Thank You Note Tips

Written by Sara Kurtevski, MD

Regardless of which specialty you are applying for, writing a thank you note after an interview is highly encouraged but not required.  It is a great way to let the program know you enjoyed the interview experience and simply express your gratitude for the opportunity to be considered as a candidate. In addition, a thank you note is also an opportunity for you to re-emphasize why you are a good fit or add in additional detail that you perhaps did not get an opportunity to mention. Although it may seem like a simple thing to compose, many people struggle with making the thank you note sound natural, sincere, and figuring out what to include. Below are some suggestions to help with this process and ease some of the nerves, hope it helps!

1.     How can I prepare to write thank you notes?

After each interview with a resident, program director, or faculty member, have a notebook beside your computer. Try to take notes to help you topics discussed during the conversation. After a long interview day, it is very easy to forget or mix things up. This information can go in your thank you note, but can also help summarize your interview day when making a rank list later in the season.

2.     When should I send the thank you note?

When you finish the interview, don’t wait too long before sending the thank you note. Ideally, a thank you note should be sent within the first three days to a week after the interview. As a medical student, the schedule can be hectic and unpredictable, so if you’re unable to able to send it within a week, still send it. After all, what do you have to lose by thanking someone? That interviewer could be your future colleague!

3.     Who do I thank?

Send a thank-you note to the program director and program coordinator. The program coordinators usually take care of the logistics and are the masterminds of the interview days. There are a lot of other people involved on the interview day. Multiple faculty members as well as residents take time out of their day to get to know you, answer questions, and organize social events. So when you write a thank you note, take into consideration all of these people. Everyone put in a lot of work to make to organize the day so make sure that they get recognized and their efforts are not overlooked.  

4.     What’s a good structure for a thank you note?

Your thank-you notes can also be handwritten, but during the pandemic, email is likely easiest (also faster and cheaper!). The thank-you note should be about a paragraph long (~6-9 sentences) and follow a basic structure:

¨     Subject line: Thank You

o   Structure

§ Begin with a greeting

§ Get straight to the point and express why you are writing and what you are thanking the recipient for (1 sentence)

§ Describe what you enjoyed (the more specific the better) (2-3 sentences)

§ State why this program is a good fit and what specific opportunities it offers you (2-3 sentences)

§ Wrap up by re-stating your gratitude and a brief conclusion statement (1-2 sentences) 

§ End with your name and AAMC ID

5.     How do I make the thank you note personalized?

To make the thank your note more sincere, the best approach is to incorporate personal details. If something was interesting about the interviewer, or there was a discussion you enjoyed, mention that in the thank you note. This will add a personal touch and help the recipient remember you. This will also make it easier to write your thank-you note.

6 Can I tell a program that they are my #1?

Be honest in your communication with programs. Avoid making promises about ranking a program #1 in the midst of interview season. We would advise sending a letter of intent to your #1 program at the end of the interview season so it doesn’t get lost in the mix.

7.     How do I end the note?

As you wrap up your thank you note, re-state why you are interested in the program, how obtaining a residency position there will help you achieve your career goals, and why you are a good fit. The end can also be an opportunity to discuss topics you forgot or information you didn’t have time to share during the interview.