Is it appropriate to email my EC after being rejected to thank him?

Decisions come out tomorrow, and I know that getting in is a long shot. I’m not sure if I even made the ‘academically qualified’ cut, but I’m still glad I applied, because I had a really great time talking to my EC, and he told me a lot of useful and interesting info about his field (which I’m hoping to go into), I’ve been thinking about emailing him either way, to thank him one last time, because it was my favorite part of applying to college.

Is that, like, okay to do? At all? If I get in? If I don’t?
I’m not planning on being all sappy, just like either: I did get in or I didn’t (but I’m going here instead) talking to you was really helpful, not just for mit but for every school, (insert a few more lines here)

I don’t want him to think I’m trying to manipulate him or something. Is this a thing people do?

It sounds like you want to thank him, because you genuinely got a lot out of the conversation. Those are the best kind of thank you’s. You are doing it not for what you are getting out of the thank you, but to acknowledge his helpfulness. So I say, go ahead and do it.

I agree 100% with @wisteria100.

Not only is it a good idea, the EC is probably a good person to have in your LinkedIn network. As an EC myself, it is very nice to get a thank you after the interview, and you’d be surprised how many don’t. One outstanding applicant I interviewed was not admitted Early Action but she still contacted me to thank me for my time. Since then, she’s let me know she’ll be attending Rice, I put her in touch with a Rice graduate friend of mine I who is a leader in the startup/tech community here, and I’ve helped her set up and fine tune her LinkedIn page. I’m proud to be in her LI network. All along she’s been most grateful.

Yeah, it’s definitely appropriate. And don’t worry about whether he’ll think you’re trying to “manipulate” him; if your intentions are good and his perceptions are bad then that’s not your problem.

Beyond OK. It will be a treat for him.

Life lesson. Thanking someone who has helped you, given you information, etc., is never a bad idea. Just keep it short and simple.

@everyone thanks, I’m going to email him once I get a few more decisions (there’s one I’m hyped for tomorrow, so maybe it’ll be that soon), I feel like I should know where I’m going.