News and views from the interview trail 2011

[Seldon1985]

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Is anyone getting any feedback from programs when you send them a thank you email or even unsolicited feedback? In our field, should we anticipate positive feedback from programs (especially ones that we really liked)? My friends in other fields are getting emails, letters, phone calls from programs, and I just don't know what to expect for us.

Along that same line, for people that are sending thank you emails, do you send them to every faculty interviewer or to just the PD and coordinator? Thanks so much...

 

[erectorspinae]

Is anyone getting any feedback from programs when you send them a thank you email or even unsolicited feedback? In our field, should we anticipate positive feedback from programs (especially ones that we really liked)? My friends in other fields are getting emails, letters, phone calls from programs, and I just don't know what to expect for us.

Along that same line, for people that are sending thank you emails, do you send them to every faculty interviewer or to just the PD and coordinator? Thanks so much...

Give a little to get a little ...

 

[Seldon1985]

Give a little to get a little ...

Sure. So far, not much in terms of response. "Thanks for coming to interview" "Best wishes and keep in touch." As for these Thank You Notes, I email PD and coordinator typically, although I've met some applicants who said they didn't send out any notes.

 

[CyberKnife19]

Is anyone getting any feedback from programs when you send them a thank you email or even unsolicited feedback? In our field, should we anticipate positive feedback from programs (especially ones that we really liked)? My friends in other fields are getting emails, letters, phone calls from programs, and I just don't know what to expect for us.

Along that same line, for people that are sending thank you emails, do you send them to every faculty interviewer or to just the PD and coordinator? Thanks so much...

I'm one year removed from the game, but I thought I would contribute...

I did not receive any feedback post-interview from any of the 12 programs that I interviewed at. I get the feeling that in our field, spots are so difficult to come by that programs KNOW that they will get a highly qualified applicant and there are very few fields in medicine (Derm, Plastics, ENT, etc.) where you can say that. Therefore, I don't think many programs feel the need to sent post-interview correspondance.

As far as sending notes, I generally sent one to the Chair and the PD at all of the programs that I interviewed at. Why? Out of respect and to genuinely thank them for their time and interest in me as a potential resident of theirs.

For my top few choices, I sent thank you notes to all of the members that I interviewed with. Did it work? It's hard to say how much it helped, but I feel very blessed to say that I matched at my dream program and top choice. Best of luck to all of you and congratulations for finding the best field in medicine. 🙂

 

[Seldon1985]

I'm one year removed from the game, but I thought I would contribute...

I did not receive any feedback post-interview from any of the 12 programs that I interviewed at. I get the feeling that in our field, spots are so difficult to come by that programs KNOW that they will get an highly qualified applicant and there are very few fields in medicine (Derm, Plastics, ENT, etc.) where you can say that. Therefore, I don't think many programs feel the need to sent post-interview correspondance.

As far as sending notes, I generally sent one to the Chair and the PD at all of the programs that I interviewed at. Why? Out of respect and to genuinely thank them for their time and interest in me as a potential resident of theirs.

For my top few choices, I sent thank you notes to all of the members that I interviewed with. Did it work? It's hard to say how much it helped, but I feel very blessed to say that I matched at my dream program and top choice. Best of luck to all of you and congratulations for finding the best field in medicine. 🙂

Cyberknife,

Thank you so much for the feedback! Very helpful. Did you send thank you emails or snail mail letters? When you say you received no feedback, I assume that also includes for your top program?

 

[erectorspinae]

Sure. So far, not much in terms of response. "Thanks for coming to interview" "Best wishes and keep in touch." As for these Thank You Notes, I email PD and coordinator typically, although I've met some applicants who said they didn't send out any notes.

Hah sorry for giving you a hard time. I'm guilty of it too, but it seems like our year more than most, and definitely compared to other specialty forums, send out a question then disappears into the ether. Maybe out of worry that somehow somewhere someone is going to read their post, trace it back to them and then ding them. Doesn't seem good for community.

Anyway I usually go the PD and coordinator route. I feel odd emailing thank yous to the 8 interviewers some places have, and don't usually want to make a judgement call on who to send. I haven't been getting much in the way of postinterview correspondence, but don't really expect it. I know several people who matched at their #1's and heard nothing until match day.

 

[RadRadRad]

Its been a few years for me, but I only recall getting communication from one program after the interviews (this feedback was unsolicited and very positive). I did not match there (I know b/c it was my first choice). I ended up matching at my third choice and received no feedback from them or any other program.

My point is don't expect any feedback and if you get it don't assume it means anything.

 

[CyberKnife19]

Cyberknife,

Thank you so much for the feedback! Very helpful. Did you send thank you emails or snail mail letters? When you say you received no feedback, I assume that also includes for your top program?

Seldon,
Personally, I don't think that typing out an e-mail shows a great amount of appreciation and/or sincerity towards the program for considering you as a potential resident. Maybe I am old school, but I wrote a short, hand-written note (3-4 sentences, max) to the PD and Chair at all of the programs that I interviewed at. Did it help? Probably not, but I just felt like it was the right thing to do.

Correct, I did not receive any post-interview feedback from any program, including the program to which I matched. With intern year half over, it's only 5.5 more months until I move to my new location and begin training! 🙂

 

[Seldon1985]

Hah sorry for giving you a hard time. I'm guilty of it too, but it seems like our year more than most, and definitely compared to other specialty forums, send out a question then disappears into the ether. Maybe out of worry that somehow somewhere someone is going to read their post, trace it back to them and then ding them. Doesn't seem good for community.

Anyway I usually go the PD and coordinator route. I feel odd emailing thank yous to the 8 interviewers some places have, and don't usually want to make a judgement call on who to send. I haven't been getting much in the way of postinterview correspondence, but don't really expect it. I know several people who matched at their #1's and heard nothing until match day.

No problem at all, and I appreciate your message!

 

[Seldon1985]

Anyone know how many applicants Case Western and Univ of Virginia are interviewing this year and for how many spots?

 

[Seldon1985]

After each interview I sent out thank you notes and never got any feedback. Wasn't expecting any really. Prior to submitting a rank list, maybe 2 weeks or so, I sent out emails to program directors at my top 4 expressing high interest and i heard back positively and rather quickly from 3 of them. Nothing major, just a line or two. Handwritten letters are nice but email is quick and painless for PDs to respond to as well.

Thanks! I apologize if this question is too personal, but did you match at a place that did positively respond to your email? Many thanks again for your input...

 

[Gfunk6]

Thanks! I apologize if this question is too personal, but did you match at a place that did positively respond to your email? Many thanks again for your input...

I would strongly encourage applicants AGAINST changing their rank list based on feedback from programs. I personally have experience where programs called me and made highly misleading assurances which prompted me to change my rank list. This was a big mistake but fortunately things panned out in the end.

Don't trust anything a program tells you!

 

[Pewl]

Don't trust anything a program tells you!

I highly highly highly concur with this. Do NOT believe a thing they tell you unless it is signed and in writing. But even then......

 

[pathway]

Any advice on what to tell your #2 program? #3/4?

I've heard telling #1 makes a difference, but if you tell a school they are "in your top 3" or "I would love to come to X" does that help or hurt you in any way?

Thanks

 

[bobloblaw]

my take on the thank you notes:

- a lot of people send them
- they usually don't make a big impression either way
- they probably make the most sense if you have a specific message you want to convey or remind the program director of (i.e. if you are interviewing at a program in a less-desirable location, remind the program director of the reason why you are desperate to move to a part of the country that most other people do not gravitate towards)
- email and snail mail are probably equivalent, but if you do send a note, try to send it before the end of the interview season when the programs sit down to make their rank lists

also, remember to be nice to EVERYONE at your interviews (front desk staff, secretaries, nurses, residents, and faculty).

 

[bobloblaw]

If you are not able to say that a place is your #1, it might not be good to be specific about rank order. Would probably be better to express your enthusiasm for a program without effectively saying "you are my third choice."

Any advice on what to tell your #2 program? #3/4?

I've heard telling #1 makes a difference, but if you tell a school they are "in your top 3" or "I would love to come to X" does that help or hurt you in any way?

Thanks