Post interview thank you notes!

[wind0angel]

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Hi everyone!

After my interview I received a card from the prof. I'm just wondering what every thinks post interview thank you notes should be: email or snail mail? I need to send some out and I have no idea which form is better 🙁

Thanks!

 

[DAPI]

Hi everyone!

I'm just wondering what every thinks post interview thank you notes should be: email or snail mail? I need to send some out and I have no idea which form is better 🙁

Thanks!

Doesn't matter.

This has been discussed at length on here. Basically if you want the interviewer to get them before the committee meeting, its best to send them by email right after your interview - like same day. Past that, its not going to make a difference.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Probably should merge this with MedPR's topic. But thank-you notes will most likely not make a difference unless something really stands out - good OR bad. So just shoot a short e-mail and go on with your life.

EDIT: NVM, MedPR's is about post-acceptance. But yeah, this has been discussed ad nauseum, so fish around and you'll find plenty more opinions.

 

[def1]

I sent thank you notes to the first 3 schools but I have since stopped. Its not that I don't appreciate the interviewers but I always end the interview by telling them how much of a pleasure it was talking to them and thanking them for their time.

Why send a letter saying the same thing?

 

[pre med 2014]

I sent thank you notes to the first 3 schools but I have since stopped. Its not that I don't appreciate the interviewers but I always end the interview by telling them how much of a pleasure it was talking to them and thanking them for their time.

Why send a letter saying the same thing?

Adds another layer for them to remember you.

 

[MedPR]

I sent thank you notes to the first 3 schools but I have since stopped. Its not that I don't appreciate the interviewers but I always end the interview by telling them how much of a pleasure it was talking to them and thanking them for their time.

Why send a letter saying the same thing?

Because it's courteous.

 

[Cuongoff]

Do you guys normally get a reply that acknowledges they've read the email?

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Do you guys normally get a reply that acknowledges they've read the email?

I've sent a few and I've only received one response. I'd imagine they're too busy to really craft a reply, which is fine by me.

 

[def1]

Because it's courteous.

It seems more of a nuisance then anything. They already are incredibly busy with reading everyone's PS, applications, lor, etc and then imagine if all 800 students they interview also send a thank you note, you are adding yet another thing for them to be bothered with.

There is absolutely no reason for it, especially if you offer a firm handshake and thank them for their time after the interview. Its a bit redundant to send another letter saying the exact same thing.

That's not to discourage people from sending thank you notes, but I doubt they are even read most of the time.

In essence if it makes you feel good to write a letter then you should, but i dont think it will affect you in the slightest and I don't think not writing one is being discourteous.

*edit - I should mention that I fully plan to send thank you notes AFTER I get an acceptance. Im sure most interviewers would appreciate that kind of update from you.

 

[MilMD01]

Yeah.. I sent out thank you letters to the first two schools.
Then... stopped.

I think it's kind of generic/dumb. EVERYONE does it and they all say the SAME things. I think a simple post interview thank you, in person is sufficient. Let them know you appreciated their time & consideration and you should be good to go.

 

[NickNaylor]

The reality is that no matter how heartfelt and genuine you might be in your thank you notes, they will still likely come across as trite and "formish" because they're so common and say the same thing (similar to PSs). I wouldn't say that it irritates me, but I don't think anything of it if I do or don't receive a thank you note.

If you feel really compelled to send notes, then do so. E-mail is usually best (so that they can be quickly and easily deleted, heh). If you're on the fence, don't feel like you have to do it.

 

[Narmerguy]

The reality is that no matter how heartfelt and genuine you might be in your thank you notes, they will still likely come across as trite and "formish" because they're so common and say the same thing (similar to PSs). I wouldn't say that it irritates me, but I don't think anything of it if I do or don't receive a thank you note.

If you feel really compelled to send notes, then do so. E-mail is usually best (so that they can be quickly and easily deleted, heh). If you're on the fence, don't feel like you have to do it.

Yeah I really agree. I don't use thank you notes unless I really formed an actual connection with an individual. Sending them out willy nilly just seems empty and perhaps disingenuous but that's probably a little too strong.

 

[NickNaylor]

Yeah I really agree. I don't use thank you notes unless I really formed an actual connection with an individual. Sending them out willy nilly just seems empty and perhaps disingenuous but that's probably a little too strong.

Yup. I know, I know, I really connected with you too, I'm glad that I was able to give you real insight into what it's like to be a student here, and I'm more than happy to take time out of my "busy day" to talk with you. Now scurry along, and good luck with the rest of your apps.

 

[Cuongoff]

I used it to also update my interviewer. I don't know if that was appropriate or not. My abstract was accepted to a second conference so I thought that'd be important to mention.

 

[NickNaylor]

I used it to also update my interviewer. I don't know if that was appropriate or not. My abstract was accepted to a second conference so I thought that'd be important to mention.

It's not a bad idea, but I would definitely follow up with an actual update letter if necessary. It's entirely possible that your interviewer didn't read your note completely or didn't mention that in his/her evaluation, so those evaluating your app may not actually get that info.

 

[cheechootrain]

You can always decide on things like this by putting yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you received a train load of thank you notes as you try to review other applications? Probably indifferent.

 

[Narmerguy]

Yup. I know, I know, I really connected with you too, I'm glad that I was able to give you real insight into what it's like to be a student here, and I'm more than happy to take time out of my "busy day" to talk with you. Now scurry along, and good luck with the rest of your apps.

😛 I can actually visualize the exact language in the thank you notes.