Thank You Notes?

[mdeast]

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I've actually asked this before, but was just again wondering everyone's opinions on thank you notes to interviewers. I personally just haven't been sending any, but wonder if I should be? I'm not sure if so far I've really seen the point, but I recently had an interview where the Admissions Officer even gave instructions on how to send in thank you notes (via email to her, rather than directly to the interviewer). Thoughts?

 

[H2O2]

I've actually asked this before, but was just again wondering everyone's opinions on thank you notes to interviewers. I personally just haven't been sending any, but wonder if I should be? I'm not sure if so far I've really seen the point, but I recently had an interview where the Admissions Officer even gave instructions on how to send in thank you notes (via email to her, rather than directly to the interviewer). Thoughts?

Thank you notes shouldn't be viewed as a tool to get an acceptance, or something that will look favorably or unfavorably if you do or don't. Quite simply, they have zero bearing on an offer....as for the admissions officer, I think that is suspicious and don't like sending it through them at all, but if she made a point of saying to email her then she might be expecting a thank you note.

For 99% of the other schools who don't make you communicate through admissions, the thank you note is simply a "thank you". Your interviewer spent considerable time reviewing your application and taking time out of their busy schedule to advocate a position on your behalf, so this is your opportunity to thank them for their effort. Beyond that, don't expect anything or write for any other intentions because it won't matter at all besides maintaining good manners.

 

[ThingsHopedFor]

i am just about to send two today. the only reason i'm sending them is because my interviewers gave me their card with their information on it. additionally, they said something along the lines of, "if you need anything where i can be of help, don't hesitate to contact me." we, then, left on very cordial notes.

but i guess it all depends on you and how your interviewer felt...that's my opinion at least.

 

[flip26]

I've actually asked this before, but was just again wondering everyone's opinions on thank you notes to interviewers. I personally just haven't been sending any, but wonder if I should be? I'm not sure if so far I've really seen the point, but I recently had an interview where the Admissions Officer even gave instructions on how to send in thank you notes (via email to her, rather than directly to the interviewer). Thoughts?

Follow their cue and do it for that school.

I have been to 6 interviews, and at one of them we were given the name and mailing address of our interviewer. I liked the school, so I sent a note via snail mail.

Otherwise, I haven't bothered. I have even had interviews where I was not provided with the person's name, much less their address, and I am not even sure I caught their name...very strange and awkward situation...but overall I don't think sending notes or emails is necessary, unlike in the business world when it is really important to do after a job interview.

I have gotten the impression at some schools that they do NOT want you sending these notes or emails...your anecdote seems to be a way they try to control it.

 

[jla314]

mostly, i've only been accepted to schools for which i did *not* write thank you letters (the exception being vandy). i wrote thank you letters to my interviewers at case and got put on hold. 😎

sooo i don't think thank you letters matter much at all. send letters if you genuinely have something worthwhile to say, i guess.

 

[flip26]

mostly, i've only been accepted to schools for which i did *not* write thank you letters (the exception being vandy). i wrote thank you letters to my interviewers at case and got put on hold. 😎

sooo i don't think thank you letters matter much at all. send letters if you genuinely have something worthwhile to say, i guess.

Same here - I got accepted at a school where I did not write a note...I really think you have to take a cue from each school.

At one interview, I heard another student say that when they asked the interviewer for his card, the interviewer said "we don't give them out here" which seemed to be code for "don't bother."

 

[mdeast]

OK gotcha guys. Yeah, I hadn't figured it really made a whole lot of a difference....slash I was thinking of drafting one and realized I wouldn't even know what to say that wasn't dribble and meaningless. I mainly asked profs for cards so that I could contact them in the Spring once I'm trying to decide on which school to attend (should I be fortunate enough to receive more than one acceptance). I had a few fellow interviewees at my last med school visit who all seemed to be writing hand-written notes to their interviewers a few days after talking with them.

Phew, got a little worried. Thanks!

 

[scotsdoc54]

I'm suprised by the answers here actually. I've written thank you notes to all of my interviewers, and out of 3 interviews, I've had 3 acceptances. I don't think my acceptances were really affected by the notes, but it is good manners to send them. The interviewers took time out of their day to interview you and review your file. It's good form to send thank you cards in my opinion.

 

[LadyLightning20]

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[NotSur]

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[280224]

I did not send any because if I did, they would all be copied from the same template and will pretty much be insincere on my part.

 

[Arctic]

Since there's no active thread on this in the Optometry forums, I figured I'd ask here: Would it be better to write thank you notes/letters only after receiving an acceptance from a school? Or would it be best to send one in anyway before actually receiving their decision? Optometry schools usually notify applicants of decisions within a couple weeks of the interview, just in case that differs from medical schools. I probably won't be sending any thank you notes personally, but I would still like to know your opinions for the benefit of some of the younger pre-optometry students at my undergrad.
Thanks in advance.

 

[flip26]

I've been sending them to everyone, not because I think it will help me in some way, but it just seems like good manners.

I thanked my interviewers for their time and consideration at the close of the interview, shook hands, and moved on.

I am pretty big on manners and proper etiquette, but I really don't think it is necessary to send thank you notes for med school interviews...

 

[NotSur]

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[starl3tte]

I've only been sending thank you notes (with Visa gift card certificates) to my student hosts, not to my interviewers.

 

[ziggydoc]

well where I am I have been told by a student on the adcom that they see reports where the interviewer indicated whether they received a thank you note from that applicant or not. So, honestly, does it take that much effort to write a few sentences and send one? If only to cover your bases.

 

[KMFDM]

Of like the 8 schools I've interviewed at, I've sent thank you's to 3 schools.

Those were the schools that I really liked.

 

[AyCaramba]

I have sent thank you notes or emails to every single interviewer I've had so far. My primary motive in writing them is actually to genuinely thank the interviewer, especially the ones who had clearly spent time before the interview reviewing my file. I have yet to really have a horrible interviewer. Even then I'd probably send one haha

I agree that it probably doesn't have any effect on whether or not you get in, but some schools *do* track them. Doesn't Michigan list it on your status page or something if you've sent one post-interview? And at a school where I interviewed, a student I knew mentioned that thank you notes go into your file. At another school, the admissions officer actually said to send the thank you notes through the admissions office because they will look at them and put them in your file after forwarding them to the interviewer.

I know it's not a make-or-break thing, and most schools likely don't even bother keeping track, but some do (whether they tell you or not). It's not even that hard to write one! Takes like 10-30 minutes, depending on the level of detail you want (I tend to go heavier on detail)

 

[brickandlace]

I sent ty notes for all interviews I've had so far. Regardless of whether it factors into admissions or not, it's good to thank the interviewers for their time. They probably interview so many people and are usually doing it on a volunteer basis so it's just a small token of appreciation.

 

[RandomAttending]

Thank you notes have no influence in my decision making.

 

[mdeast]

Thank you notes have no influence in my decision making.

Are you on an admissions committee?