Post Interview Thank you Letters

[halethsonofhama]

I want to send thank you letters to my individual interviewers as well as a student who gave me a tour of the campus, however I have a few questions.

1) Is e-mail acceptable? If not, I assume my snail-mail can still be typed (I have sloppy hand-writing)

2) Obviously I plan to thank them for their time and for making the experience wonderful, yadda yadda yadda.... however, is it acceptable to bring up aspects about yourself that maybe weren't included during the interview (although I'm sure this won't have too much affect on their decision)

3) Should I send each letter individually addressed to each interviewer, or send it to the admissions office and let them distribute.



I know this subject has been posted alot, but the only replies I have found are from people complaining "not another 'thank you note' post!!!"

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[NickNaylor]

not another 'thank you note' post!!!

 

[LRAccord624]

not another 'thank you note' post!!!

Always so helpful lol.

- Email is fine
- Don't include other stuff about yourself bc you didn't/forgot to talk about it in the interview. They probably already sent their documentation to the admissions committee. Even if they haven't, you had your chance during the interview.
- I always sent my thank you's directly to my interviewer but you could do it either way.

 

[halethsonofhama]

Always so helpful lol.
- Don't include other stuff about yourself bc you didn't/forgot to talk about it in the interview. They probably already sent their documentation to the admissions committee. Even if they haven't, you had your chance during the interview.

Point taken. How about bring up an issue you spoke about, and want to highlite (or is it hilight... hi-lite.... highlight?)

Example:

"I really appreciate the information you gave in regards to the service opportinities available at _______. As Missions service was one of the main reasons which attracted me to ______, I am please to hear that there are more opportunities than I originally thought"

I am really thankful for the info he gave me, and at the same time, it emphasizes on of my "Good qualities." Or does that just seem too schemey that he'll see through it?

 

[halethsonofhama]

not another 'thank you note' post!!!

I should have seen that coming. Thanks for the laugh

 

[FearAndInsomnia]

I asked a mentor of mine who was on the ADCOM at a top university for many years if he thought I should send a thank you letter to those who interviewed me. His response, "Forget it! They just don't care."

 

[halethsonofhama]

I asked a mentor of mine who was on the ADCOM at a top university for many years if he thought I should send a thank you letter to those who interviewed me. His response, "Forget it! They just don't care."

I know I wouldn't care. However, I am sending one of my interviewers a sample of my artwork (comics; if that qualifies as art) which he wanted to see during the interview, but I left them at home. I assume that might count for something

 

[LizzyM]

Most interviewers will have submitted their comments within 4 hours of the interview so a thank you note is unlikely to influence the evaluation. However, some interviewers also have decision making powers later in the process and one of them gave me an earful last week about how important it is to say thank you. So for some people involved in this process, it is very important.

Email is great and in this cycle about 70% of those who thank me are using email. The beauty of email is the immediacy -- of the last group I interviewed, I heard from 50% of them by email within 36 hours!

 

[DoctaFuture]

Most interviewers will have submitted their comments within 4 hours of the interview so a thank you note is unlikely to influence the evaluation. However, some interviewers also have decision making powers later in the process and one of them gave me an earful last week about how important it is to say thank you. So for some people involved in this process, it is very important.

Email is great and in this cycle about 70% of those who thank me are using email. The beauty of email is the immediacy -- of the last group I interviewed, I heard from 50% of them by email within 36 hours!

geez 36 hours? that's I feel that's a little too quick. I would send one 48hours+.

 

[halethsonofhama]

However, some interviewers also have decision making powers later in the process

I just e-mailed my interviewers, but instead of e-mailing them directly, I had to e-mail them to the Assistant Dean of Admissions and she would pass them along. So assuming she is snoopy (and I can't blame her) she will be reading them; I'm sure there is gonna be some sway on her part.

The beauty of email is the immediacy -- of the last group I interviewed, I heard from 50% of them by email within 36 hours!

I interviewed on the 11th. I though that 2 days later was more acceptable. Following the age old dating advice, "don't call them immediately because you don't want to see too desperate." That and "don't honk when you show up. Go in and meet her parents."

 

[moneymill4569]

I've had most of my interviews on Fridays and sent thank you letters/emails the following Monday. So definitely not within 36 hours. I have done this based on personal intuition and, furthermore, I think it would be bold to say there is a "wrong" time to send a thank you letter.

 

[Kalyx]

The purpose of sending thank-you notes is not to influence the admissions committee; as LizzyM noted, your interviewers will probably have already submitted their evaluations by the time you send any thank-you notes or e-mails. Doing so, however, is a mark of professional behavior. Firstly, there's a lot to be genuinely grateful for: your interviewers took time out of their research and/or clinical work to assist with the admissions process through interviewing. They might have just finished a 30-hour shift. They have sacrificed some of their own time to be involved in this hard, lengthy process of selecting aspiring physicians. Secondly, when you attend interviews, open houses, conferences, etc., it's usually considered impolite to neglect sending some form of thank-you note.

Think of it this way: someone's perceiving your *lack* of a thank-you note as unprofessional is far worse than someone's receiving your thank-you note and thinking "Oh, another one of those."

~Kalyx

 

[pdxjazz]

I sent thank you cards to my interviewers, and Starbucks gift cards along with thank you cards to the student hosts. Don't expect anything for it, just thought it would be nice. Also bought student hosts dinner whenever I landed at a reasonable hour, but that was rare as my flights were usually all day. Really appreciate those student hosts.

 

[Compass]

I sent thank you cards to my interviewers, and Starbucks gift cards along with thank you cards to the student hosts. Don't expect anything for it, just thought it would be nice. Also bought student hosts dinner whenever I landed at a reasonable hour, but that was rare as my flights were usually all day. Really appreciate those student hosts.

This.

I think e-mail is kinda corny, so I go with the traditional card as well. It's a $2 investment, and even though its overdone, it's not like $2 is a major blow when compared to your secondary fee.

 

[RabbitMD]

I've had most of my interviews on Fridays and sent thank you letters/emails the following Monday. So definitely not within 36 hours. I have done this based on personal intuition and, furthermore, I think it would be bold to say there is a "wrong" time to send a thank you letter.

When would be too late to send thank you notes? I had an interview 10 days ago and am really wishing I had sent some to this school... is it possible that sending them this late could end up hurting me?

One of my interviewers was an admissions person... so dumb for not sticking one in the mail right away. 🙁

Going to send today unless the consensus is that I should skip it...

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[pixiefh]

I sent snail-mail, handwritten letters to both of my interviewers, my student host and the woman who invited me to the interview (and described the interview day to me in person). They probably got there 2-3 days after the interview. I think delaying 24 hours is plenty. I would write them WHILE on the campus immediately after the interviews so they are fresh in your mind.

Just as another poster said, it's NOT to influence the adcom/interviewers but to show respect and professionalism. And even though my handwriting is fairly awful, I feel that it is more personal than a typed or emailed letter. I cited unique things we spoke of in the interviews and also thanked them for their time.

After my student host received the letter, she texted me and said thanks and she enjoyed my company and if I got in she would be glad to help me out. (I also bought her dinner the night before out of courtesy and appreciation).

tl;dr - it's a professional thing, I would recommend snail mail the day after the interview

 

[EBTrailRunner]

When would be too late to send thank you notes? I had an interview 10 days ago and am really wishing I had sent some to this school... is it possible that sending them this late could end up hurting me?

One of my interviewers was an admissions person... so dumb for not sticking one in the mail right away. 🙁

Going to send today unless the consensus is that I should skip it...

Thanks in advance. 🙂

10 days is a long time. Generally, your interviewer should receive a thank you note (should you choose to send one) within a week (sooner if you're sending an email). You could mail a note to your interviewer today, but if it were me, I wouldn't bother since it's been about a week and a half.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

I sent snail-mail, handwritten letters to both of my interviewers, my student host and the woman who invited me to the interview (and described the interview day to me in person). They probably got there 2-3 days after the interview. I think delaying 24 hours is plenty. I would write them WHILE on the campus immediately after the interviews so they are fresh in your mind.

Just as another poster said, it's NOT to influence the adcom/interviewers but to show respect and professionalism. And even though my handwriting is fairly awful, I feel that it is more personal than a typed or emailed letter. I cited unique things we spoke of in the interviews and also thanked them for their time.

After my student host received the letter, she texted me and said thanks and she enjoyed my company and if I got in she would be glad to help me out. (I also bought her dinner the night before out of courtesy and appreciation).

tl;dr - it's a professional thing, I would recommend snail mail the day after the interview

I don't know if I agree with that. I think it's best to go home and digest the interview. Plus, you don't want to get caught writing your thank you note immediately after as it may appear disingenuous.

 

[MIAYO]

This.

I think e-mail is kinda corny, so I go with the traditional card as well. It's a $2 investment, and even though its overdone, it's not like $2 is a major blow when compared to your secondary fee.

They also sell those big packets of generic cards that only say Thank You on the cover. They are way cheaper than 2 bucks a pop. I think they were 5$ for 80. I have been bringing them to my interviews and writing my thank you card at the end of the interview day and handing them in before I leave. This way I don't forget and don't have to worry about it later. I recommend this to future interviewees.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I definitely regret not sending thankyous to all of my interviewers in retrospect. I don't think it made a difference, but I feel like it wasn't very respectful not to. I will absolutely be doing it for all of my residency interviews. Its just good breeding, as I was once told.

 

[mmmcdowe]

When would be too late to send thank you notes? I had an interview 10 days ago and am really wishing I had sent some to this school... is it possible that sending them this late could end up hurting me?

One of my interviewers was an admissions person... so dumb for not sticking one in the mail right away. 🙁

Going to send today unless the consensus is that I should skip it...

Thanks in advance. 🙂

Send it, it will not affect you either way but they deserve to receive one.

 

[glasshalfMD]

not another 'thank you note' post!!!

my thoughts exactly! 😴

 

[gatorade848]

the problem with my interviews is that they only offer me the name of the interviewers without any contact information. If I want to send them email/snail mail I pretty much have to track them down, which feel borderline stalker... what should I do?

 

[glasshalfMD]

the problem with my interviews is that they only offer me the name of the interviewers without any contact information. If I want to send them email/snail mail I pretty much have to track them down, which feel borderline stalker... what should I do?

Address it to the Office of Admissions c/o [interviewer name]... they'll make sure he/she gets it.

 

[gmcguitar4]

not another 'thank you note' post!!!

yes, thank you wheelchair jimmy.

 

[mauberley]

my thoughts exactly! 😴

Well, this was a bump from a year ago. But at the time, sure.

 

[glasshalfMD]

Well, this was a bump from a year ago. But at the time, sure.

hahaha, touche, friend. regardless, so many stinking thank you note threads!

 

[235788]

yes, thank you wheelchair jimmy.

lol wut

 

[gmcguitar4]

lol wut