Do you send out thank you cards after each interview or after the entire season?

[spinnerette]

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I just had a discussion with my roommates about this.
For me, I wanted to really talk about the positives about the particular programs after I got to know about all the other programs. You know what I'm saying.... instead of suggesting that you really liked the balance of program A after interviewing at 2 programs, I think it would be more meaningful to say that after your interview trail, you were impressed by the ______ of the program. Besides, it's now closer to rank time and you will be more memorable =P

So I am preparing my thank you notes now for all the programs I interviewed at.

How about you guys?

 

[FutureDoc734]

I sent my TY cards/emails after each interview...that way it's more memorable, both for me and for the interviewer. Otherwise, they may not even remember you, and you may not even remember specifics of what you talked about with each person, IMHO.

 

[mlw03]

it does not matter. thank you cards should be done, if you so choose, because you're trying to be appreciative of the interviewer's time, not because you think it'll help your chances of matching (which it almost certainly will not).

 

[spinnerette]

I don't think it would help with the match but I find some of the notes my friends are writing to be quite generic and kissass when they can't make a fair comparisons.

ie: You guys have one of the best ________ training

 

[b-real]

I just had a discussion with my roommates about this.
For me, I wanted to really talk about the positives about the particular programs after I got to know about all the other programs. You know what I'm saying.... instead of suggesting that you really liked the balance of program A after interviewing at 2 programs, I think it would be more meaningful to say that after your interview trail, you were impressed by the ______ of the program. Besides, it's now closer to rank time and you will be more memorable =P

So I am preparing my thank you notes now for all the programs I interviewed at.

How about you guys?

It's a thank you note, why do you need to make comparisons to other programs? Letters of intent, on the other hand, include that info and why you would be a good fit for a particular program.

 

[Buzz Me]

I wrote my thank-you cards after leaving each program. If you let them all bunch up, you'll start forgetting details on each interviewer.

 

[the alchemist]

I just had a discussion with my roommates about this.
For me, I wanted to really talk about the positives about the particular programs after I got to know about all the other programs. You know what I'm saying.... instead of suggesting that you really liked the balance of program A after interviewing at 2 programs, I think it would be more meaningful to say that after your interview trail, you were impressed by the ______ of the program. Besides, it's now closer to rank time and you will be more memorable =P

So I am preparing my thank you notes now for all the programs I interviewed at.

How about you guys?

I emailed (did not send physical cards) after each interview so far. I hear that they don't help much with matching but as someone pointed out, its nice to show that you appreciate the time and effort put forth on your behalf to interview you whether you choose email or snail mail. I found that emailing after each interview did end up with my having some continuing email convos with some of my interviewers from each program. If I had sent them at the end of the season, I doubt that they would remember me unless something stuck out as different about me in their mind for some reason. So my vote would be after each interview vs end of the season and to send it for the purpose of being a "thank you" and not as a means to helping you match cuz it won't from what I hear. Closer to rank time, they probably won't have the time to really look at your thank you or to respond to it and it would have very little effect on your chances to match (regardless of when you send it).

 

[Buzz Me]

Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe in actual physical thank you cards rather than emails. I feel there are very few instances when you have to do this to show your appreciate - wedding thank you cards comes to mind.

Just my opinion, but shooting off a quick email seems too easy to me. Especially with smartphones these days.

 

[ROBINHO]

How frequent shd post interview communication be. Maybe for an AMG its irrelevant but for an IMG interviewing at programs that they interviewing 300 for 17 spots.....will it be annoying to send PD an email every 3 weeks or once a month to emphasize my interest?
Does this play any role? 🙂

 

[Med Peds]

Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe in actual physical thank you cards rather than emails. I feel there are very few instances when you have to do this to show your appreciate - wedding thank you cards comes to mind.

Just my opinion, but shooting off a quick email seems too easy to me. Especially with smartphones these days.

Agreed, one interview candidate did this and it was very endearing. Handwriiten is the way to go.

 

[gutonc]

How frequent shd post interview communication be. will it be annoying to send PD an email every 3 weeks or once a month to emphasize my interest?

That would be hugely annoying. Once is enough. If I was a PD and you emailed me q3w I would put your address in my spam filter fter the 2nd or 3rd time and remove you from my rank list.

 

[ROBINHO]

That would be hugely annoying. Once is enough. If I was a PD and you emailed me q3w I would put your address in my spam filter fter the 2nd or 3rd time and remove you from my rank list.

hahahhaa I guess I have been spammed out a long time ago.
But seriously gutonc I have noticed that at my interviews, all candidates look similar, in credentials, confidence , good english, research experience and nobody has acted weirdly. How exactly are they gonna rank us? and how do I get noticed?
I figured out that showing extreme interest shd count for something? Btw, the truth is that I try to figure out some smart questions to ask or updating an accepted abstract/manuscript and taking advantage to re-emphasize my interest.
U think it doesnt change anything from now onwards and I shd just relax and wait for the match?

Signed desperate IMG

 

[Buzz Me]

But seriously gutonc I have noticed that at my interviews, all candidates look similar, in credentials, confidence , good english, research experience and nobody has acted weirdly. How exactly are they gonna rank us? and how do I get noticed?

Other factors. Letters of recommendation. USCE (if you're an FMG/IMG) or away rotations (if you're an AMG). Your interviewing skills. How strong your med school is.

 

[gutonc]

Other factors. Letters of recommendation. USCE (if you're an FMG/IMG) or away rotations (if you're an AMG). Your interviewing skills. How strong your med school is.

What he said. There are other ways to get noticed of course (like the one you suggested where you spam the PD) but most of them are negative.

 

[Dirt]

Board scores Robinho, board scores.

 

[mlw03]

That would be hugely annoying. Once is enough. If I was a PD and you emailed me q3w I would put your address in my spam filter fter the 2nd or 3rd time and remove you from my rank list.

Concur. It's not really funny - do something like you're suggesting and you'll almost certainly hurt your match chances. You asked how to distinguish yourself, and I'd say it's by being friendly, pleasant, and asking relevant questions. I saw so many applicants just sit through interview day like a bump on a log. If you're not that person, you're helping your chances significantly.

 

[adagio]

Board scores Robinho, board scores.

Oh yeah? you are mistaken... Trust me ... you are mistaken -_-

 

[adagio]

Signed desperate IMG

This mode of thinking will definitely keep you away from matching at your desired places.

You know, its like that wise dude once wrote: "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch"