interviewer not responding to the post-interview thank you letter...

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I recently had an interview at one of my top schools.

I sent her a thank you letter the next day stating how thankful I am and how the school is my top choice.

I haven't gotten a response back from her and I'm getting kind of worried thinking that maybe she didn't like me..?

I know that a reply to thank you letter does not happen all the time, but I guess I just have expectations for it cuz another interviewer at another school replied back to my thank you letter...

Is this a bad sign that she is not replying back??
 
cms said:
I recently had an interview at one of my top schools.

I sent her a thank you letter the next day stating how thankful I am and how the school is my top choice.

I haven't gotten a response back from her and I'm getting kind of worried thinking that maybe she didn't like me..?

I know that a reply to thank you letter does not happen all the time, but I guess I just have expectations for it cuz another interviewer at another school replied back to my thank you letter...

Is this a bad sign that she is not replying back??
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it. I don't really think it's the norm for the receiver of a thank you note to respond to it, plus you have to assume that the people interviewing are super busy and most wouldn't have time to respond to everyone anyway. Also, I wrote a thank you to my interviewer at a school that just accepted me and he never responded (if that makes you feel better). You're over-thinking it 😉
 
For what it's worth: I sent a total of 5 thank you letters to the two schools I've been accepted to, and received no acknowledgment.
 
What're they supposed to say?

"Dear Applicant,

You're welcome.

Sincerely,

Dr. Interviewer"

Doesn't seem necessary to me.
 
You honestly think they have time to respond to every thank you letter they receive? These individuals work at a medical school, they're very busy.
 
Never got responses, don't worry about it.
 
You guys are talking about emails you send right?

Or are you guys actually sending legit letters and cards through the postal service...
 
At one school I had an interview packet with my interviewer's physical mailing address listed, other than that it's all email. I don't trust the USPS.
 
cms said:
I recently had an interview at one of my top schools.

I sent her a thank you letter the next day stating how thankful I am and how the school is my top choice.

I haven't gotten a response back from her and I'm getting kind of worried thinking that maybe she didn't like me..?

I know that a reply to thank you letter does not happen all the time, but I guess I just have expectations for it cuz another interviewer at another school replied back to my thank you letter...

Is this a bad sign that she is not replying back??
Click to expand...

Normally, you won't hear a response. I did have one interviewer who offered his email address and said if I had questions, I should contact him. I would expect an answer if I had written a thank you email with questions about the program, but I just sent a thank you note.

LuciusVorenus said:
You guys are talking about emails you send right?

Or are you guys actually sending legit letters and cards through the postal service...
Click to expand...

Either one is fine, IMO. I prefer to send cards via snail mail, but I have always loved sending and receiving mail. I think it's a nice touch, but sending an email instead won't detract from the gesture. I got a stack of inexpensive blank stationery and just send a quick note to each interviewer the same day or the day after the interview.
 
Remy LeBeau said:
Either one is fine, IMO. I prefer to send cards via snail mail, but I have always loved sending and receiving mail. I think it's a nice touch, but sending an email instead won't detract from the gesture. I got a stack of inexpensive blank stationery and just send a quick note to each interviewer the same day or the day after the interview.
Click to expand...

I have some thank you cards already. I figure I'll just drop them off at a mail box the day of my interview so it won't have to get shipped from where I live on the other side of the country :laugh:
 
You don't have anything to worry about. I'm sure they received it and are grateful. I honestly don't think it's the norm to respond to thank you notes because then you'd be expected to respond to their response and on and on and on in a never-ending cycle of thank you notes.
 
When I did my MMI, I emailed the same people who notified me of my interview invite. They thanked me and said they'd forward my thoughts to the interviewers. I assume that's the best way to get a message across - sending it to the people who are there to handle communications.
 
LuciusVorenus said:
You guys are talking about emails you send right?

Or are you guys actually sending legit letters and cards through the postal service...
Click to expand...

I always sent legit thank you cards. I'm sure email is equally fine but I think cards are more personal.

zacharyw said:
At one school I had an interview packet with my interviewer's physical mailing address listed, other than that it's all email. I don't trust the USPS.
Click to expand...

Odd. People used snail mail just fine for a loooong time before email.
 
Hmmm.. looking for instant gratification? It's standard NOT to reply to thank-you notes. So quit fussing.



cms said:
I recently had an interview at one of my top schools.

I sent her a thank you letter the next day stating how thankful I am and how the school is my top choice.

I haven't gotten a response back from her and I'm getting kind of worried thinking that maybe she didn't like me..?

I know that a reply to thank you letter does not happen all the time, but I guess I just have expectations for it cuz another interviewer at another school replied back to my thank you letter...

Is this a bad sign that she is not replying back??
Click to expand...
 
I've gotten responses from each of my interviewers (except from the MMI). Some were a few sentences. Some just said 'It was my pleasure - signature.' None of my interviewers have been students.
**I emailed all within 48 hours and got responses within 24 hours.

I wouldn't fuss over it. I know someone who interviews for grad programs and he never responds to thank you notes. Just depends on the person.
 
Last edited:
Sassafrass23 said:
I always sent legit thank you cards. I'm sure email is equally fine but I think cards are more personal.



Odd. People used snail mail just fine for a loooong time before email.
Click to expand...

I got waitlisted at the one school i sent actual thank you cards to. Accepted at the places I emailed a thanks. Small sample size though
 
acceptedMD18 said:
I got waitlisted at the one school i sent actual thank you cards to. Accepted at the places I emailed a thanks. Small sample size though
Click to expand...

Lol that's interesting. I don't really think the thank you notes matter at all. I do think it's nice etiquette (much like thank you notes for a wedding gift) which is why I did it but I don't think that they factor into a decision at all. In fact, I forgot to send any thank you notes at all to the school I was accepted to...
 
acceptedMD18 said:
I got waitlisted at the one school i sent actual thank you cards to. Accepted at the places I emailed a thanks. Small sample size though
Click to expand...

Are you seriously implying that a physical letter would negatively impact the school's decision? Tell me more.

Yeah I always mail an actual letter, because it clearly takes more time and effort to do, and shows far more sincerity and respect than an email. That is just how I was raised. Not saying it makes a difference in the decision, but you know what? From my point of view, sending a thank you note isn't about getting into medical school, really. It's about showing a little class, which is a worthy endeavor for its own sake.
 
I've actually gotten mostly replies from the Thank you emails I sent.

And the interviewers usually mentioned really nice and pleasant things. So I guess it varies.
 
BlueLabel said:
Are you seriously implying that a physical letter would negatively impact the school's decision? Tell me more.

Yeah I always mail an actual letter, because it clearly takes more time and effort to do, and shows far more sincerity and respect than an email. That is just how I was raised. Not saying it makes a difference in the decision, but you know what? From my point of view, sending a thank you note isn't about getting into medical school, really. It's about showing a little class, which is a worthy endeavor for its own sake.
Click to expand...

But imagine an interviewer who interviews several applicants a week every week for the whole season. That could add up to around 50 interviews. Imagine getting a physical note from all of them. That would be overwhelming and get old real fast.

Then again, 50 emails would be annoying as well.

Regardless, I send out thank you emails. But i know for a fact that some interviewers think they are obnoxious and unnecessary (I presume at the end of the interview you've already thanked him/her for their time - why do it again?)
 
It makes sense to me that people would reply to an email but not to a physical note!
 
Sent all my thank you cards via snail mail, heard nothing. Accepted at 2/5 schools, so lack of response doesn't correlate with acceptance/rejection IME.
 
volcomx said:
But imagine an interviewer who interviews several applicants a week every week for the whole season. That could add up to around 50 interviews. Imagine getting a physical note from all of them. That would be overwhelming and get old real fast.

Then again, 50 emails would be annoying as well.

Regardless, I send out thank you emails. But i know for a fact that some interviewers think they are obnoxious and unnecessary (I presume at the end of the interview you've already thanked him/her for their time - why do it again?)
Click to expand...

I see what you're trying to say, but it is just a point of professional etiquette to do.
 
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