This has probably been asked before, but I couldn't find the thread. What are your opinions on sending thank you cards after an interview? Personally, it strikes me as being a little tacky, but I've heard from some that it's almost expected from interviewees. It doesn't help that, even if I did have to write one, I wouldn't know what to say! ^^;
I also find it tacky and didn't write any until after acceptances had gone out. Your withdrawl letter is always a good time to thank everyone.
Why would it be tacky? The people who interview you give up their valuable time voluntarily in the hope that they will get to know you beyond the numbers presented on your applications. At least, thank them for that. More, it is a priviledge and not a right to be interviewed. You should thank them for that too. There are other reasons, but you get the drift. Personally, I didn't send any thank-you letter because I already thanked them when the interview ended. If you feel that you are sincere in thanking them, write the thank-you letter. If you are doing it because everyone else is doing it, then do it too because it will give you peace of mind. The difference is that a sincere thank-you letter would probably sound more convincing than a less-than-sincere one. The point is to do what you want to do. Isn't that what makes you an individual? Good luck!
WOW DRAKO!!!!! CONGRATS BUDDY, YOU GOT INTO UCSF??!?!?!?!?!!? WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPIEEEE congratulations..when was this?! damn I interviewed there, but I got the boot but i'm so happy for you...I guess we won't be classmates then....
I am writing thank-you notes to those interviewers who took the time and effort to make me feel comfortable. I've interviewed with a couple of people who have tried desperately to make me feel like an ass and they ain't getting any. Are you kids sending actual letters, or thank-you cards? I've heard both will work....
Well, I would certainly thank them at the conclusion of the interview, but to me, sending a note just seems a little over the top. I understand that not everyone gets an interview, so it's something I should be (and am) grateful for. However, everyone who gets into the class has to have an interview, so it's something that the schools have to do anyway because it's a part of the process. I just feel like I would be groveling a bit for thanking them for doing their job, and I also don't want to burden them even more with useless notes that don't really convey any vital information about me. Having said that, I think that if I did send out a thank-you, I would send a card. This way I can keep it short, and they'll know exactly what it is before they open it. Congratulations, Drako!
Sending a thank you note before decisions have been made is like telling your professor that her class was wonderful immediately after taking the final. The prof knows it doesn't mean a thing and she could even find it annoying. If your intentions truly are the honorable ones the posters above mentioned (which they almost definitely aren't), you'll be fine with waiting until the end to thank people. Now a polite and brief verbal "thank you for time" following the interview is certainly appropriate and very different from the additional paperwork created by a postal letter.
The only thank you letters I wrote were to schools from which I was eventually rejected. I'm not saying writing thank you letters won't help, just that it probably won't make much of a difference.
I have not yet gone through the interview stage, but this is my take on the situation... Although it is a nice gesture, I highly doubt that it would really sway their decision one way or another. I (knock on wood ) will be interviewing this upcoming year, and I plan on giving a sincere "Thank You" at the end of each interview. If I have an exceptional interview experience at a school, and the interviewer is unusually helpful/friendly/generally excellent, then I may consider sending a card, but most likely not to every school.
