<p>My son had several interviews with alumni as part of application for undergraduate program.
I forgot to advice him to email thank you notes, and he being new in the process did not know that he should.</p>
<p>Do you know if emailing thank you notes to alumni post interview is crucial?</p>
<p>Pls advice if your kids did.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Absolutely thanking the person. It’s the right thing to do; it’s irrelevant if it “matters” in the decision process.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing alumni interviews for 25+ years. I think I’ve gotten two thank-you notes/emails in all that time. It might be the right thing to do, but most applicants don’t do it, and it certainly doesn’t affect what I say.</p>
<p>^ Really? Just two thank you notes? Not even emails? Wow.</p>
<p>May I ask what college? And how many interviews do you do each year?</p>
<p>My daughter thanked all her interviewers and some of them even sent back emails telling her how much they enjoyed the interview.</p>
<p>Actually if there are any alumni interviewers reading this thread, I would urge you to respond to thank you emails- getting nice responses from her interviewers really cheered up my daughter during the very anxious period spent waiting for decisions.</p>
<p>^As a parent, I too am really surprised that only two applicants have sent thank you e-mails or notes, fireandrain. I completely agree with Pizzagirl that it is the right thing to do. Alumni interviewers give so much of their time each year all over the country (and the world). Shooting off a quick thank you e-mail, showing appreciation, is really an important gesture to teach our kids about acknowledging good deeds.</p>
<p>My kids have gotten quite a few thank you notes <em>from</em> the people they interviewed with. (Not alumni interviewers–people working in admissions.) (Although I agree that thank-you notes/e-mails are always appreciated. However, I don’t think they impact the admissions decision.)</p>
<p>I agree with VicariousParent, JShain and others – am quite surprised that few notes are sent. Students should show that they know proper etiquette and respect for the person’s time and the process as well. I think this is critical, particularly if you are applying to top tier schools which expect applicants to be more worldly, mature young adults. Personally, I would have preferred my kids to send handwritten notes, but that’s my generational hangup. Everyone communicates via email now, and the colleges encourage it. I insisted my daughter send notes after every interview – regardless of whether the interview was considered informational or evaluative, and regardless of whether the interviewer was a student or an admissions staff professional. You’ll never know if they keep every single communication from a student in the application file, but a well written thank you about the visit/conversation will reinforce your interest in the college, and could only be viewed positively. My D has already been accepted at two schools where she had personal interviews.</p>
<p>“Do you know if emailing thank you notes to alumni post interview is crucial?”</p>
<p>While I don’t have complete information, clearly the implication is that without writing a thank you note, your child might be disadvantaged in some way with regard to gaining admission to his/her preferred school. As a parent what kind of example does this thinking set for your kids? I always thought one expressed thanks as a means of recognizing that someone has done something for another person–in this case, an alum or college admission’s officer has taken his/her time to discuss your child’s interest about a particular school. I was not aware that sending a thank you note was done to help the sender. Can’t it be enough to say “thank you” because it is the courteous thing to do? Let me ask you this–if you knew with 100% certainty that the interview did absolutely nothing to enhance the likelihood that you child would get into school, would you still be worried if he/she did not send a note? If the answer is “no”, than you are sending the note for the wrong reason. If I might suggest an alternative—teach your child to put a $50 bill in the palm of his/her hand, and discretely pass it along to the admission’s counselor at thier next interview. Sort of like trying to get a room upgrade in Las Vegas—really more of a bribe than a thank you.</p>
<p>My d really liked the woman she interviewed with, and emailed her to tell her that she had gotten in, and received a nice email back. Why not forge those bonds? It takes 10 seconds to send an email.</p>
<p>Honestly, some of the “thank you” notes I’ve received have been so perfunctory and, well, insincere is a bit harsh, but clearly not exactly heart-felt. They had zero effect on my recommendations and my understanding and reading of the applicant. Yes, they are a courtesy, yes, they should be written…too often, they are coerced and stiff. Again, NOT an indication of the applicant’s worthiness. (more coffee needed before further grumpiness overload). Pizzagirl, your daughter took a moment to express a sincere sentiment…kudos.</p>
<p>Agree completely with Pizzagirl - this is just manners - I don’t see it as having an impact on the admissions decision. Thank you notes to any alumni interviewer, thank you notes to teachers who wrote a recommendation, a thank you note to someone (professor perhaps) at a university who spent time speaking with you, etc. This process is about more than getting into college - it is part of turning kids into young adults - and something as simple as a brief thank you note is appreciated and shows they were brought up with some manners.</p>
<p>And you are right too jg - if they are going to do it - take 5 minutes rather than 2 and express some genuine appreciation for the person’s time.</p>
<p>I interview for Brown. I’ve lived (and therefore interviewed) students in five different cities/states. Last year I did several phone interviews with students in two other locations. I interview anywhere from two to 10 students a year. So I’ve probably interviewed at least 150 students.</p>
<p>I interviewed three students this year, and got one email thank-you. </p>
<p>In many cases, I write the report immediately after the interview. So getting a thank-you note a day or two later will have no impact on what I write.</p>
<p>I have never thought twice about this. I’ve never felt insulted or thought less of the students. (I don’t expect house guests to bring me gifts, either.)</p>
<p>My husband also interviews. I’ve never asked him if he’s gotten emails, but I’m pretty sure he’s received very few written notes, if any. </p>
<p>In the students’ defense, many of them probably don’t have our contact information. We call them on the phone, rarely use email; while I give my full name at the beginning I doubt that any of the students write it down immediately. Once upon a time students used to come to my house, so they’d have my address – but now we meet in a public place. </p>
<p>The student who sent me the email this year was pretty diligent. She remembered where I worked, and figured out how to find my work email. (BTW, she got a mediocre write-up from me, so the thank-you letter really didn’t help her.)</p>
<p>I do like it when students call me if they’ve been accepted. Granted, in more than 150 interviews fewer than 10 have been accepted. I can remember two phone calls.</p>