How many thank you emails is too many?

Prep School Admissions
1

Do we need to send a “thank you” email every time we are on campus and someone takes the time to talk to us? I’m guessing the answer is yes but I don’t want it to come across as ingratiating. At some point it seems almost too much to be constantly thanking everyone for their time.

For example: AO knows we are coming to campus and spends an hour with us after the work day. I think that deserves a thank you. From child AND parent or just child?? What about every coach at every game? Again, just child or both child and parent?

2

In our case:
Child sent them to all AOs, tour guides (kids), coaches and special interest teachers
Parents sent them to AOs

3

For us it was just the child and it was snail mail. They were sent to anyone he spent time with. Email was used for ongoing communication.

4

Parents are not going to the college. All thank you’s should be from the students.

5

@knowstuff This is the prep school/boarding school thread, FYI.

6

@doschicos. Sorry and thanks so much for catching that error. But actually I stand by what I said. When our kids applied to a private high school and when the kids did the interviews the thank you’s came from the kids. We usually saved our thank you for when we had questions and we did have questions. I think it shows respect and maturity of the child.

If this does not apply to this thread then please accept my apologies.

7

I don’t disagree with you, @knowstuff, and we followed your course of action as well.

8

I sent my own thank yous to AOs where I had participated (on campus visits) and only to the one AO I interviewed with. All other communication was initiated by DS from the start of the process to the end. I think schools he really held high on his list, he followed up with snail mail thank you cards to all those he had interacted with (AO, coach, tour guide, etc).

9

This wasn’t an interview, we just ran into people at a game and they spent time with us. That’s why I asked about it being ingratiating (in a bad way) to send emails for everything.

Just FYI I have seen interviews with AOs where they say they prefer email because it is easier to respond to. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with snail mail.

10

I received a personalized postcard from an AO after my first interview early in the fall. After that, I sent snail mail cards to every AO & coach who took the time to speak with me, and a couple of tour guides.

11

@dogsmama1997 at this day and age, I think either are acceptable. And I would not send “thank you” emails, but I may send “nice to have met you” emails…but I’d do that even if they had nothing to do with a school we were applying to.

12

Student should send the thank you notes. Hand written is better. My DS#1 brought notes with him when visiting colleges and left the thank you note for them in their box/with secretary/admin or wherever was best and available before he left campus. Highly recommend this.

13

Thank you notes should be used sparingly & reserved for interviewers and those who have given extraordinary help to the applicant. For most contacts, a sincere in person thank you should suffice.

14

Not sure I can agree with that. No, don’t shower everyone you came into contact with, but these folks are giving their time and energy, and a thank you to an excellent tour guide or interviewer or faculty member whose lab you toured is extremely appropriate.

15

I’m not an AO, but I’ve done much interviewing and recruiting in my career. I couldn’t tell you who ever sent a followup email, personal note or nothing at all. In fact, I’ve received hand written thank yous and thought “In the year 20–, why kill trees to thank me, instead of sending an email?”…but I never took note of who did so. Thank yous are a nice gesture, but I personally think they have zero impact on the outcome.

16

I don’t know if I agree with the above… In a different setting we are interviewing for our medical office. Someone that took the time to one have a great interview then follow that up with a thank you email stands out in our opinion. It’s just a mature and nice thing to do. Again, we are a mom /pop medical office so this gesture does stand out. In a big university setting maybe not. But if you were interviewed in anyway or had one on one contact then send a one line thank you for your time. I look forward to a favorable response (if that applies)

17

I wish ChoatieLT knew what a thank-you note was. If he’s ever sent one to anyone at any time in his life, I’m unaware. He had a terrible upbringing. :frowning:

I certainly agree it’s the civilized thing to do, but I also agree with @Altras that it will have zero impact on BS admissions outcomes. (And you can bet the AOs get a forest of these and will not notice if one is missing.)