If thank you notes REALLY don't matter...

[maroonspinstress]

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Half the interviews I attended mentioned a thank you note protocol. In the professional world outside of medicine, highly qualified candidates are never hired if they don't follow the simple etiquette of a thank you note. Why would medicine be any different?

Well one difference is that there are very few companies that process upwards of 500 interviewees in the same department. Also, I feel that job interviews leave more material/specific points for inclusion in a thank you note compared to how generic most med school interviews can be, but that's just my experience. But point taken, I think that thank you letters are polite. However, in many cases, especially when the school does not mention a thank you letter policy or provide interviewer emails, they often end up being bland and generic (unless you truly had an exceptionally interesting interview experience) and potentially hurtful to your application.

 

[Giovanotto]

Half the interviews I attended mentioned a thank you note protocol. In the professional world outside of medicine, highly qualified candidates are never hired if they don't follow the simple etiquette of a thank you note. Why would medicine be any different?

lol, good one.

 

[Psai]

Even if thank you letters/notes did not matter, it is still proper professional etiquette to send them.



It's not about standing out. It's about being professional. More likely than not, they do nothing to boost your application. However, they can show that you are grateful for the wonderful privilege of being interviewed. Your interviewers took time out of their busy lives to interview you and answer your questions, one of the lucky few who even get the honor of receiving a medical school interview.

They should thank me for the wonderful privilege of the honor of my accepting their interview request. I took much more time to go to their school than they did to go there and sit in their office for half an hour

 

[gwooooooooooooooooooood]

It is professional etiquette as mentioned before. Regardless of their impact, you should attempt to send one by whatever means they allow unless they specifically state not to.

 

[p0gono]

did you specifically ask for their emails or did they just give 'em to you?

They just gave them to me.