Thank-you notes?

[heddart]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Is it customary/expected for us to write thank-you notes to the faculty members who interview us?

 

[Jamier2]

Some folks always write them, some never do. Some schools even explicitly request that you don't. My school has its committee meeting so fast that they wouldn't affect your chances, but I may send them just 'cause they were so nice.

I'd say it's up to you, and if the school doesn't request that you don't, they surely wouldn't hurt. 🙂

 

[E'01]

You guys think there's a big difference between using cards and stationary (or is it stationery...)

 

[Szkwicz]

I made my own letterhead and used that...thought I'd try and be original 😎

 

[E'01]

Good idea 🙂

 

[jdub]

i like to send post cards. i really think that they just get thrown in the trash, but all the books that i have read have said one should send a thank you to the your interviewers, i don't think that they really help out much though.

i am not the most formal person, thus the post cards, but something professional probably is better, i personally don't like sending them, it just feels like such a formality.

anyhow . . . i also don't like trying to be a sales man, and the thank you notes feel a bit pushy to me, but perhaps that is just me . . .

 

[E'01]

Jdub I think they just stash them in our folders but don't really look at them or weigh them into any admissions decision. Although I was repeatedly told by several med students at Columbia to make sure that I send one. The individual they said probably wouldn't read it, but it looks good or something...If I had two interviewers that day I would send one a card (plain blank inside with a sunflower photo on the front) and then I'd send the other person a brief letter on stationary.

 

[E'01]

accept_me, what did you think of Columbia? When was your interview?

 

[Badgerbabe]

I don't know...I just interviewed at University of Wisconsin today, and while they didn't mention anything about thank yous, both my interviewers and the dean of admissions were so great, that I want to send them notes just because of the obvious time and care they put into it. I really felt like a VIP there. So, if it's heartfelt, I would say go for it. They get enough to know which ones are just bs anyways.

 

[Dusty]

Badgerbabe,

I am glad to hear that you had a great interview experience at UW-Madison. I am also a Wisconsin resident and I have an interview scheduled at MCW, but I have not heard back from UW-Madison. Would you mind sharing when you sent back your secondary application? Thanks. 🙂

 

[Badgerbabe]

Hi Dusty, I sent back my secondary at least three weeks ago. Apparently, however, not all of the people at my interview had even returned their secondaries yet. That was the one part of the interview that just totally confused me. If you meet their base minimum criteria this year (2.8 gpa, 7 on each part of MCATs) you may get an interview, from what I can tell. Sorry that's probably not much help to you...maybe call admissions and see what your status is, just to be sure.
🙂 Shannon

P.S. When did you hear from MCW? That's great! I'd love to interview there too.

 

[Dusty]

Hi Shannon,

Thanks for the info regarding the secondary applications. I sent in my secondary to UW-Madison on September 10, and called about two weeks later to verify that my application was complete. I was told that all applicants who received a secondary would get an interview, but I have no idea how they are determining who interviews when.

I received an invite from MCW by snail mail last Thursday, and they gave two dates (October 26 or November 9) to choose from.

Did you get to meet any current med students at your interview? What was your overall impression of the UW Medical School?

I am sure you will hear from MCW soon. 🙂

 

[Badgerbabe]

Hey Dusty,
I think I would be very happy at UW. I talked to current med students at the lunch they had for us, and they had just finished their first biochem exam....and they were still enthusiastic about the school 🙂

I also interviewed with an MS2 and she assured me taht it is still possible to have a life outside of medical school, and that the atmosphere was collegial rather than competitive. I could kind of get that from just walking around the med school - med students who were between lectures saw us touring (in our suits, we stuck out like sore thumbs 🙂 ) and they would stop us to talk and wish us good luck.

They were very forthcoming about good/bad aspects of the school, which I found quite refreshing. They are aware of which classes are not stellar (ie purely lecture rather than interactive) and they were willing to talk about the differences between MCW and UW...mostly that UW is an academic environment where MCW is more heavily clinical. I am sure I would get a slightly different story from MCW students, but they said that when getting letters for residencies, the department heads at UW are far more widely known, due to their research. I am personally more into the clinical than the research, but with the multitude of volunteer clinical activities, and the mentorships that they offer, it is possible to get clinical exposure from your first year.

This is getting quite long, so I'll stop gushing now.... If you want any more info, feel free to email me!

🙂 Shannon

 

[E'01]

Are you guys sending thank-you notes directly to the interviewers or to the admissions office?

Yeah accept-me, the handbook had like 50% Harvard and Yale students - barely any Columbia undergrads too, which was surprising.

 

[E'01]

bump

 

[racergirl]

I sent thank you notes to my interviewers. They're the ones who have taken the time to speak with you, after all...

 

[E'01]

OKay good - that's what I have been doing (except for when I don't have their address I send it to the admissions office)

 

[C U in MD school]

ok , question...
if at one school you have three interviews, do you send each peson a thank you note or just one big one to the admissions committee?
what do u guys think? please share your logic behind your answer. thanx.

 

[Badgerbabe]

I sent each of my interviewers a separate thank you because they were not on the admissions committee (student and professor), and they took time out of their schedules to talk to me. I sent them c/o the admissions office because I did not have their specific addresses.

 

[USeF]

As Jamier said, some schools meet so fast that if you sent the thank you notes right after the interview it wouldn't get there in time.
In light of this, I e-mailed both my interviewers personalized thank you notes. By personalized, i rehashed items of interest from the interview that will help them remember who the heck I was. Because this was so easy, email may be the medium for all future thank you notes.

On the other hand, hand-written notes make the interviewer feel appreciated, which means they'll continue to do interviews, which means they'll be nice to future students, which means interviews wont have such a bad rap, which will make the life of applicants that much more pleasant. 😀