Post Medical School Interview: The Thank You Letter

Should you write a thank you letter after your medical school interview? What is a letter of intent? How do you address your interviewers? Snail mail or email? MedSchoolCoach's Dr. Sahil Mehta takes you through what you should be doing AFTER your medical school interview!

Here is how you can construct the perfect thank you letter:
Step 1 – Be Respectful

Start your letter off with a respectful greeting (i.e. Dear Dr. Mehta). Even if the interviewer was casual throughout the interview, it is always a safer bet to be formal in your letter.

Step 2 – Say Thank You

This is a no-brainer. Give your reasons for why you are expressing gratitude to the person. For example, “I am writing to thank you for taking the time to meet with me during my interview. I left impressed by your efforts in quality improvement and the school’s commitment to patient-centered care.”

Step 3 – Incorporate Specific Conversation Points

After interacting with so many applicants during the interview day, it is always nice to help remind them of who you were and connect your interview to your name. Incorporate something you specifically appreciated from your time with them. Give reasons why your interaction with them helped you learn more about the school, opportunities available for students, etc. This step will help elevate your letter from a simple thank you to a sincere one.

Step 4 – Share Updates and Pitch Yourself

Thank you letters are also an opportunity to sell yourself. Don’t take away from the purpose of the letter – expressing your gratitude – but you can take a line to share updates or pitch qualities that you believe make you a great fit for the program.

Step 5 – Closing Gratitude

End your letter with a polite final line restating your gratitude. For example, “I appreciated learning more about your program. Thank you again for the opportunity to share my experiences, skills, and interest.”

Now that I’ve written the perfect thank you letter, where do I send it?

Some interviewers will provide you with their business card at the end of the interview. Their email addresses may also often be found online (usually on the faculty directory on the school’s website). Otherwise, you can always send your thank you letters and emails to the Admissions Office, and they will happily send them along to the appropriate recipient.

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