How To Send A Thank You Note After Your Residency Interview

Thank you notes will not impact how you are ranked, but, they are good way to reconnect with your interviewer and it is good manners to show gratitude to your interviewers. 

When To Send Your Thank You Note

Ideally you should send thank you notes within one week of your interview.

What To Say In Your Residency Thank You Letter

Make the note formal, short, and sweet (one to two paragraphs max) and mention anything that was a highlight of your interview; also repeat that you are interested in the school and thank the interviewer for her time. Do not mention where else you are interviewing or how you will be ranking the program. 

Sample thank you note:

Dear Dr. Katz,

I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me on January 6th. I was very impressed with the residency program at Academic Medical Center. Not only do I admire the program’s dedication to teaching but I also appreciate that I would have the opportunity to pursue my interest in critical care through the track that is offered. I also enjoyed comparing notes on our travels to India, and I hope you have a great time on your trip to Guatemala this spring. I think I would really enjoy living in XXX and feel I would be a great fit for your program. I would be honored to train with you and hope we can work together in the future.

Sincerely,
William Smith

What does this applicant do?

• He reminds the interviewer of his interview date and says thank you.
• He reminds the interviewer of his interest in critical care.
• He touches on a personal aspect of the conversation he had with the interviewer.
• He conveys that he would be a good fit for the program.

Who To Send It To

We suggest sending a thank you note to all of your individual interviews as well as anyone with whom you may have connected that day such as a resident or residency coordinator.

How To Send It

We suggest emailing thank you notes, if possible, since this allows the possibility of a reply. If you don’t receive a reply, however, do not be concerned. It also offers the chance to reconnect with your interviewer later in the interview season. Sometimes the residency coordinator will give applicants suggestions for contacting their interviewers so, if they do, be sure to follow those directions.