How to Write a Medical School Interview "Thank You" Email (With Examples)

You’ve made it through your medical school interview. After all the preparation, answering questions about your experiences, and learning more about the program, it’s normal to want to take a breath. But before you completely shift gears, there’s one final step that can help reinforce the impression you made: sending a thank-you email. It might seem small, but a brief, thoughtful note can go a long way. It shows the admissions committee that you’re professional, that you appreciate the time and effort they put into your interview day, and that you’re still genuinely interested in their program, which is a crucial part of the application process. For many applicants, it’s also a chance to highlight a specific moment from the conversation that stuck with them and remind the interviewer of that interaction.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to write an effective medical school interview thank you email. I’ll cover who to send it to, when to send it, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes. You’ll also get a few real examples to help you craft a message that feels authentic and professional.

Why Sending a Thank You Email Matters After Your Med School Interview

Sending a thank you email after your medical school interview isn’t just about being polite, it’s part of what helps you stand out in a competitive process. Interviewers often have busy schedules, and acknowledging their effort to meet with you can leave a positive impression. Interviewers meet a lot of applicants in a single day, and a short follow-up note can help keep you fresh in their minds when decisions are being made. It also shows that you understand professional etiquette and value the time that faculty, admissions committee members, and students took to meet with you. Even if your note doesn’t get a reply, most interviewers notice who followed up, and who didn’t.

Note: You don’t need to write a long letter. A few well-written sentences can show that you’re organized, respectful, and genuinely interested in the school. It’s a small effort that can leave a lasting impression.

When and Who to Send Your Thank You Email To

When to Send It

Aim to send your thank you email within 24 to 48 hours of your medical school interview. This timing strikes the right balance: it’s soon enough that your conversation is still fresh in the interviewer's mind, but gives you enough time to reflect and write a thoughtful note. The sooner you send it, the better chance it has of being read before the admissions committee meets to review applicants. Some interviewers submit their feedback the same day or the day after your interview, so don’t wait too long.

If your interview falls on a Friday or right before a holiday weekend, sending it later that evening or first thing the next morning is still acceptable. Prioritize quality, but don’t delay.

Who to Thank

You should send a separate thank-you note to each person who spent meaningful time with you during your interview day. These include:

• Faculty members who conducted individual or group interviews
• Medical students who led tours hosted Q&A sessions or spoke with you one-on-one
• Admissions office staff who organized or facilitated your interview experience

Each interviewer deserves a personalized letter, especially if you had separate one-on-one conversations. Avoid sending the same message to everyone, generic letters are easy to spot and leave a weak impression. If your interview involves a group panel, it’s still best to thank each person individually, as long as you interact with them directly. You can reference the shared group setting in your message, but tailor it to their role in the conversation. If your interview followed a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, you generally do not send thank you notes to MMI raters. These interviewers are usually anonymous, and many schools prohibit post-interview contact. In these cases, send a single thank-you email to the admissions office, thanking them for organizing the day and offering any final thoughts.

How to Get Contact Information

The easiest way to get your interviewer's contact details is to ask at the end of your conversation. A simple, “Would it be alright if I followed up with a thank you email?” is professional and appropriate. Many faculty members will offer a business card or share their email addresses directly. If you’re writing to a medical student you met during a tour, panel, or lunch session, ask the admissions office staff if you can be connected, or send your note to the main admissions email and request that it be forwarded.

If you didn’t ask or forgot, you still have options:

• Check your interview confirmation emails. Sometimes contact info is included in your schedule.
• Reach out to the admissions office. Politely ask if they can share post-faculty email addresses or confirm where you can send your note.
• Search the school’s website. Many faculty have public profiles that include faculty email addresses, titles, and areas of research.

Expert tip: Right after your interview, take a few minutes to jot down each person’s name, title, and one or two specific conversation points you discussed. This makes it easier to write a well-written, detailed thank you note later and avoids confusing one interviewer with another.

What to Include in Your Medical School Interview Thank You Email

A strong medical school interview thank you email should be short, thoughtful, and specific. You don’t need to rewrite your application or restate your entire interview. The goal is to acknowledge the time your interviewer spent with you, reflect briefly on the conversation, and leave a professional final impression.

1. A Respectful Greeting

Start with a professional and appropriate salutation. If you interviewed with a faculty member, use:

• Dear Dr. [Last Name]

For admissions staff or students, you can use:

• Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name]
• Dear [First Name] (only if they introduced themselves that way)

Note: Avoid casual greetings like “Hey” or “Hi there.” If you’re unsure about titles, stick with the formal version.

2. A Clear Expression of Gratitude

The core of your thank you note should be just that expressing genuine gratitude. Keep it brief and sincere. A sentence or two is enough:

• “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on interview day.”
• “I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about [Insert School] and hear your perspective.”

Note: Be specific about what you’re thanking them for, whether it was their insights, kindness, or the effort they put into the interview process.

3. A Reference to Specific Conversation Points

Mentioning a specific detail from your conversation shows that you were engaged and paying attention. This is the most important part of the email, it makes your message feel personal and not like a generic letter.

You might reference:

• A question they asked that made you think
• A topic you discussed in depth
• Their current clinical research or teaching work
• A shared interest or value, such as working with underserved communities or student involvement in a student-run clinic

Examples:

• “I appreciated our conversation about [insert conversation topic], especially your thoughts on how students develop their clinical skills through community-based experiences.”
• “Our discussion about concussion management research helped me see how my past work in neuroscience could grow in your program.”

4. A Reaffirmation of Your Interest in the School

After you reference the conversation, add a sentence that ties your interest in the school to what you learned from the interview. Keep this simple, but clear.

Examples:

• “My conversation with you strengthened my interest in [Insert School], and I can clearly see myself thriving there as a future student.”
• “Learning more about [Insert School]’s approach to early clinical exposure confirmed that it aligns with my learning style and career goals.”

Tip: This helps the interviewer connect your personal fit with the school’s mission and priorities.

5. A Polite Closing With Your Name

Wrap up your email with one more thank you, and a short sign-off that conveys your gratitude sincerely and leaves a professional tone. Then sign your full name. If appropriate, you can include your contact information or AAMC ID in the signature block, especially if the school requests it in communications. You could use:

• Sincerely
• Best regards
• Thank you again

Subject Line Tips

The subject line is the first thing your interviewer will see, so keep it short, clear, and professional. There's no need to overthink it or try to be clever. A straightforward subject line helps the recipient immediately recognize who the email is from and why you're writing.

Good Subject Line Examples

• Thank you for today’s interview
• Thank you – [Your Full Name], [School Name] Interview
• Follow-up after our med school interview
• Appreciate our conversation – [Your Full Name]
• Thank you for your time and insights on [Insert Interview Date]

If you interviewed multiple people from the same school, you can use a consistent format across emails to make things easier to track on their end. If you interviewed multiple people, make sure to insert interviewer names in each email to personalize your thank you notes:

Example format:

Subject: Thank you for today’s interview – Jordan Kim, [School Name]

How to Start Your Email (Respectful Greeting)

Start your email with a greeting that matches the tone of the conversation, but always keep it professional. If you interviewed with a faculty member or physician, the safest option is:

• Dear Dr. [Last Name]

For medical students or admissions staff, it depends on how they introduce themselves. If they said “Hi, I’m Sarah,” you can go with:

• Dear Sarah

If they used their title, stick with:

• Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]

If you’re not sure which to use, err on the side of formality. Avoid casual openings like “Hey” or “Hi there”, even if your interview felt relaxed.

The Body: Expressing Gratitude + Mentioning Specific Details

The main part of your thank you note is where you show that you were paying attention and that you’re genuinely interested in the program, expressing sincere gratitude. Here’s what to include:

• A short sentence thanking them for their time
• One or two specific conversation points from your interview
• A line or two that connects the conversation to your own background, career goals, or learning style

Example:

“Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about [insert conversation topic]. I appreciated hearing your thoughts on the value of early clinical exposure, and it was helpful to learn how students at [insert school] build real clinical skills from the start. That aligns closely with what I’m looking for in a program and shows that I paid attention during our conversation.”

If your interviewer mentioned their work in clinical research or talked about the student-run clinic, use that as an anchor point. You could briefly describe how your interest in serving underserved populations or past relevant experience connects to those parts of the program. The goal here is to make it personal, but still concise. Avoid sending a generic letter that could apply to any school or any interviewer.

Ending the Note + Follow-Up Language

Wrap up your thank you email with a quick reminder of your interest and a respectful closing to stay fresh in the interviewer's mind. You must include:

• A final “thank you”
• A sentence showing your continued interest in the school or the medical profession
• An offer to share additional information if they need anything else
• A professional sign-off

Sign-off options:

• Best regards
• Sincerely
• Thank you again

After that, include your full name. If needed, you can also add your contact information or AAMC ID if the school requests it.

Example:

“Thank you again for your time and the thoughtful conversation. I would be honored to join [insert school] and contribute to its mission. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.”

Note: Keep it short, polished, and polite. The entire message should show you’re respectful, organized, and serious about becoming a future medical student.

Medical School Interview Thank You Email Examples

Example #1: Thank You to a Faculty Interviewer

Subject line: Thank you for today’s interview – [Your Name]

Dear Dr. Smith,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on Monday during my interview day at [Insert School]. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the specific program and your research on concussion management.

Our discussion about early clinical exposure and team-based learning helped me see how my learning style would be a strong fit for [Insert School]. I also enjoyed hearing your perspective on training future physicians to serve their communities.

Thank you again for your time and valuable insights. I would be honored to join [Insert School] and continue developing my clinical skills in an environment committed to meaningful service.

Sincerely,[Your Name]

Example #2: Thank You to a Medical Student

Subject line: Thank you for sharing your experience

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me during my interview day at [Insert School]. I appreciated learning about your path through medical school and your involvement in the student-run clinic, [insert student].

I was especially interested in your advice on balancing coursework and clinical opportunities, and how you found your interest in pediatrics through early patient experiences. Hearing your perspective helped me better understand the supportive community at [Insert School].

[Insert School] remains one of my top choices, and I hope to connect again in the future.

Best,[Your Name]

Example #3: Thank You to Admissions Office Staff

Subject line: Thank you for a well-organized interview day

Dear Admissions Office,

Thank you for organizing such an informative and welcoming interview day at [Insert School]. I enjoyed meeting with Dr. Lee and Ms. Rivera and appreciated the opportunity to learn about the curriculum and student support programs, which reflect the school's commitment to excellence.

The attention to detail and thoughtful scheduling made the experience smooth and engaging. I especially valued the time set aside to speak with current students and get a sense of the campus environment.

I’m excited about the possibility of joining the [Insert School] community and contributing to its mission.

Best regards,[Your Name]

Should You Send a Handwritten Letter Too?

Email is the standard format for a med school interview thank you letter. Handwritten letters are less common, and may take too long to arrive. You can send one if it feels right or if you want to add a personal touch, but it’s not expected. Don’t send only a handwritten note, always send the email first. If you choose to send a handwritten letter, refer to letter examples to ensure it follows best practices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Thank You Note

Tips for Leaving a Positive Impression

• Add each interviewer’s name and email to your notes or phone right after your interview.
• Use a brief note to express thanks, don’t try to restate your entire resume.
• Stay focused on the conversation and what you learned.
• End in a positive, polite tone and offer to follow up if needed.
• Proofread your letter quickly before sending it.

The Bottom Line

Sending thoughtful, well-written thank you letters after your medical school interview isn’t just a polite gesture, it’s a strategic way to reinforce your interest, demonstrate professionalism, and help interviewers remember you during the admissions review process. Aim to send your note within 24 to 48 hours, personalize it with specific details from your conversation, and keep it brief but sincere. Whether you’re thanking a faculty member, a medical student, or admissions staff, a clear and timely follow-up can set you apart from other applicants who overlook this simple but meaningful step.

Want Help Preparing for Your Interview?

Practice mock interviews with a former med school admissions officer or current student on Leland. Get personalized feedback and real-time advice so you're ready for any question. Browse Medical Coaches here.

Want to learn more tips and advice for having a successful medical school application cycle? Check out these articles:

• How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply to? A Strategic Approach
• How to Get Clinical Hours for Med School: Building Your Experience
• How to Write a Standout Internal Medicine Personal Statement
• Preparing for Medical School: A Comprehensive Guide

FAQs

Do I really need to send a thank you email after my med school interview?

• Yes. It’s a professional courtesy that reflects well on you. A short email shows that you appreciated the interviewer’s time and reinforces your interest in the program, especially important when they’re reviewing your file. Using a letter template can help you craft a professional and effective thank-you email.

How soon should I send it?

• Aim to send your thank you email within 24 to 48 hours of your interview. This helps keep your name fresh in the interviewer’s mind before evaluations are finalized.

What if I don’t have the interviewer’s contact information?

• If you didn’t get it during the interview, reach out to the admissions office. They can often share post-faculty email addresses or help you route your note to the right person. Some faculty email addresses may also be listed on the school’s website.

Should I thank a medical student or the admissions staff?

• Yes, if they spent time talking with you or helped guide you through the day. A short note to a medical student or admissions office staff can go a long way in showing appreciation.

Can I reuse the same note for different people or schools?

• No. Avoid sending a generic letter. Your thank you note should mention specific conversation points and be tailored to the person you spoke with. Personalized notes make a stronger impression.

Is it okay to send a handwritten thank you letter instead?

• You can, but email should come first. Handwritten letters take time to arrive and aren’t expected. If you do choose to send one, use it as a follow-up, not a replacement.