<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am actually applying to a post-bac pre-med program, and have a question for you. I interviewed with a school on Monday and want to send a thank you note, but have a dilmna. One of my hobbies is scrapbooking, and I had initially thought to send a handmade card, I bought school paper (guess more meant for elementary type schools, with schoolbuses, apples, letters on it), and then was going to put a solid color paper over that, so just the border of the school paper showed, and put some of the very fancy stickers on, I got one that is a little fabric backpack with 2 books poking out of the top, one says Science, the other says Math. I was also going to put a little composition notebook on it (looks real) and a pencil, and in the middle, have a sticker of a chalkboard that says School Days written on it. My parents think this is a mistake and would jeopordize my chances of admission. I'd thought that this was a way to show I have a passion for my hobbies and could bring that passion to that school, but my parents insist I should send a typewritten letter on stationary or a neatly handwritten note on stationary or professional cardstock (like a card made of stationary with my initial on it). Could you please email me at <a href="mailto:Beth_W@ix.netcom.com">Beth_W@ix.netcom.com</a> as soon as possible with your thoughts? I don't want to jeopordize my chances of admission by sending the homemade card, but don't want to lose the chance to make a positive impression by not sending it either. Help!</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Beth</p>
<p>Why take the risk??????? It would be nice under some circumstances. I can guarantee that you would not get the job if you did that after a job interview. It might work if you were interviewing for Hallmark. The more I type, the more I think this is a bad idea. It isn't professional, you have nothing to gain, it could be real bad, you will worry about it until April, and if you are denied, you will be kicking yourself for the rest of your life and you will have to listen to your parents about it. Good luck.</p>
<p>What you describe might be appropriate if you were applying for an art or secondary or preschool graduate program. It's not appropriate for a thank-you note for an interview for any kind of medical program. </p>
<p>If you proceed with your idea, your interviewer is likely to judge you as being flaky, immature or lacking the seriousness of purpose for a hard science graduate experience.</p>
<p>My advice is to reserve the cutsie type of notes for friends and family. Send a formal thank-you note, which would leave a professional impression. Instead of spending your time looking for stickers to decorate your note with, take the time to think of including a written content that highlights your intellectual capabilities and how those relate directly to your graduate and postgraduate aspirations.</p>
<p>I've been coordinating graduate admissions for a graduate program at UC Berkeley for 20 years and I have to agree with your parents that a traditional thank-you note would be more appropriate at this point (professionalism, etc.). Once you are admitted and you better know the culture of the institution, then you may be able to show your more creative side with your professors.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. I decided not to use the homemade card, but use a professional stationary notecard, on stationary/cardstock paper, that has my initial on the front. Both my parents approved of that notecard, so I'm going to do that instead. Thanks. One of the current students in the program I was in contact with told me I should do that type of thank you note now, and save the homemade card to send in after I'm admitted - she thinks the director will like the card, but it'd be better to save it for after I'm admitted. Thanks.</p>
<p>Beth</p>
<p>That sounds fine to me as a celebration card. Good luck.</p>