<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>Beth, I'm with your parents. Keep it professional. Your handmade card sounds charming, but far too artsy and informal, especially for a non-arts related graduate program. A brief, sincere and articulate thank-you, either typed or neatly handwritten, is a better choice.</p>
<p>As an alum interviewer, I agree with most of the advice. </p>
<p>Whenever I have to meet someone I don't know, I usually just describe what I look like (have one very unusual feature, so I mention that one) and what I'll be wearing - not hard to plan a few days in advance to wear khakis and a red sweater. </p>
<p>I'm fine with students drinking coffee. It will be awkward not to - she'll be drinking coffee and you'll just be looking at her. Also, you're kind of in a coffee shop - there is the assumption that, if you're going to occupy the table for an hour, that you should buy something. Besides, if you're fidgity, it can be nice to have something in your hands. (I was once told that the best way to stop fidgeting in the court room is to hold onto the podium and not let go. It works.)</p>
<p>Beth: typed or neatly handwritten note on professional card stock. If you're applying to be a teacher, that would be fine. You're not. This isn't undergrad admissions - spots don't go to the most creative students, they go to the people who are going to excel and make good alums.</p>
<p>Don't do a creative thank you note, though. Typed is fine. Thank you notes are just a matter of courtesy, and aren't intended to increase your chances. The interviewer has likely filed his report and/or made up his mind about you by the time he gets your thank you note.</p>
<p>I'm analumae interviewer. A little more advice: be up to date on major curent events. You don't need to be an expert, but it is always disconcerting when a student interviewing for a high level school clearly doesn't read the paper.<br>
Ask for the buisness card. I prefer email thank yous. They come right away, and they are easy to answer if the student has a question. But a mailed one is fine, too, as long as it is professional and not all flowery.
The interviewer wants to get a sense of your personality and how articulate you are.</p>
<p>And don't be shy about starting your own thread! Wonder if the OP is currently attending the college that was interviewed for back in November of 2004.</p>
<p>I'm an alum interviewer. I usually conduct interviews in coffee shops. Rather than have people describe themselves and try to figure out who is there to interview them, I email them a picture of me (if we've been communicating by email to set up the interview time and place, that is). That way the student won't have another thing to worry about -- picking the right person in Starbucks to go up to and ask if they are there for the interview. I also always give them my cell phone number to call in case there is any problem in traffic, etc.</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>