Thank You Card after the interview

[Gpan]

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Should I send them to the receptionist right after the interview or should I wait a few days? If waiting is the option, then how do I get the addresses? Thanks

 

[Begaster]

You send thank you cards? That's the lamest thing I have ever heard.

 

[namsoon]

You send thank you cards? That's the lamest thing I have ever heard.

It's actually quite a common practice.

Should I send them to the receptionist right after the interview or should I wait a few days? If waiting is the option, then how do I get the addresses? Thanks

I've done both, though I believe the proper etiquette is to wait a bit so that the interviewer doesn't receive it on the same day. Dunno if that's a hard rule or where it came from, but that is what I've heard. In the cases where I've waited, I put them in care of the admissions office.

 

[Phosphorus]

,

 

[ColKurtz]

more lame than your avatar?

oh snap

 

[MDROCKSTAR]

oh no he didn't!

 

[j12]

Thank you cards are a good idea. I have had schools where my interviewers contacted me after being accepted to congratulate me and they all commented on my thank you cards. It's polite.

I normally try to send them as soon as possible after my interviewer, but I use snail mail so it takes a while for them to get there anyways. You can send it to the interview's name c/o the admissions office and they will get it to them. Some people do email. I think either is fine. But with email it might be appropriate to wait a day to send it.

 

[nathan575]

I sent a thank you letter a couple days after each interview. Completely appropriate and polite. Have heard several stories about how thank you cards have made the difference on a difficult adcom choices.

 

[Law2Doc]

It's actually quite a common practice.

Not only are they a common practice, but quite a few schools will even give you contact addresses where they should be forwarded, if you decide to send one. You are interviewing to get into a profession, and professionals frequently send thank you notes after interviews. It won't affect your chances one iota; but that isn't the point -- it is just good manners.

 

[M.Furfur]

How about sending a thank you email?

 

[Law2Doc]

How about sending a thank you email?

While there is nothing wrong with it per se, if you want to go with the etiquette experts, you only use email if the interviewer has given you their email address or otherwise indicated that they like to receive things by email. Bear in mind that lot of the older interviewer types aren't as computer oriented as the typical 20 year old interviewee. I've seen computers in clinician offices that are gathering an awful lot of dust.

 

[thebeatblitz]

I carried thank you cards to all the schools that I interviewed at. After the day was over, I just asked a separate department to use their interdepartmental mail to deliver it. Takes a couple of days, works well.

 

[inaminute]

I carried thank you cards to all the schools that I interviewed at. After the day was over, I just asked a separate department to use their interdepartmental mail to deliver it. Takes a couple of days, works well.

sheesh, tacky---can't you afford stamps?

 

[thebeatblitz]

Probably, what's postage these days: 41c? It was just easier to remember that way; if I don't do things right away, I tend to procrastinate until a thank you letter would have become a bit awkward.

 

[inaminute]

Probably, what's postage these days: 41c? It was just easier to remember that way; if I don't do things right away, I tend to procrastinate until a thank you letter would have become a bit awkward.

"gosh, sorry about that Mr Patient! I can't remember squat unless I do it right away, so I guess your staples are rusted to your skull. Damn. I should get myself a planner..."

 

[Begaster]

more lame than your avatar?

You don't like the Soof?

I still stand by the notion that sending a thank you card does little more than make you look like a sycophant.

 

[Doublecortin]

Not only are they a common practice, but quite a few schools will even give you contact addresses where they should be forwarded, if you decide to send one. You are interviewing to get into a profession, and professionals frequently send thank you notes after interviews. It won't affect your chances one iota; but that isn't the point -- it is just good manners.

😱 REally? then who cares, really.

I mean how many people would still send their TY notes if that were absolutely true? I mean, let's be honest here, most people do it 'cause they think that might give them that extra "push" to get 'em into the "admit" pile

 

[thebeatblitz]

"gosh, sorry about that Mr Patient! I can't remember squat unless I do it right away, so I guess your staples are rusted to your skull. Damn. I should get myself a planner..."

Pretty much. Scary who they let in, isn't it?

 

[plauto]

You don't like the Soof?

I still stand by the notion that sending a thank you card does little more than make you look like a sycophant.

You don't have to but if you do you're showing appreciation of the time the doc volunteered to interview you.

As far as the note itself, I believe there is nothing better than just a couple of sentences strictly handwritten. I've always asked if it was ok to send them a thank you letter at the end of the interview and the interviewers gladly gave me their business card with their address on it.

And the interdepartmental mail thing....oh boy that's cheesy.

 

[dd128]

😱 REally? then who cares, really.

I mean how many people would still send their TY notes if that were absolutely true? I mean, let's be honest here, most people do it 'cause they think that might give them that extra "push" to get 'em into the "admit" pile

At least someone is honest on here

Personally I'm all for being polite, but sometimes I forgot or never got around to it. So I sent some to a few schools and not to others...hope they don't get jealous

 

[jkl123]

q

 

[dd128]

YOU GUYS SERIOUS???? thank you card are ESSENTIAL. they put it in your file!

Why would a personal letter you're sending to someone go in your admissions file?

 

[go lakers]

i know that some schools do have a checkbox in your file for whether or not you send a thank you card. i dont know how it actually plays into a decision, but it is there.

 

[just a girl]

I carried thank you cards to all the schools that I interviewed at. After the day was over, I just asked a separate department to use their interdepartmental mail to deliver it. Takes a couple of days, works well.

I don't understand, do you not personalize them? I always send notes and I always refer to something specific and we talked about...

Also, schools do tend to have some way of recording thank you notes and some of them do in fact put them in your file. I've kind of think it's weird too.

 

[thebeatblitz]

I don't understand, do you not personalize them? I always send notes and I always refer to something specific and we talked about...

Also, schools do tend to have some way of recording thank you notes and some of them do in fact put them in your file. I've kind of think it's weird too.

I don't quite understand your question. I wrote them after my interview day was over, so if I felt it was necessary, I included some nifty anecdote concerning how we connected. All I did was drop it off in interdepartmental mail. Do you understand how interdepartmental mail works?

 

[qkqh]

i know that some schools do have a checkbox in your file for whether or not you send a thank you card. i dont know how it actually plays into a decision, but it is there.

aside from anecdotal evidence, which schools do u know for sure does this?

 

[Maxprime]

"I thought his numbers and EC's were incredible, he was very personable and we got along extremely well during the hour of conversation we had during the interview. However . . . without a thank you letter, I can tell this is not the kind of individual I want to be associated with."

 

[just a girl]

I don't quite understand your question. I wrote them after my interview day was over, so if I felt it was necessary, I included some nifty anecdote concerning how we connected. All I did was drop it off in interdepartmental mail. Do you understand how interdepartmental mail works?

So you wrote the letter while you were still at the interview day, after you interviewed?

 

[Corker]

Agree with Law2Doc:

As with all good manners, it is not necessary, but it definitely shows class.

...+1 for a sincere thank you note.

 

[Skymastre]

I agree,

writing a thank you note might not get you in, but not writing one could keep you out.

You've all taken the hardest science classes and "passed" one of the most difficult exams that can be taken...and you can't be bothered to remember to pick up a pen and mail a card?

A younger doc probably isn't going to care, but if you interview with a +55 man it probably matters a lot...

What would your grandfather think...

 

[DudeMD]

Which one is more common, email or card? What do you write in the thank you card?

 

[Skymastre]

If I were of the mind to give T-you notes (and I am), I would send a card. Specifically, I picked up stationary from the store that was of VERY simple design and on high quality paper.

If you were an interviewer, what would you want?

An email, I think, is OK. But, as posted above, I can tell you the 60 year old surgeon who interviewed me doesn't know a mouse from a keyboard.

 

[Skymastre]

In the Tyou I wrote something generic about how I was really excited after learning so much about the school etc. etc. I know you are busy and thank you for your time etc etc.

I think you want to write something that is forgettable. Sending the Tyou is what is important. I've seen long letters that were sent as Tyou, and they are border line LOI. I wouldn't be happy to get one of these.

 

[Tensyle]

i didnt send even one thank you card after my 4 interviews....only e-mails, about one week after.

 

[Skymastre]

I'm sure that its OK to send email or not to send a thank you at all, but why take the chance?

Did you wear a white suit to the interview? 🙂

 

[eagle34]

aside from anecdotal evidence, which schools do u know for sure does this?

georgetown puts the thank you note in your file

 

[Tensyle]

I'm sure that its OK to send email or not to send a thank you at all, but why take the chance?

Did you wear a white suit to the interview? 🙂

lol

 

[167649]

I still stand by the notion that sending a thank you card does little more than make you look like a sycophant.

Wow....classy. I guess some people are more cut out for professional life than others.

 

[Skymastre]

🙂

 

[Doublecortin]

i know that some schools do have a checkbox in your file for whether or not you send a thank you card. i dont know how it actually plays into a decision, but it is there.

WEll, think about it, why would they bother creating a separate form with a checkbox to see if you send a thank you card if it ZERO bearing on their admissions decisions??? I don't think they'd do it just for the hell of it

 

[HanginInThere]

In the Tyou I wrote something generic about how I was really excited after learning so much about the school etc. etc. I know you are busy and thank you for your time etc etc.

I think you want to write something that is forgettable. Sending the Tyou is what is important. I've seen long letters that were sent as Tyou, and they are border line LOI. I wouldn't be happy to get one of these.

Same here (thanks for your time, touch on something specific I liked about the interview/day/school/whatever, looking forward to hearing back from the committe, thanks again), except mine are typed business letters rather than a hand-written notes. Two or three short paragraphs at most. Express your appreciation, show you know how to be professional, and get out. No big essays!

 

[Tensyle]

WEll, think about it, why would they bother creating a separate form with a checkbox to see if you send a thank you card if it ZERO bearing on their admissions decisions??? I don't think they'd do it just for the hell of it

space filler? 😀

 

[Doublecortin]

You don't like the Soof?

I still stand by the notion that sending a thank you card does little more than make you look like a sycophant.

👍

I guess what Begaster and I and other people have a problem with, is that most people write TY notes because they think it might help them gain an acceptance and NOT because they TRULY MEAN it. I don't have a problem with a sincerely written TY note, but most people do it to brownose and kiss a$$ and whatnot . . .

I mean, let's face it, if what Law2Doc said were true, that " It won't affect your chances one iota" (and he may be absolutely right, I don't know) how many people would still do it???

Can't stand pretentious douchebags 👎

 

[167649]

👍

I guess what Begaster and I and other people have a problem with, is that most people write TY notes because they think it might help them gain an acceptance and NOT because they TRULY MEAN it. I don't have a problem with a sincerely written TY note, but most people do it to brownose and kiss a$$ and whatnot . . .

I mean, let's face it, if what Law2Doc said were true, that " It won't affect your chances one iota" how many people would still do it???

Can't stand pretentious douchebags 👎

You are right in a way, but change "people" to "premeds." Many premeds in general lack the maturity, life experience, and professional development necessary to appreciate someone else's sincerity. A lot of premeds only send them because they think it will help their chances. (Which most adcom members say they don't, although at maybe a few schools they carry a tiny, relatively insignificant amount of weight)

Not a lot of premeds would send it just to be sincere, but a true, experinced professional would.

 

[DulyNoted]

You are right in a way, but change "people" to "premeds." Many premeds in general lack the maturity, life experience, and professional development necessary to appreciate someone else's sincerity. A lot of premeds only send them because they think it will help their chances. (Which most adcom members say they don't, although at maybe a few schools they carry a tiny, relatively insignificant amount of weight)

Not a lot of premeds would send it just to be sincere, but a true, experinced professional would.

You last two posters are obviously balanced (w/ chips on both shoulders) pre-meds. When you leave interviews, I'm betting you say something to the effect of "Nice meeting with you, thanks very much for your time." So what is your issue with people that send a note? As others have said, it's relatively standard business/professional protocol. Am I also a bad person (or pretentious douchebag) for keeping my shoes shined and my suit and shirt well pressed? You make no sense.

Thank you notes do get included in your file at more than a handful of schools. At one or more schools, they are rumored to carry a small amount of weight in the final selection process. And yes, I am grateful that my interviewers are giving up a few hours of their time to meet and evaluate me when they could be putting in clinic/research/study hours and bettering their own pocketbooks/careers/grades.

 

[167649]

You last two posters are obviously balanced (w/ chips on both shoulders) pre-meds. When you leave interviews, I'm betting you say something to the effect of "Nice meeting with you, thanks very much for your time." So what is your issue with people that send a note? As others have said, it's relatively standard business/professional protocol. Am I also a bad person (or pretentious douchebag) for keeping my shoes shined and my suit and shirt well pressed? You make no sense.

Thank you notes do get included in your file at more than a handful of schools. At one or more schools, they are rumored to carry a small amount of weight in the final selection process. And yes, I am grateful that my interviewers are giving up a few hours of their time to meet and evaluate me when they could be putting in clinic/research/study hours and bettering their own pocketbooks/careers/grades.

When did I say I don't send them?

 

[majik1213]

You last two posters are obviously balanced (w/ chips on both shoulders) pre-meds. When you leave interviews, I'm betting you say something to the effect of "Nice meeting with you, thanks very much for your time." So what is your issue with people that send a note? As others have said, it's relatively standard business/professional protocol. Am I also a bad person (or pretentious douchebag) for keeping my shoes shined and my suit and shirt well pressed? You make no sense.

Thank you notes do get included in your file at more than a handful of schools. At one or more schools, they are rumored to carry a small amount of weight in the final selection process. And yes, I am grateful that my interviewers are giving up a few hours of their time to meet and evaluate me when they could be putting in clinic/research/study hours and bettering their own pocketbooks/careers/grades.

they probably get the kind of weight an update letter / letter of intent get. They simply show interest. If two candidates are identical in every respect, yet one shows interest, who would you take?

 

[Doublecortin]

You last two posters are obviously balanced (w/ chips on both shoulders) pre-meds. When you leave interviews, I'm betting you say something to the effect of "Nice meeting with you, thanks very much for your time." So what is your issue with people that send a note? As others have said, it's relatively standard business/professional protocol. Am I also a bad person (or pretentious douchebag) for keeping my shoes shined and my suit and shirt well pressed? You make no sense.

Thank you notes do get included in your file at more than a handful of schools. At one or more schools, they are rumored to carry a small amount of weight in the final selection process. And yes, I am grateful that my interviewers are giving up a few hours of their time to meet and evaluate me when they could be putting in clinic/research/study hours and bettering their own pocketbooks/careers/grades.

look, like I said, I have no problem with a sincerely written TY note,

and like I've said before, the interviewer does really do YOU a favor, he does the school/admissions committee a favor by helping out with the admissions process. If anyone, you should send a TY note to the admissions committee for giving you a chance to visit and learn about their school, just my $0.02

 

[167649]

they probably get the kind of weight an update letter / letter of intent get. They simply show interest. If two candidates are identical in every respect, yet one shows interest, who would you take?

Show me two candidates who are identical in every respect and I will send you a dollar.