Post-Interview Communication

[bivvie]

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Does anyone have any insight into the emails, letters, and cards we get from programs after interviewing? I know some places don't send any, and I'm assuming some send them to everyone, but are there still programs out there that only send them to top applicants?

I'm not going to let these "love letters" affect my ROL, but it would be nice to get an idea if they have ANY meaning whatsoever so I get a better idea of my chances.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Does anyone have any insight into the emails, letters, and cards we get from programs after interviewing? I know some places don't send any, and I'm assuming some send them to everyone, but are there still programs out there that only send them to top applicants?

I'm not going to let these "love letters" affect my ROL, but it would be nice to get an idea if they have ANY meaning whatsoever so I get a better idea of my chances.

Email from PD that has your name wrong and says "Thank you for your interest in our program. We hope to see you here next year." - probably not so reliable that you're ranked highly.

Handwritten letter sent FEDX from department chair that is copied to your mother and says "We expect to see you here and are planning on your faculty appointment after your fellowship here." - probably a bit more reliable, but not certain you're ranked highly.

Round trip ticket for a week in Vegas sent by program so you can hang out with the president of the medical school - I'd feel good about this one.

 

[DBMD]

Hmmm - I haven't heard anything from any pd's - is that a bad thing? Can you post the programs that you've heard from?

 

[DBMD]

Also, are do you hear from them in response to an email thank you that you sent or is it just a random "we love you"?

 

[bivvie]

I use the term "love letters" loosely. They simply stated things like "you'd be a great fit", "we would love to have you join our team" "I hope you choose our program" blahblahblah. Nothing obvious that they dont send similar notes to everyone.

These were all sent to me without sending them anything first. They also weren't all from PDs. One was from the chairman, others from associate PDs or other faculty I interviewed with.

The programs I've heard from were all in the Ohio river valley/Ohio vicinity.

 

[NTF]

I use the term "love letters" loosely. They simply stated things like "you'd be a great fit", "we would love to have you join our team" "I hope you choose our program" blahblahblah. Nothing obvious that they dont send similar notes to everyone.

These were all sent to me without sending them anything first. They also weren't all from PDs. One was from the chairman, others from associate PDs or other faculty I interviewed with.

The programs I've heard from were all in the Ohio river valley/Ohio vicinity.

I think in general you have to take these emails with a grain of salt. It doesn't matter anyways because the MATCH algorithm is formulated to benefit your preferences so these emails should have no bearing on your rank list.

At my institution I've heard one PD (not one of the categorical peds ones) say they're pretty selective about who they interview so that by that point they'd be really happy landing anyone they interview (barring something disqualifying happen at the interview). Because of that this person felt they could be effusive to every interviewed applicant and still be sincere. So from that standpoint these emails tell you nothing because you'll get the same language whether you're ranked #1 or last.

 

[bivvie]

That's what I figured. And like I said, it's not affecting my ranking at all...it would only be affecting my confidence in whether I'll get one of my top choices.
(Well, one of the letters did bring up some things from my application that I thought were cool of them to bring up as no one else has...so that made me like them more.) I just want to know if I'm at all special 🙄 haha