<p>A while back, we debated whether emailed thank yous were OK. I posted that while in general I prefer snail mailed thank yous, and would recommend them for alumni interviewers, that emailed thank yous for interviews conducted by the area rep of a school was fine, given the amount of mail and paper the admissions offices must process. True, they get lots of email too, I know....</p>
<p>S just received an emailed reply to an emailed thank you he sent after an interview with a rep. That's the second one. Two out of two. In both cases they were very personalized email responses. Not quite a likely letter, but it gave him a lift, knowing that the rep took time in a busy season to send a warm reply of 5 or 6 sentences. </p>
<p>While I know other applicants have gotten personal notes that, for example, a particular essay was really good, or a coach was pulling for him or her, I have a feeling that S would not have gotten a reply to a snail mailed note at this point in the admissions process. Email makes replies so much easier, and is perhaps more the norm for younger adcomms. </p>
<p>But one way or the other, do send that thank you!</p>
<p>I encouraged my daughter to hand write her note to the alumni interviewer....I don't know if she followed through with that or e-mailed him. She e-mailed the area rep. I am sure that either is fine.</p>
<p>I agree with you. I think a snail mail, handwritten note is always more thoughtful and would be viewed so. I think it would make the applicant stand out more. I can;t tell you how many people have sent me warm emails in the past year. But, I can certainly give you the names and occasions of handwritten notes I've received...and will always think most fondly of those people because I know they took time out to do something extraordinary for me. </p>
<p>On the flip side, I'm certainly more likely to respond quickly to an email because it's so easy and because email breeds the sharing of information. Email culture is such that an email calls for response. And, for younger people (young adcoms included) who have grown up in an email culture, the likelihood of the sharing of information via email is much better than snail or even phone calls. In the corporate setting, it seems to be only the older employees who prefer to talk on the phone than to use email or net meetings. </p>
<p>By the way, I think using both methods would work well....a quick email followed by a more thoughtful snail note.</p>