HELP! Sending thank you notes to multiple interviewers

[J33]

I need some advice from anyone who has experience with this. I recently interviewed at a school, and my visit went amazing well. The school is easily my top choice. I haven't sent thank you notes to most of the schools I've interviewed at...I've reserved them for the interviews that I felt went well or the ones in which I connected well with the interviewer. This school does 3 separate interviews, and all 3 went really well. As I said before, my visit as a whole also went really well. I'm curious about whether I should send one blanket letter to the admissions office, or send 3 different letters. The only address I have is the admissions office, so I'd have to send them there anyway. I guess I'd feel bad writing 3 really similar letters and sending them to the same place. They may even open them up there, and then I'd feel really stupid as they read my 3 similar letters to different people. I have one idea so far (aside from 3 separate letters)--I could write a general thank you to the admissions office, as they were very helpful in getting me a timely interview when I was already in the area, and mention that the day went very well and all 3 of my interviews went well. Perhaps I could even ask them to pass the "thank you" along to my interviewers, and list them by name. Is this tasteful, or should I do 3 seperate letters? Also, I'd like to write them tonight to have them in the mail tomorrow, so if you have any thoughts please share them now. Any advice would be really appreciated!

Note: I am not looking to gain favor in the eyes of the admissions committee...I do not believe that should be the intent of thank you letters. I just want to know what would be the most polite and tasteful way of thanking them.

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[finnpipette]

for next time, make sure you get the email addresses of the people that interviewed you before you leave. If you have their names, I would email/call the office and ask for their emails. Ideally, you should send an email to each person as soon as possible after the interview. It's not a huge deal if the email is the same, as long as you address each person individually. If you mention specific things from the interview, don't send a blanket email to everyone. Try to mention specific touched upon in each interview. otherwise...it's nice to thank them for their time and whatever else you liked...

 

[Kashue]

I stopped sending thank you notes after my 4th interview and so far, it hasn't really hurt me. I agree with what's been said earlier regarding this issue, I don't think thank you notes make a difference at all.

 

[J33]

50 people have read this, and only two have any sort of advice or opinion? (another way of saying BUMP). Do others think individual e-mails are appropriate?

 

[Mr.Tweed]

I think that sending thank you notes is overly obseqious. You'll have plenty of time for that in your clinical rotations.

 

[hsouth]

I would call the admissions office and ask how you can obtain the address information for your interviewers, or search the school's website. I would send a handwritten thank you to each interviewer. It may be old fashioned, but I don't think it's going to hurt you.

~H

 

[edfig99]

it can go either way -- you can do separate thank yous or one thank you acknowledging each of your interviewers. most likely the thank you will simply be filed in your application folder, never to re-surface until a wait list debate or something comes up. the one plus of the individual thank you is as one poster mentioned -- "oh yeah, i remember that person...they sent me a thank you..." but there will never be a "oh yeah, i remember that person...can you believe they didn't send a thank you note."

obsequious....sure...it's part of the game. it is, however, an optional part that couldn't hurt and costs all of 37 cents.

 

[bewitched1081]

i recommend sending thank you notes to all interviewers and anyone else that spent some time helping you (i.e. nice secretaries, etc.) first, because a lot of pre med advisors and directors of admission advise sending thank you notes. students are usually indecisive about the matter because they dont want to seem like theyre begging or what not. but if you think about it, a lot of your interviewers have a tight schedule (some are doctors, professors, etc.) i imagine it could even become a hassle to them to have to deal with so many interviewees. so a thank you note would show some common courtesy. the worst they can do is throw it in the trash and tell the adcom that you sent a thank you note. granted, they may tell the adcom that it seemed like you were begging as well. but the adcom can make up their own mind about that.

 

[bewitched1081]

oh you may be able to find the addresses online in the school's directory. just keep all your interview papers and get the full name of your interviewers.

 

[woolie]

I send separate ones to each person - so far it's just been usually a student and a prof.

Like others have said, I try and just thank them for their time, mention something we talked about or that I think they'll appreciate, etc. and then close with something simple. It's hard to know how each person will take it, but it's just a small curtesy and I can't imagine someone would be offended or consider it a 'bad' thing.

 

[periodic]

J33,

When you have three interviewers, I think it's fine to write a letter to the admissions office that addresses all of them. I've heard of other people doing that and seen posts on here to that effect.

It's particularly ok in a case like yours, where there isn't too much different to say for each interviewer. It seems like these things get passed on to the Admissions Offices anyway, even if you send them to the individual's address.

 

[drlexygoat]

Write each person separately. Even if it's a short, 1 paragraph, handwritten note to each person, you should def. make an attempt to do so! I think it's tacky and coy to write one long letter (that not everyone will get to see) or do emails. In a pinch, email will work, but handwritten notes are always appreciated more.

-"Dear Abby/Lex"

 

[exmike]

was it wake forest? if so you should send individualized thank you notes.