Thank you letters after a medical school interview are an excellent way to remind the admissions committee of your candidacy and clearly state your intentions after an interview. If you create a great impression with your interview and thank you letter, you may be able to improve your chances of getting accepted to your dream medical school. You’ve had enough time to figure out how to prepare for a medical school interview, but how do thank you letters work? In this article we show you the structure of a thank you letter, what to include in it, tips, samples, and what to expect after sending it.
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Structure of a Medical School Interview Thank You Letter
Respectful Greeting
Less is more, there is no need to think outside the box here. A simple “Dear Dr. X” will do the trick. Make sure to include their proper title and avoid calling them by their first name. Conservative, appropriate, and polite. You can’t go wrong!
Show Gratitude
Keep in mind that the person or people who conducted your interview has most likely spent a considerable amount of time reviewing your application and likely many others! Appreciating this dedication is the very least you can do after your interview. Although it might seem like a simple act of politeness, a thank you letter after a medical school interview can say a lot about you as its sender.
Bring Up Something Mentioned in the Interview
Show them that you were genuinely engaged in the conversation and by mentioning something that was discussed in the interview. The interviewer will note that you paid attention and that you truly are an invested candidate. It will also prove that you took the time to write a personalized letter and didn’t just use a generic template. Don’t just repeat your answer to a common question, but instead bring up something specific that connected you to the interviewer, such as a shared hobby or a research topic you discussed.
Express Interest in That School
Another way to personalize your letter to prevent it from sounding generic is to mention what interested you about that specific program, or what excites you about the idea of being accepted at that specific school. Interviewers want candidates to show enthusiasm, initiative and determination. Convince them that you didn’t just pick that school randomly and that you aren’t sending a generic letter to every school.
Offer to Provide Additional Info
Express that you are open and available to provide any additional information or documentation they might require in order to reach a final decision regarding your application. Something short and simple such as “please let me know if there’s anything else you need to review my candidacy” will go a long way.
Polite Closing
The closing of your letter should match the style of the greeting. Make a brief comment restating your gratitude and enthusiasm, like “I would be honored to become a part of this institution and learn from the best professionals in my chosen field” and finish with a simple “sincerely” or “best regards”.
Medical School Thank You Letter Examples
Tips for Writing the Best Thank You Letter After a Medical School Interview
Make It Unique
You need to find a way to stand out in the mind of the interviewer as they assess your application. Adding personal touches, without being too informal, will help you achieve this goal. You can bring up a memorable portion of the interview or a unique aspect of your application.
Be Formal
While uniqueness is key, always err on the side of formality. Don’t joke with the interviewer or address them casually. Be polite with formal language and express sincere gratitude.
Be Concise
Make sure your letter can be read in under a minute. Your interviewer already took a lot of time to interview you, don’t give them too much extra work. Additionally, an overly-long letter might come across as trying to make up for an incomplete interview.
Double Check Format and Grammar
Typos, spelling and grammar mistakes lower the quality of any kind of writing and reflect a lack of care. No academic correspondence should contain such errors and this might inadvertently raise a red flag in your application. You should be sending out your thank you letter quickly but don’t rush!
What to Expect After a Med School Interview
There are three possible outcomes to the interview: you can be accepted, waitlisted or rejected. If you get a medical school rejection you should reflect on your application honestly and consider your next steps.
However, if you are contacted saying that you have been put on the medical school waitlist, which is a common outcome, there is still hope. One of the options here is to write a medical school letter of intent. Use this letter to express your desire to become a part of that school. Mention the reasons why you should be given a second chance and why you feel so enthusiastic about their program.
Do you need to write a letter of intent? Check out the tips in this infographic:
Conclusion
Don’t underestimate the importance of sending a well-written thank you letter after a medical school interview. This may be the last step in your medical school application timeline but it has the potential to play a role in how the admissions committee perceives you as a candidate. Send your letter promptly, respect the format, check your grammar and make it formal. Don’t overthink it. By keeping it simple and following our tips you will be able to write the best thank you letter in the future and increase your chances of succeeding in your chosen program!
FAQs
1. Why is it important to send a thank you letter after a medical school interview?
A thank you letter is a sign of politeness, adds a small amount of information you may have missed, and keeps your name fresh in the mind of your interviewer.
2. Who should it be addressed to?
Address your letter directly to the interviewer and make sure to send separate letters in the case of panel interviews or MMIs. Refer to them using their formal title and last name (i.e. Dr. Smith), and be formal even if you hit it off during the interview.
3. How do I contact the interviewer?
Asking your interviewer for a business card before you finish the interview is a smart move to get contact information. If not check for publicly available work emails on the medical school’s website, never use social media or home addresses!
4. What’s the difference between a thank you letter and a letter of intent?
A thank you letter is a brief note with the purpose of thanking the interviewer for having taken the time out of their day to interview you, while a letter of intent is meant to express your determination to attend that school should you get accepted. A letter of intent is usually sent after getting waitlisted.
5. How long should my letter be?
The perfect thank you letter should be 100 to 200 words long or take less than a minute to read. Structure it like you would structure any email or formal letter, with a polite greeting, a concise body, and a closing.
6. When should I send my thank you letter?
Try to send it within the first 24 hours after your interview. If you decide to write the letter by hand, keep in mind that it may take a while to be received by the interviewer and you should also send a thank you letter via email.
7. What should be the subject of the email?
Keep it short and conservative. A simple “Interview Thank You” will be more than enough.
8. Will I receive an answer to my thank you letter?
More likely than not you will not receive a response. They will have received many letters of thanks and don’t be worried if you don’t receive an answer.
9. Should I write an email or a handwritten letter?
While a handwritten letter may help you stand out as it more unique, you can send an email instantly and know that it will be in the inbox of your interviewer when you send it. Handwritten letters will take time to write, send, and you may not get confirmation of receipt.
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