zoecarroll16 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 So I am wondering if one should send a thank you note(s) post-interview? I know that that is proper etiquette after interviewing for a job, but would this be appropriate for PA school? I don't want to come across as a brown-nose, but I don't want to seem ungrateful either... I'm leaning towards sending thank you notes to the faculty that took time out of their busy schedules to interview me (and many others), but just wanted to make sure that would be ok! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulPA Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Not at all a brown noser. I prefer a thankyou letter. It allows you one more chance to sell your strong point while thanking them at the same time. I sent thank you letters to the people I interviewed with. The funny thing is I just switched jobs and before I could send my thank you letter, they (the interviewers) actually sent me a a thank you letter! I have never had that happen before an employer sending a candidate a thank you letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwisplash04 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Yup, definitely send thank you note(s). It's best to send it as soon as possible after your interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelson Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Definitely send a thank you note or even e-mail. Try to do it the evening after or the day after your interview. When I sent my letter I was sure to include the name of students I met with and the faculty to show the attention to detail that you have and to make you stand out. I got a phone call 2 days after my interview and the asst. program director acknowledged howprofessional my thank you note was...and he then offered me admission! So highly suggest sending a note/letter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noiseordinance Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I would skip the email route and go with a physical letter. Its much more personal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Email is fine IMO. Try to include something that can jog the interviewer's memory of you such as something yall may have talked about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiaroscuro27 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I agree...sending an email is just fine, and in some cases is preferred. You can get it to the sender faster, and if written well it can have the same effect as a hand-written letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MassPA-C Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Personally, I dont really think they sway someone either way. In my current job my boss and I sometimes interview residency candidates and I think for the most part people just throw those letters away. In fact there are 4 unopened cards from the last three residency interview days sitting on her office desk unopened.... I didnt send emails/letters/cards to any of the places I interviewed and I got accepted at all of them. Perhaps it may help if you were on the cusp of getting an offer or if someone forgot who you were. However, I dont think it would hurt if you really wanted to take the time to write them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myironlung Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 i never sent thank you notes and did just fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 The AdCom meets the evening after interviews are done. Decisions were being made before I got into my car after social hour. I guess it depends on the program. I didn't send any and managed to score a seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I sent written cards. The point of the note wasn't to try to sway favor so that the AdCom received it after they made their choice is irrelevant. I think acting politely is a good way to go in most situations, and an interview is one of those times. Is it a big deal either way? Prob not. Do what you feel is right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpagano Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 It's the professional thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoecarroll16 Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 Thank you for all your input. I am in the process now of sending the thank notes and definitely not because I am hoping to sway them, but rather b/c I think they deserve to be thanked! It was an incredible two days (of interviews)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I think it's a huge waste of time and also brown nosing. Just my opinion, I'm sure I will get hated on for this. But come on, do you really think you will get an advantage for sending a thank you compared to other applicants? Just not very professional in my opinion. Same thing for giving professors thank you notes in hope for getting a better grade. So far I got accepted by all my interviews and never once emailed, mailed or called after the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpagano Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I think it's a huge waste of time and also brown nosing. Just my opinion, I'm sure I will get hated on for this. But come on, do you really think you will get an advantage for sending a thank you compared to other applicants? Just not very professional in my opinion. Same thing for giving professors thank you notes in hope for getting a better grade. So far I got accepted by all my interviews and never once emailed, mailed or called after the interview. It's NOT about getting an "advantage," it's about being professional and courteous... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I agree with jpagano in that I wasn't trying to suck up or get an advantage. It really shouldn't matter to my application if the adcom even reads my note. It doesn't take but a few minutes to send a sincere, brief thank you. Now, if your motive was something else, well, it wouldn't really be a TY note at that point, would it? (And that would surely be reflected in the content of your note.) FWIW, so far, I got accepted by all of my interviews and I DID send a thank you note. Again, not because I was hoping to earn brownie points, but because I appreciated that the staff was so helpful on my interview day and that they answered my many questions. I didn't add any additional info or try to "sell" myself one last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpayne2 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I'm a PA Program Director with a lot of experience interviewing candidates. I wrote a pretty helpful blog post on this subject. Make sure you check it out: http://physician-assistant-ed.com/2011/01/physician-assistant-interview-personalized-thank-you-note/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I think it's a huge waste of time and also brown nosing. Just my opinion, I'm sure I will get hated on for this. But come on, do you really think you will get an advantage for sending a thank you compared to other applicants? Just not very professional in my opinion. Same thing for giving professors thank you notes in hope for getting a better grade. So far I got accepted by all my interviews and never once emailed, mailed or called after the interview. The one thing you are wrong about is professionalism. A thank you LETTER (not a note) is a long established standard of professionalism after an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Eh, just my opinion guys. If you TRULY are not sending it, not even 1%, because you think it will confer you some advantage, then go ahead. But I am pretty sure people are sending it crossing their fingers someone will open it and say "oh wow how professional and thoughtful, let's take them over this other candidate." Truth is they probably will never get the letter or they'll make a decision long before they do. So I just don't think it's worth the time. Okay. That's all. - devil's advocate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoecarroll16 Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 Again, thanks everyone. Winterallsummer, I sent the thank you notes with clean intentions: to thank them, not to try to change their minds about who to select as a student. If I'm worthy of a seat, my interview already took care of this. If not, then I'll try again next year. I'm just a bit old fashioned when it comes to thank you letters and felt, in the end, that it was the professional way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC99 Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I heard it is etiquette. Just be professional and make it like a paragraph (not to long). Also recall on a specfic moment during the interview and thank them for the opportunity. An email would be the quickest way to do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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