Post-interview question

[PhakeDoc]

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So from what I gather, thank yous seem to be more specialty-specific. What do you neurology residents/attendings prefer in your programs? I thought just an email to each of the interviewers would be fine, but then I read thank you cards to EACH interviewer! 😱 I maybe send out 2 pieces of mail a year, don't send cards to siblings/parents/friends birthdays, etc. In fact, I still have 0.31 cent stamps! Thus, I find the act of having to snail mail cards to be repulsive at best, but will follow the general consensus.

So, what's the verdict... ?

 

[typhoonegator]

You could probably get away with email. However, the tried-and-true handwritten thank you note is probably still the gold-standard. Don't forget to send one to the residency coordinator, who often holds more sway than you might realize.

I sent personal thank-you's to everyone who interviewed me, and saved emails for follow-up questions and to keep in touch after the interview.

By the way, it helps to reaffirm your interest in the program after you have left. You'd be surprised how "needy" the programs are -- they really want to know whether you enjoyed your visit or not. You shouldn't feel like you need to verbally commit or do anything illegal to the match, but it certainly can advance your position to email the PD and say that you really enjoyed your visit, and could definitely see yourself being happy and successful at that institution. Do this a few times, leading up to the match. Otherwise, it can seem like you came for the interview and then fell off the face of the earth, leaving the program guessing as to whether you would even consider their program, even though you might have loved it. Don't let that happen!

 

[PhakeDoc]

First of all, let me just say I'm not a whiner. However, I do think in having as close to 50-50 fairness in this process as possible. All this wink wink nudge nudge in the programs' favor certainly deviates from this, IMHO. One of the big purposes of having a "match" system is to make things standardized and get away from "dealmaking", etc.

I'm not trying to be nit-picky about what you wrote, but the whole programs being "needy" does aggravate me. I'm needy too...who's placating me? I showed my interest in a program by shelling out the $$$ to go interview while I take time off from school (no, I'm not in a cush month off situation by any means, unlike many others - sorry can't explain further without giving myself away). By giving positive comments while I was there at the interview and striving to keep a low carbon footprint, relying on email (IMHO) should be PLENTY to keep a program happy.

While I will suck it up and do as you state, I must respectfully say the process is completely stacked against the applicant in favor of the program.

One day when I'm a PD...

Thank you for clarifying, however. Time to go out and by a gross of cards seeing as how there'll be both neuro and prelim medicine interviews!