Send update addressing interview question

[RogueBanana]

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Hey all,

Just a quick question. What is the consensus on these boards about including (within an update or thank you letter) a short paragraph addressing an interview question you feel you did not appropriately address during the interview? I had an interview today and I really feel like I could have given a better answer to the "why do you want to come here?" Question. But I stumbled over my words a bit and didn't give as detailed an answer as I truly feel. I like a lot of things about this school and I only managed to address how I liked the school's mission and how it matched the way I want to practice. I also love the diverse patient base they serve, the wide range of rotation sites and the sense of community and support the school has.

Would it be appropriate to address this in my thank you letter or did i pretty much hose myself?

It was an MMI if that helps

-Banana

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

I could be completely wrong...but I think this is a terrible idea. I think it makes you look paranoid and unsure. Plus, during interviews, either during or post, I think it is unwise to attract attention to any weaknesses.

But that's just me. If I were you, I would relax and let life play out. Don't look like a headcase.

 

[gyngyn]

Don't do it.

 

[kay815]

I'm going to go with a no, as well.

 

[RogueBanana]

Yeah the more I think about it the worse of an idea it seems!
Just the nerves getting to me. I'm gonna hit the gym and stop thinking about it.

Thanks guys

 

[RogueBanana]

In retrospect my answer wasn't really that bad. Sure it wasn't a shakespearian sonnet, but I managed to get the message I want across.

 

[Shirafune]

In retrospect my answer wasn't really that bad. Sure it wasn't a shakespearian sonnet, but I managed to get the message I want across.

Everybody relives their interviews with a pessimistic attitude sometimes. I'm sure you did better than you thought you did.

 

[OathTaker]

I think about what I should have said after every interview. After beating myself up for a while I have to just let it go and hope for the best. Otherwise, I would go nuts. You have to do the same and be able to let things go instead of harping on them as your following up on an interview question would indicate.

 

[Goro]

Your fate from the interviewer was decided within 30 mins of the interview, if not sooner. Trying to demonstrate that you want post facto consideration to your answers is both needy and telegraphs that you're a special snowflake. I'd make sure that the Adcom rejected you if you pulled something like that. In fact, I have done that.

Only send a thank you letter if your momma raised you to be polite.

Hey all,

Just a quick question. What is the consensus on these boards about including (within an update or thank you letter) a short paragraph addressing an interview question you feel you did not appropriately address during the interview? I had an interview today and I really feel like I could have given a better answer to the "why do you want to come here?" Question. But I stumbled over my words a bit and didn't give as detailed an answer as I truly feel. I like a lot of things about this school and I only managed to address how I liked the school's mission and how it matched the way I want to practice. I also love the diverse patient base they serve, the wide range of rotation sites and the sense of community and support the school has.

Would it be appropriate to address this in my thank you letter or did i pretty much hose myself?

It was an MMI if that helps

-Banana

 

[Holmwood]

Fingers crossed for the fellow banana

 

[TMC07]

I think what is turning the above posters off is the fact that you mentioned adding it into a thank you letter or an update. They're right. You cannot change your response to an interview question after the fact, especially via thank you/update letter. But the topic you want to write about is appropriate for an LOI. I am surprised no one mentioned this. Mind you, LOIs probably don't hold that much weight, but if it makes you feel better, this may be an option if the school permits it. Just don't mention that you are sending it because you do not feel you adequately addressed an interview question. I would also wait a while to send it since you just interviewed today. It would look weird if you sent it too soon.

Personally, I would wait and only send this in an LOI if I were waitlisted, but it's your app, not mine.

 

[RogueBanana]

Yeah, I slept on it and realized I was just looking back negatively (which I do for pretty much every test I take)

I realize now I was just being crazy and my answers were fine. Lack of sleep can really change your interpretation of events!

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

But the topic you want to write about is appropriate for an LOI.

Wat?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Yeah, I slept on it and realized I was just looking back negatively (which I do for pretty much every test I take)

I realize now I was just being crazy and my answers were fine. Lack of sleep can really change your interpretation of events!

Also, even if you did give a ****ty answer, sending an updated answer in no way would help you, no matter what type of letter it is. One of the purposes of the interview is to see how you answer questions under the stress of time constraints. Thinking about it for a couple days and composing a well-written answer does nothing to contribute to that. You have your PS and secondaries to demonstrate your ability to write well.

 

[RogueBanana]

Your fate from the interviewer was decided within 30 mins of the interview, if not sooner. Trying to demonstrate that you want post facto consideration to your answers is both needy and telegraphs that you're a special snowflake. I'd make sure that the Adcom rejected you if you pulled something like that. In fact, I have done that.

Only send a thank you letter if your momma raised you to be polite.

I wasn't planning on saying "oh man I didnt answer that question right can I try again"

I was just considering saying something like "thanks for the interview, I was really impressed by the school, Seeing XYZ things really confirmed that my own views align with the mission and values of the school"

no-special snowflake treatment requested

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I wasn't planning on saying "oh man I didnt answer that question right can I try again"

I was just considering saying something like "thanks for the interview, I was really impressed by the school, Seeing XYZ things really confirmed that my own views align with the mission and values of the school"

no-special snowflake treatment requested

That's not what you wrote in your OP. Your question was how would it look if you addressed an interview question in your letter. That is asking for special snowflake status. A simple thank you for the interview and we would make beautiful music together isn't.

 

[RogueBanana]

That's not what you wrote in your OP. Your question was how would it look if you addressed an interview question in your letter. That is asking for special snowflake status. A simple thank you for the interview and we would make beautiful music together isn't.

Yeah, you can address something without explicitly stating it!
Sorry if that was unclear. I wasn't at all planning to say "I messed up this question"
Just merely expand upon my answer!

my mistake for not being clear enough in my OP

 

[787593]

Hey all,

Just a quick question. What is the consensus on these boards about including (within an update or thank you letter) a short paragraph addressing an interview question you feel you did not appropriately address during the interview? I had an interview today and I really feel like I could have given a better answer to the "why do you want to come here?" Question. But I stumbled over my words a bit and didn't give as detailed an answer as I truly feel. I like a lot of things about this school and I only managed to address how I liked the school's mission and how it matched the way I want to practice. I also love the diverse patient base they serve, the wide range of rotation sites and the sense of community and support the school has.

Would it be appropriate to address this in my thank you letter or did i pretty much hose myself?

It was an MMI if that helps

-Banana

I was asked about a service club that I lead and I neglected to mention 3 awesome events that we've been involved in (blood drives, bone marrow drives, and soup kitchen stuff). The interview was yesterday and I can't stop thinking about it. Unfortunately I think it would look terrible to mention these in a letter. However, I definitely plan on writing thank-you letters because "my momma raised me to be polite."

 

[Goro]

By the time the interviewer sees your communication, it won't matter, because the decision will have been made.

Sorry if that was unclear. I wasn't at all planning to say "I messed up this question"
Just merely expand upon my answer!

my mistake for not being clear enough in my OP

 

[787593]

By the time the interviewer sees your communication, it won't matter, because the decision will have been made.

That's a scary thought. I spent $15 to "priority overnight" fedex my thank you notes to the first school I interviewed at...

 

[RogueBanana]

By the time the interviewer sees your communication, it won't matter, because the decision will have been made.

Got it

 

[RogueBanana]

By the time the interviewer sees your communication, it won't matter, because the decision will have been made.

to be crystal clear this time by "expand" I meant mention "hey I love the place I think i would be a great fit" in a thank you letter I was going to send anyways.

I understand it may not help, I was hoping the ADCOM would see this and note that I have additional reasons for wanting to attend. I'm not hoping to sway this one interviewers opinion.

 

[Goro]

The Adcom wouldn't see the note. Never once has our Admissions dean ever conveyed a communication from an interviewee to the Adcom, and neither has any interviewer, except maybe 1-2x in a negative context.

to be crystal clear this time by "expand" I meant mention "hey I love the place I think i would be a great fit" in a thank you letter I was going to send anyways.
I understand it may not help, I was hoping the ADCOM would see this and note that I have additional reasons for wanting to attend. I'm not hoping to sway this one interviewers opinion.

I hope that you're joking. Humor doesn't travel well over the electrons.

That's a scary thought. I spent $15 to "priority overnight" fedex my thank you notes to the first school I interviewed at...

 

[RogueBanana]

The Adcom wouldn't see the note. Never once has our Admissions dean ever conveyed a communication from an interviewee to the Adcom, and neither has any interviewer, except maybe 1-2x in a negative context.



I hope that you're joking. Humor doesn't travel well over the electrons.

Got it, Thanks goro! helpful as ever.

Side note, they gave me an Email & Postal address for thank you notes. Does it matter if I send a paper note versus an email?

 

[RogueBanana]

Thank you notes in no way help an applicant so that was a pointless $15.

*Unless the school explicits states that they expect thank you notes (Georgetown)

My understanding is that they are another "box" to check.

little benefit, but skipping it looks bad.

 

[787593]

Thank you notes in no way help an applicant so that was a pointless $15.

*Unless the school explicits states that they expect thank you notes (Georgetown)

haha It was to be polite, but the overnight shipping was just in case... 😉

 

[787593]

The Adcom wouldn't see the note. Never once has our Admissions dean ever conveyed a communication from an interviewee to the Adcom, and neither has any interviewer, except maybe 1-2x in a negative context.



I hope that you're joking. Humor doesn't travel well over the electrons.

Maybe I should send YOU a thank you letter, Goro 🤣

 

[RogueBanana]

I'm honestly curious about the situations where an applicant's update was conveyed to the committee in a negative way.

As an applicant you have complete control over your update letters and their content. How on earth did they send something bad enough that the committee was notified?

 

[RogueBanana]

I haven't sent any thank you notes unless I was required to do so.

If you browse old threads you'll see that there is no correlation between sending a thank you note and having better results

To quote @Goro, my momma raised me to be polite.

there may be no correlation, but there's also definitely no harm in it! I'd be more worried about coming off as impolite for not sending one.

 

[Goro]

Nope.

Got it, Thanks goro! helpful as ever.
Side note, they gave me an Email & Postal address for thank you notes. Does it matter if I send a paper note versus an email?

Rather, some schools seem to like seeing people grovel.

My understanding is that they are another "box" to check.
little benefit, but skipping it looks bad.

In both cases, the candidates sent these long, groveling, needy emails, which were not like yours but more like trying to get a second chance at bat.

I'm honestly curious about the situations where an applicant's update was conveyed to the committee in a negative way.

As an applicant you have complete control over your update letters and their content. How on earth did they send something bad enough that the committee was notified?

 

[Lawpy]

wait @Goro so to clarify, it's perfectly fine and acceptable not to send thank you notes to medical schools after an interview unless they are practically begging for them (like Georgetown)?

 

[Goro]

That's what we've been trying to tell you folks for years. It's not merely a pre-med delusion, but an absolute mania in the belief that thank you notes somehow will influence the Adcom's decision.

I throw away letters, but perversely, will response to an email TYL.

wait @Goro so to clarify, it's perfectly fine and acceptable not to send thank you notes to medical schools after an interview unless they are practically begging for them (like Georgetown)?

 

[vellez]

Pre meds are so calculating and conniving. It's disingenuous and annoying. Not necessarily referring to the OP, but...don't be like that.

 

[RogueBanana]

Pre meds are so calculating and conniving. It's disingenuous and annoying. Not necessarily referring to the OP, but...don't be like that.

that seems like a bit of a generalization...

Most of us are just trying to do everything the right way with little or no guidance on the matter. You were one of us once too ya know 😉

 

[vellez]

that seems like a bit of a generalization...

Most of us are just trying to do everything the right way with little or no guidance on the matter. You were one of us once too ya know 😉

It's true because I was a paranoid/annoying/calculating pre-med too and I wish I had taken a chill pill 😉

 

[RogueBanana]

It's true because I was a paranoid/annoying/calculating pre-med too and I wish I had taken a chill pill 😉

There's a lot to be said about hindsight. Even between my thought process now and my thought process when I first submitted my application. The amount of things I realize I was insane to worry about is staggeringly high. I understand that I (and most other pre meds) will look back and laugh at how dumb we were. But if all fears were rational then nobody would worry about anything!