The interview day does not end when you log off or leave the building. What you do in the next few days helps you remember what you learned, lets you reinforce the strengths you showed and leaves a courteous final impression.
Step 1: Record your impressions the same day
Write notes while the day is fresh: who you met, what they said, what you liked and what concerned you. These notes will matter when you build your rank list, and they supply the details for personal thank-you notes. Our rank-list guide shows how to use them.
Step 2: Think about what you want to highlight
Ask yourself which of your strengths came through, and which did not. Choose one or two points, such as a connection to the program's mission, a skill relevant to its patients or a project that fits its research. You can mention them briefly in your thank-you notes. Do not use the note to retell your whole application or to contradict what you said.
Step 3: Send thank-you notes
- When: within 24 to 48 hours of the interview.
- To whom: the program director, each faculty member or resident who interviewed you, and the program coordinator, whose help matters throughout the process. Ask the coordinator for contact details if you do not have them.
- How: a short, individual email is standard. Handwritten notes are fine but may arrive too late and are not required. Do not send the identical message to everyone.
- What to include: thank them by name, mention one specific thing from your conversation, restate your interest in a way that is honest, and close politely.
- Length: three to five sentences is enough.
Sample note to an interviewer
Dear Dr. Rivera,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I enjoyed our conversation about the continuity clinic and how residents build long-term relationships with their patients. It reinforced my interest in training at a program with this emphasis. Thank you again for your time and for the insight into resident life.
Sincerely,
Alex Morgan
Sample note to the program director
Dear Dr. Chen,
Thank you for meeting with me during interview day. I appreciated hearing about the program's focus on early autonomy and supervised procedural training, which fits what I am looking for in residency. I would be proud to train at your program and am grateful for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Alex Morgan
Staying within the rules
- The NRMP code of conduct discourages pressure from either side. Do not ask where you stand on the rank list, and do not promise how you will rank a program unless it is true.
- Do not send repeated messages. One thank-you per person is enough, with a single later update if something significant changes, such as a new publication or award.
- Keep your tone warm and professional, and proofread before sending.
- If a program says it does not want post-interview communication, respect that.
Step 4: Keep going
Continue to attend your scheduled interviews and keep your records organized. After the last interview, review your notes and rank programs by where you would truly want to train. If something unexpected happens, such as a change in your visa status or a new development, contact programs promptly and honestly.