op1
OSRR Intern
Posts: 10
(12/10/01 11:19:41 am)
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Mayo post-interview letters?
I have heard about two different types of letters sent from the program director at Mayo after applicants
have interviewed. There are "We want you to come here." letters and "It was nice to meet you." letters.
I just got what I think is a "It was nice to meet you." letter, but before I assume rejection, I am
interested in hearing if anyone else has gotten the same letter or perhaps the other kind of letter,
especially considering that they have not even interviewed the second batch yet.
I would appreciate any insights.
Thanks,
op1
orthohopeful
OSRR Junior
Posts: 44
(12/10/01 11:43:03 am)
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my take
I don't know if you got the same feeling, but a couple of residents there gave me the definite impression
that their first group (november date) was the top portion of their list. The program director said he
would call everyone that interviewed (I got no call so far). I haven't gotten any letter yet, but if I do I'll
come back and let you know.
That probably doesn't help you much, but oh well.
Craven Moorehead
OSRR Intern
Posts: 7
(12/10/01 6:56:43 pm)
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Re: my take
I got a letter from them today, saying thanks for interviewing on October 30, 1999. Does this mean I'm
third-tier?
orthopaedicwannabe
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 1
(12/10/01 11:51:53 pm)
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Re: Mayo post-interview letters?
I too received the 'thanks for coming, nice to meet you' letter.
Guess I'm third tier as well.
My impression was that they send this type of letter to the people they don't plan to rank highly, a
better letter to the candidates they found more attractive, and then a phone call later in the process to
the 10-15 that they will rank the highest. As in general they don't go below #30 to fill their spots, I
interpret this as a rejection.
OrthoWife
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 5
(12/11/01 8:41:47 am)
Reply
Re: Mayo post-interview letters?
My husband received the thank for interviewing "October 30, 1999". You would think if you are going to
send out a letter from the Residency Director that someone might proof it first. That is really weak...
Ortho2002
OSRR Fellow
Posts: 116
(12/11/01 8:59:20 am)
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the infamous other letter??
can anyone confirm the presence of this so-called 'we want you' letter? also, they said that they went to
40 last year to fill 10 spots. i am just assuming that it is too early in the game to be sending out the 'we
want you' letter and really mean it. i think that the non-proofed error in the thank you letter is the
reason that i am going to stop sending out mass thank you letters! look at us all reading into it!! have
fun out there!
orthopaedicwannabe
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 2
(12/11/01 9:50:49 am)
Reply
Mayo post-interview letters
Here is my analysis of the situation:
we are all hoping that someone will post that they got a 'we want you letter,' and settle the situtation.
I suggest that the reason there has been no such post is that such a letter does not exist. After the
first round of interivews, they ranked that group. Those of us at the 'bottom tier' of that group got the
'thank for trying' letter. The others have not received ANY letter.
After the second group interviews, the bottom tier will again receive a 'thanks for trying' letter, and the
remaining people will then either receive a phone call (meaning they are in the top 15 or so slots) or a
"we really like you letter," which indicates they are in the top 30 or so.
I think that explains why some people have gotten no letter from Mayo, and the only people who have
gotten letters are those like us who for whatever reason failed to impress. Frustrating, as I didn't get
that impression from my interviews, but maybe there were just being nice.
best of luck at the other schools. At least Mayo was nice enough to let us know not to waste our No. 1
rank on them, which was considerate. Sure there was a typo. but that's the secretary's fault; they
probably just signed whatever he/she gave them.
Craven Moorehead
OSRR Intern
Posts: 8
(12/11/01 4:11:38 pm)
Reply
Stop your hand-wringing
I spoke with the secretary of one of the Mayo residency selection committee members today on the
phone. She said that I was the third person to call today asking if his "thank you" letter was indeed the
kiss of death. She said that all interviewees received the same letter, and the committee has yet to begin
discussing us. "Rest assured," she said, your kiss of death has yet to come.
How should I have interpreted that last statement?
orthopaedicwannabe
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 3
(12/11/01 4:16:30 pm)
Reply
Mayo post-interview letters
Thanks for having the guts to call the secretary; I debated doing it but was too chicken.
Guess some of us read a bit too much into it, but I do distinctly remember Dr. Hanssen saying that the
candidates they weren't intrested in would ge a "nice meeting you letter" and the glaring typo did make
me suspicious...
I guess my adrenals got a great workout for nothing. I'll build up more catecholamines for the next
letter.
