<p>Shortly after an interview last month, tw2 wrote a lovely thank you. Tw2 then gave it to me to address, stamp and mail and ..... I just found it under the lamp table. I feel terrible!!! This is for the dream school! This was a local alumni interview. I just put it in the mail but EA decisions come out this week so the person won't get it before then. Will the lack of a thank you note have reflected badly on my child and negatively affect the interviewer's recommendation? She thoroughly enjoyed the interview and felt that the interviewer did also. (She had previously interviewed on campus and I did actually mail that thank you note promptly.) </p>
<p>Truly no…I am a local alumni interviewer but I usually do my report right after the interview and if I then got a thank you I would think “how nice!” but there is no method of communicating that to anyone who actually makes decisions.
And also…if you are a polite person who sends thank you notes, that generally would come through in the interview.</p>
<p>Thank you, bopper - I can breathe again 
I’m sure tw2 was very polite, respectful and enthusiastic in the interview.</p>
<p>I’ll second what bopper said. And add that I’ve been doing alumni interviews for 30+ years, between 4-7 every year, and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of thank-yous I’ve gotten. </p>
<p>I can third this. I do my eval right after the interview, so whether or not I get a thank you note has no bearing on it.</p>
<p>I do interviews for Yale and very rarely get thank you notes - e-mails sometimes. However, since I try to write my evaluation right after the interview, whether or not I got a thank you does not enter into the equation. It will be fine.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your reassurances. I was wracked with guilt. And you were all correct - it did not affect her review - she just got word she’s been accepted to Harvard !!! Thanks again - great community here.</p>
<p>Our kids waited until after the decision date to send the thank you note. That way, it cannot possibly be construed as an attempt to influence the process. It is also nice to let the interviewer know the results of your application.</p>
<p>and don’t do what the kid did today…give me the thank you note right after we finished the interview. (alumni interviww)</p>
<p>I would prefer an email that mentioned something we talked about!</p>
<p>I prefer the applicant E-mail me a quick, informal “Thank You” within a few days after the interview. Then I know they have a genuine interest in the school. A couple students I’ve interviewed mentioned applying to Harvard and Princeton (not my school) and so if I don’t hear from them after the interview, I might assume they have their sights set higher…(Is it fair I ask them where else they are applying?)
One lovely ED candidate I interviewed E-mailed an immediate thank you E-mail last month, and also again the other day when she was deferred, letting me know the school is still her first choice and that she hopes to get in regular decision. I so badly want her to get in over the other regular decision candidates who would rather go to Harvard and Princeton and don’t bother to send a thank you. It also makes me feel like they think they are smarter than me. (Believe it or not) The interviewee today was very hard to read, rattled off a list of 5 other schools she had looked at, and never smiled, so if she E-mailed me I would at least know she is serious about the school, or at least has good manners.
I would never give my home address and wouldn’t rely on regular mail anyhow. I was surprised to hear some are putting thank you notes in the mail. Do you give out your address?</p>
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<p>A couple of my S’s interviews were held at the interviewer’s home so he already knew their address. He sent his thank-you via e-mail, though.</p>
<p>Amomwantstoknow asked, …(Is it fair I ask them where else they are applying.</p>
<p>Many kids and parents post on here wondering how to answer that question. It’s a minefield. Most would prefer not to answer it. Really, what does it matter where else they are applying? Let’s say they are applying to Princeton or Harvard – their chance of getting accepted to those schools is so low, why should they be penalized for applying to them or having a dream? If they have the stats to apply to more selective schools, but don’t get in, I assume your alma mater would love to have them on campus. </p>
<p>From the kids’ perspective, they may want Harvard but know they may not get in and would be happy at your school. They don’t want to lie in the interview, but they are afraid telling the truth will penalize them. </p>
<p>re: the what other schools you are applying to question. Since most kids apply to 6, 7, or more these days, this is an easy thing to deal with. Just name 2 or 3 other schools, of equal or lesser selectivity from you list. You don’t need to list ALL your schools. You won’t be dishonest, just limited in your disclosure and I feel there’s nothing wrong with that. </p>