Mr Sparkle
OSRR Intern
Posts: 9
(1/25/02 9:46:35 am)
Reply
Thank you or Follow-up letters
Did you guys write thank you letters to every program you interviewed at? If so, did you personalize
them? Or did you just write to the chairman? Just to the programs you were really interested in? It's a
real pain to write them, especially after being interviewed by 8-12 people at many programs.
bigjvk
OSRR Intern
Posts: 12
(1/25/02 11:10:00 am)
Reply
Thank you notes
I've been told by several people at my school who have matched in recent years that they sent
personalized thank you notes to interviewers. Some sent notes just to chairmen and residency
coordinators/directors; some sent notes to everyone. More recently, I've been told by a few faculty very
involved with the process that these notes are not really looked at. Attendings basically just open the
envelope and send the letter to the residency coordinator to put in the person's file. Some programs
make their lists immediately after their last interview day, so in these cases a thank you note may hold
no value.
orthohopeful
OSRR Senior
Posts: 52
(1/25/02 11:36:14 am)
Reply
I agree
Every program is different in how they handle just about everything. I sent notes to every program, just
because that is how I was taught by my parents (to always send thank you notes). I did not however
send personal notes to every single interviewer unless I was interviewed by 3 or fewer people. I think
these notes are largely looked at by programs as meaningless formalities and niceties, but there are
certainly programs that read them looking for an indication that you are ranking them No. 1. I sent a note
to that effect to my top pick because a resident there told me to. So I guess the answer to your
question is do what feels comfortable based on your interview experience, and when in doubt contact a
resident and ask them.
OSRR Intern
Posts: 9
(1/25/02 9:46:35 am)
Reply
Thank you or Follow-up letters
Did you guys write thank you letters to every program you interviewed at? If so, did you personalize
them? Or did you just write to the chairman? Just to the programs you were really interested in? It's a
real pain to write them, especially after being interviewed by 8-12 people at many programs.
bigjvk
OSRR Intern
Posts: 12
(1/25/02 11:10:00 am)
Reply
Thank you notes
I've been told by several people at my school who have matched in recent years that they sent
personalized thank you notes to interviewers. Some sent notes just to chairmen and residency
coordinators/directors; some sent notes to everyone. More recently, I've been told by a few faculty very
involved with the process that these notes are not really looked at. Attendings basically just open the
envelope and send the letter to the residency coordinator to put in the person's file. Some programs
make their lists immediately after their last interview day, so in these cases a thank you note may hold
no value.
orthohopeful
OSRR Senior
Posts: 52
(1/25/02 11:36:14 am)
Reply
I agree
Every program is different in how they handle just about everything. I sent notes to every program, just
because that is how I was taught by my parents (to always send thank you notes). I did not however
send personal notes to every single interviewer unless I was interviewed by 3 or fewer people. I think
these notes are largely looked at by programs as meaningless formalities and niceties, but there are
certainly programs that read them looking for an indication that you are ranking them No. 1. I sent a note
to that effect to my top pick because a resident there told me to. So I guess the answer to your
question is do what feels comfortable based on your interview experience, and when in doubt contact a
resident and ask them.