interviewer for sure or we should just send one general one to the admissions committee???
I was pretty much wondering if we should send a seperate email to each person who interviewed us assuming there will be more than 1 interviewer for sure or we should just send one general one to the admissions committee???
Ariana said:
I would send individual emails to your interviews and then to the admissions committee if you like. But remember your interviewers are the ones who are going to speak up for you and come to bat when the times comes to choose.
Always 3x send a thank you note after *any* interviews; job, school, even when interviewing prospective client/suppliers (from my experience in sales). Imho it's a good business practice. Maybe all of us should be given a copy of "Emily Post Etiquette" book (or something similar) before graduating.. it's very important to know a good business etiquette. It's not about swaying the opinion, sucking up, kissing a$$, etc imho. It's just good, basic etiquette, period.
Merging similar threads. 🙂
blizz said:
One of my teachers last quarter stated that he (and others) greatly appreciate a thank you letter from applicants. They take out much time in their day to do the interviews and think highly of students that send the letter.
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If it's just good decorum, you shouldn't expect anything in return... "hoping it goes a long way..." is writing a thank you for "hoping it goes a long way.." not because it's "good decorum." it's like indian giving, sure it's a semi-good gesture, but you're still taking something along the way!
-And is anyone else confused about the person with the portfolio? The point of an interview (at least in my opinion) is to meet with the applicant and find out more about them in an interpersonal experience. Giving them a portfolio is kind of like saying, "here, just read this mubbo-jumbo about me and skip all the trivial questions that might actually tell you something interesting about me!"
-And is anyone else confused about the person with the portfolio? The point of an interview (at least in my opinion) is to meet with the applicant and find out more about them in an interpersonal experience. Giving them a portfolio is kind of like saying, "here, just read this mubbo-jumbo about me and skip all the trivial questions that might actually tell you something interesting about me!"
I sent something off to the Emily Post Institute, on a whim (really long conference call). After several weeks, here's the reply I received. I personally think there's a small error (While it is NOT a...) is how I think the second sentence to read, either way, the "professionals" have spoken.
The Emily Post Institute said:
hmm... interesting thread, me personally, I thought it would have been too pushy,"goodie", or whatever that expression is. If I was the interviewer and received a thank you note for interviewing a person... I think I'd feel apathetic to it... but then I've never been a real "card person", that it be birthday/valentines/graduation etc... I always thought that they should of saved that money on the card and treat me to some good chow. I'd be alot happier and grateful.
But anyway, this thread also reminded me of this anecdote. I've been working as a TA for organic chem lab, and last semester, this girl gave the ochem lecture professor a thank you card before the final, i guess for helping her throughout the semester and what not. Well I guess the prof was grateful and all for the kind words but at the same time, after grading everyone's finals, he said he wished he didn't receive it, cause she actually failed the class.
so yeah, receiving a thank you card form a great person that will get accepted, is one thing, but getting a thank you card from a person that you'll have to say "sorry you didn't make the cut" is another..
But anyway, this thread also reminded me of this anecdote. I've been working as a TA for organic chem lab, and last semester, this girl gave the ochem lecture professor a thank you card before the final, i guess for helping her throughout the semester and what not. Well I guess the prof was grateful and all for the kind words but at the same time, after grading everyone's finals, he said he wished he didn't receive it, cause she actually failed the class.
so yeah, receiving a thank you card form a great person that will get accepted, is one thing, but getting a thank you card from a person that you'll have to say "sorry you didn't make the cut" is another..
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