Thank you's

[hsouth]

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Ok, I'm sure this question has been asked many times before, but I can't seem to find an answer searching the threads...

How long after an interview do I have to write a Thank you note? I interviewed last Thursday and will try to have them written by tomorrow. That should be okay, yes? And also, should I just write them to my 2 interviewers or also the dean of admissions who met with us briefly in the morning? (*Note, this is my first choice school, and also my first interview, so I don't want to mess it up!)

One more thing - Is a letter best, or is a "Thank you" card (says thank you on the outside, blank on the inside, very nice looking) good?

Thanks for your input!

~H

 

[drmarj]

Thank you notes are very important. I would definitely make sure I had them sent out within a week of the interview...just because after that time the interviewer may have forgotten about the details of your interview. As for the dean of admissions...i wouldn't bother. You most likely weren't formally introduced to him/her and in many schools it's the dean's duty to sit down with the interviewees and introduce the school. I don't think they expect a thank you note. But i guess that decision is up to you!

Hope this helps
~marj

 

[LP1CW]

"Thank you notes are very important." This is incorrect. They are not very important. This has been debated on here many times. They are far from being compulsory. Some people say that it's nice because it's kind to send one. I think, and I've had confirmation from physicians that interview us, that they are seen as "kissing butt," so they don't help us. I never send one. I've already been accepted by three medical schools. I've had two interviews that were awful. I hate the docs that interviewed me. One was disinterested, aloof, and bored before the interview even started. I had one great one too where where we talked about Tennis, Agassi, and younger players.

 

[ManchotPi]

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[efex101]

Not necessary at ALL, I went to 11 interviews never ever sent a thank you note and received many acceptances. Thank you notes may be a nice touch but adcoms are super busy and interview hundreds of people it will make no difference IMHO (as I was also told by various adcoms...)

 

[hsouth]

Wow - We were always told in premed that thank you's were a must do to all interviewers. Does ANYONE send them??

~H

 

[exmike]

I didn't send any out w/o any dramatic effects until my last interview. I sent letters to both persons I interviewed with. Might follow with a LOI to the adcomm right after.

 

[hale-bopp]

I wrote thank you notes after my interviews, because I thought it was polite to thank someone for their time. I kept them brief, basically thank you for taking the time to interview me, something about our conversation, something good I learned about the school that day. At one or maybe two schools, the person coordinating the day mentioned, "When you send thank you letters, mail them to this address..." which I took as "we expect thank you letters," but maybe I am reading too much into things.

I do know that one of my coworkers really impressed people at my work by writing them thank you letters after her interview. I sent an email thank you to my interviewer, and do not think it made such an impression (although, obviously I did get hired).

Anyway, my point is that I think thank you letters are a nice, if somewhat old-fashoined thing to do, and it is possible to be appreciative and enthusiastic without sucking up.

 

[calebho501]

I think just send the thank-you notes/cards anyway. Most of the time, they won't affect the decision, but in some cases they do.

I interviewed at a California school today, and my tour guide hinted that we should send thank you cards and via the admission office. Admission office staff seems to have a say in the decision and they like it when applicants drop by

 

[hsouth]

Guess I'm going to stick with being old fashioned then! Thanks!

~H