Thank you letters

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pixella

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Some questions about thank you letters to programs/interviewers:
-Assuming email is acceptable
-Send one to each interviewer, as well as PD, or just one to PD and copy interviewers?
-If I plan to rank highly, I can mention that, but if I don't? Will it be awkward to not say anything about my desire to attend the program?

Thanks!
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pixella said:
Some questions about thank you letters to programs/interviewers:
-Assuming email is acceptable
Click to expand...
It's not. At least not for me.
-Send one to each interviewer, as well as PD, or just one to PD and copy interviewers?
Click to expand...
If you're not going to make the effort to hand write the notes, at least TYPE one to each. (you can cut & paste the body.)
-If I plan to rank highly, I can mention that, but if I don't?
Will it be awkward to not say anything about my desire to attend the program?
Thanks!
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You don't have to go there if you don't want to. You can say what you liked about the program without making a statement about ranking.
 
PMPMD said:
It's not. At least not for me.
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Very good to know - I guess I figured in this day and age, email communication was standard. I will be sure to mail letters.

PMPMD said:
If you're not going to make the effort to hand write the notes, at least TYPE one to each. (you can cut & paste the body.)
Click to expand...
It's not about effort - I'm happy to put the effort in. I just don't want to write each interviewer if that's not the most appropriate or effective thing to do. Do you really feel handwritten is the best? I much prefer typing, especially since I will want to write more than I would usually put on, say, a holiday card. I have come across the suggestion to type the letter and then put a short handwritten note on the bottom. Honestly a fully handwritten letter seems outdated to me, but that may just be a generational thing.

PMPMD said:
You don't have to go there if you don't want to. You can say what you liked about the program without making a statement about ranking.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. Thanks.
 
pixella said:
Very good to know - I guess I figured in this day and age, email communication was standard. I will be sure to mail letters.


It's not about effort - I'm happy to put the effort in. I just don't want to write each interviewer if that's not the most appropriate or effective thing to do. Do you really feel handwritten is the best? I much prefer typing, especially since I will want to write more than I would usually put on, say, a holiday card. I have come across the suggestion to type the letter and then put a short handwritten note on the bottom. Honestly a fully handwritten letter seems outdated to me, but that may just be a generational thing.


Makes sense. Thanks.
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Maybe I'm old fashioned. Maybe some interviewers are OK with email thank you's. But you can't assume that, and its not that hard to write them
 
pixella said:
Very good to know - I guess I figured in this day and age, email communication was standard. I will be sure to mail letters.
Click to expand...

At some interviews, some program coordinators would make a point of saying that email was fine. A few even stressed that email was PREFERRED; they were tired of having to deal with all the cards that came in.

However, if they don't specify, I agree with PMPMD - a little thank you note is not that difficult to write. I would not type a letter; that looks a little too formal.
 
I just had a job interview Monday and wrote thank you's to all 12 people I interviewed with. I did them all on the plane ride back home. Had to start over once or twice for turbulence, and the drunk couple in front of me moving around in their seats. It really does not take THAT long, especially since most progs do ~3-4 interviews. I always thanked the program coordinator, too. They need some love.
 
PMPMD said:
I always thanked the program coordinator, too. They need some love.
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They definitely deserve a thank you note. They have to do all the scut to make the day go smoothly - reserve the room, order the lunch, manage all the interview invites, arrange for interviewers, etc.

At our program, our coordinator is often there until 11 PM the night before an interview, just pulling stuff together.
 
What about a thank you to just the program coordinator? I feel like it would be annoying to email the PD, because if everyone did that they would get a flooded inbox full of thank you letters. Bad form to not send thank you letters?
 
badasshairday said:
What about a thank you to just the program coordinator? I feel like it would be annoying to email the PD, because if everyone did that they would get a flooded inbox full of thank you letters. Bad form to not send thank you letters?
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I am not planning to send thank yous to PD's unless they interview me personally.

I am planning to do the PC and all of my interviewers.
 
2012mdc said:
E-mail.

Faster, guaranteed deliverance, and my handwriting is bad enough where a handwritten note wouldn't look that professional anyway.
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Also some PDs and PCs have said that email is better because they keep your file electronically, and they'll copy it into your electronic file. A card is highly unlikely to be scanned.
 
Thanks guys, I am trying to figure out the etiquette of this all. I had an interview last week and two this week so I should be sending some thank you notes pretty soon. 👍
 
I don't know why we are all dissecting every interactions that we have with residency programs, and I am certainly not immune to this. I have sent email thank you letters so far and have gotten responses to almost all of them. Should I respond to them? I didn't think so, because they were just being polite back.
 
Another thing to consider is that many programs meet to discuss candidates immediately after the interview. So by the time they get (or don't get) your note, you've already been scored. Yes, they still meet for the final rank, but I never moved anyone up/down based on the presence or absence of thank you's.
 
PMPMD said:
Another thing to consider is that many programs meet to discuss candidates immediately after the interview. So by the time they get (or don't get) your note, you've already been scored. Yes, they still meet for the final rank, but I never moved anyone up/down based on the presence or absence of thank you's.
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Agree. Thank you notes are probably not going to change things in the big picture.
 
I think its a good idea to email PC and the people you interviewed with, especially at places you loved.

Please do not mass email. Its super tacky
 
When including your eras number in your thank note is it the shorter AAMC ID or the longer applicant ID?
 
smq123 said:
You plan on including your ERAS number in your thank you note? 😕
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This is what I was told to do by a PD on another forum. I assumed it was common practice and didn't question it
 
I agree it's a bit insane. Presumably they would know whom you are by name, since they just interviewed you. But, if you're going to do it, you use your AAMC#.
 
Haven't gotten a single reply to all my thank you notes so far...I hope it's not a reflection of how much they like me!
 
aProgDirector said:
I agree it's a bit insane. Presumably they would know whom you are by name, since they just interviewed you. But, if you're going to do it, you use your AAMC#.
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Really? I've sent out a bunch of thank you emails so far and never included my AAMC number. I've never heard anybody mention it, whether it was someone from my school, at an away rotation, or during an interview, so I had no idea. I've gotten responses from several people though (coordinators, faculty, and residents) so I guess it's okay...? I would think if they have our name in the email they know who it is or can at least look us up on ERAS, especially if the letter includes something referencing the interview date.
 
2012mdc said:
When including your eras number in your thank note is it the shorter AAMC ID or the longer applicant ID?
Click to expand...

I didn't do this, in our field there's not enough interviewees that they won't know who you are. Also, if there's any field in which emailed thank yous are fine, it'd be rads, I wouldn't sweat it.
 
how soon after should u send the thank you note? i interviewed last friday, and forgot to get businesscard of my interviewer. her contact info is NOWHERE online, and the PC is outta town till after thanksgiving... just wondering if sending in 1-2wks after is a moot point...
 
Could always just sent to the PC's address, ATTN: interviewer.
 
Something to keep in mind if you do handwritten notes: To save yourself some money, you can send all of the individually addressed cards to the Program Coordinator in one big envelope. Most do not mind distributing them for you. However, if you do this, send one to the PC!! It reeks of selfishness when you don't.
 
Is it ever OK to write that a program is on the top (i.e. #1) of your ROL in one of these notes to the PD?
 
I haven't been sending thank you notes/emails. I find them tacky and they make me sound I'm begging. When I was on the other side of the table (in my old job) interviewing, I did not want my interviewees to e-mail me anything. It is junk mail and it is not going to change my mind to hire or not to hire.
 
@aProgDirector:

I would love to know your opinion about hand written, snail mail sent cards VS typical thank you emails.

I agree its very subjective, but etiquette sometimes can be universal.

thank you very much
 
adagio said:
@aProgDirector:

I would love to know your opinion about hand written, snail mail sent cards VS typical thank you emails.

I agree its very subjective, but etiquette sometimes can be universal.

thank you very much
Click to expand...
Honestly, I doubt it matters at all. I can't imagine that programs care about the presence, style, or content of thank you notes. But, that's just my own opinion.
 
What got my attention most is you mentioning that (the presence) of thank you notes is not that vital.

Honestly, if this is your opinion, then it means that there is no right answer!! there is a wide spectrum between sending simple emails, and sending sophisticated hand-written cards.
 
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