Thank you cards

This has been reviewed ad nauseum.

Basically, it is good professional ettiquette to return a thank you. I have had two interviews so far, one concerned a single interviewer (she got a thank you) and the other was a three interviewer speed-dating interview (they did not).

Professionally it seems like a good idea, and shouldn't hurt. However, I'm pragmatic, the three interviwers submitted a judgement before I had my first vodka/Gatorade of the evening. They are busy people, and I'm sure a thank you would have made them "feel good", but I'm not in that business.

It's up to you. Use what has gotten you this far to discern when and where you dole out the "thank-yous."

 

I've had four interviews and I haven't sent any thank you cards. I'm sure I won't send any in any future interviews also. I just don't feel strongly enough to make the effort after an interview.

 

It's sort of sad that this topic comes up over and over again endlessly. Someone should make a sticky already, and link some of these threads. But to rehash what I and a zillion others have written over and over again: Bottom line is it absolutely won't affect admissions, but is simply good etiquette. Thus lots of people (probably most) write them, and it should be considered good business manners. Interviewers won't think you are sucking up, it will not be unusual to them to get such notes, nor will it ever sway their opinion. In most cases they will have already submitted their interview score before they get the note. Some people on SDN write none and get in many places, others always write them and get no love. But you are going into a profession, and thus should really act like a professional would and write them.

 

It might be easy to overlook this small detail, but there is a difference between thank-you cards and thank-you letters. I recently listened to a talk given by an adcom member at a prestigious medical school who said that thank-you cards are less than desirable and thank-you letters/memos are the more professional way to go. So, bottom-line, we are all aspiring to be as professional as possible, so write a letter, use correct formatting, and send it in a business-type envelope. At the very least, it saves you from the $5.95 box of thank-you notes you were going to get at Target.

 

I think most of the interviewers volunteer, so yes, I send them notes even though it's not going to effect the decision (they turn in their comments promptly after the interview). It's just the right thing to do if someone spends time on you.

 

If you interview with the dean of admissions, I suggest you write a thank you note. The one time I did, I really enjoyed the interview, and told him that. When they sent me after interview info (about student e-mails for questions and stuff) he wrote me a personalized note.

Most interviewers are volunteers, so its a nice gesture.

 

it's the right thing to do.