How to Write a College Interview Thank You Email

Thank you card
Updated:
August 28, 2023
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/11/23

You’ve finished the all-important college interview, one of the last steps in your college application timeline. Before you declare this step over, however, make sure to write a college interview thank you email.

 

A college interview thank you email will acknowledge your interviewer and let them know how interested you are in attending their school. This is your opportunity to express your gratitude and can be a crucial step for acceptance, so it is important to get it right.

This article will focus on how to write a college interview thank you email and what you should be sure to include. By the end of this article, you should have all the tools to compose a meaningful thank you email after your college interview – increasing your chances of acceptance.

Why is a College Interview Thank You Email Important?

Writing a college interview thank you email is essential to leave the interviewer with a good impression of who you are. 

Always remember that a college interviewer meets with a lot of prospective students–so you’ll want to find ways to stand out from the rest. By writing a college interview thank you email, you remind the interviewer of who you are and why you deserve a spot at their college. 

Leaving a good impression is crucial as they may report to the other admissions officers on their recommendation. This could be your last chance to make a case for your acceptance, so ensure you follow good interview etiquette by writing the thank you letter with sincerity.

When to Send Your Thank You Email

You want to write the college interview thank you email fairly soon after the interview. Directly after the interview, you might want to jot down a few notes that you could include in the letter so that you can put a few personal details that pertain to your interview.

Once you’ve written the email, make sure to send it about 24 hours after the interview, as this will show the interviewer how keen you are and that you know proper interview etiquette.

How to Write a Thank You Email After College Interview

There are some elements that are essential to include in your thank you email. This section will cover what you can do to ensure you write a stellar college interview thank you email.

Use Professional Language

Even if your interview experience was comfortable and casual, you must remember to write your email in professional language. 

You want your thank you email to be polite and professional by using the same format you would use for a business or cover letter. Ensure to be appreciative of the time the interviewer took to converse with you.

Express Your Gratitude

Thanking the interviewer for taking the time out of their schedule to meet with you is an essential part of your college interview thank you email. Ensure to express your gratitude for this at the beginning and end of the letter. With this said, make sure you don’t overdo your thanks. Keep it short, sweet, and professional. 

Add Specific Detail About the Interview

By adding specific details about the interview, the recipient will know that the email has not just been copied and pasted. Even if you use a template for the letter, mention something particular about the interview or the school/program you are applying to. 

Reiterating your enthusiasm about attending the school is a great way to add detail to a college interview thank you email. This will let your genuine interest in the school shine through.

Be Concise

Ensure that your thank you email after a college interview is concise. Ideally, your email should be no longer than a few short paragraphs. 

Remember that your interviewer already has all the information they need about you and why you are pursuing the program you’ve applied to. The college interview thank you email should only convey that you respect the interviewer’s time.

By using the above advice, you’ll be able to compose a successful college interview thank you email.

Sample College Interview Thank You Emails

Here is an example college interview thank you email to guide your writing:

“Dear Prof. Brown,

I am writing to thank you for spending time with me yesterday and talking about the arts program at Koala University. I know how busy you must be, and I appreciate that you were able to spend some time getting to know me.

I also really enjoyed getting to know you and hearing how you decided to study art history at Koala University. Your study of Indigenous art sounds fascinating, and I hope to be able to learn more about the topic next year.

Please let me know if you have any more questions for me. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Abigail Bedford” 

As you can see, the letter follows the guidelines we pointed out in the previous section. It is concise, polite, and customized to the interviewer so they know your gratitude is sincere.

Here’s another sample: 

“Dear Prof. Smith, 

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me yesterday about Super College’s biology program. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me and share your experiences teaching at Super College. 

I looked into the music and plant growth study you mentioned, and I found it fascinating; I’m looking forward to potentially learning more about botany in Super College’s Plants and Biodiversity course next year. Our conversation helped me learn much more about Super College and its commitment to environmental conservation. 

Please let me know if you have any more questions about me or my candidacy, and I’d be more than happy to follow up. Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely, 

Samantha Gould” 

This example displays gratitude and references a point the applicant found interesting in their interview, making the response more personalized. 

College Interview Thank You Email Template 

This college interview thank you email template can help you keep your writing concise while conveying your gratitude: 

“Dear [Interviewer Name], 
Thank you for taking the time to meet up with me on [date]. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to learn more about me and share your experiences at [school name]. 
I am glad we both [topics you both enjoy or have in common]. OR I researched/looked into/read/watched [things your interviewer told you about, and how you felt about it]. 
Our conversation helped me learn much more about [school name] and [fact about the school that stuck out to you]. 
Please let me know if you have any more questions for me. Thank you again for your time and insights. 
Sincerely, 
[Your Name]” 
college interview thank you email template

FAQs: College Interview Thank You Email

Here are a few common questions about writing a college interview thank you email.

1. Should You Send a Thank You Email After a College Interview?

Yes, you should send a thank you email after each interview. 

2. How Do You Write a Thank You Email After a School Interview?

Make sure your thank you email after a school interview is professional and sincere. Remember to start and finish the letter with gratitude and be polite and upbeat. Being concise is also important as you want to avoid a long or repetitive email.

3. How Long Should You Wait to Send a Thank You Email After an Interview?

Your thank you email should be sent no more than 24 hours after the interview.

4. What Do You Say After a College Interview?

Expressing your gratitude is always key to leaving the interview on a good note. Something as simple as saying “thank you for your time” can work wonders and leave the interviewer with a great impression.

Additionally, ensure you add personal touches to the email. Saying something specific about your interview or the program is crucial. The last thing you want is for your interviewer to think you’re sending the same email to each person.

Final Thoughts 

If you’ve stood out throughout the application process and landed an interview with your dream college, you must let them know that you appreciate the opportunity. Writing a thank you email after your interview is one way you can do that. 

A well-written thank you email after a college interview is one of the most important activities you can do when applying for college. By writing a thank you email, you show your appreciation to the interviewer and the school for giving you this opportunity–leaving them with a good impression.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Thanks ! You're now subscribed!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get A Free Consultation

Speak to a college admissions expert about how we can help you get into your dream school
Schedule a Call

You May Also Like

Before you go, here are a few facts about us!
The Quad Factor: Working with us can increase your chances of admission by 11x!

The Best of the Best: Our team comprises of only 99th percentile tutors and admissions counselors from top-ranking universities, meaning you work with only the most experienced, talented experts.

The Free Consultation: Our experts would love to get to know you, your background, goals, and needs. From there, they match you with a best-fit consultant who will create a detailed project plan and application strategy focused on your success.