thank you notes for letter writers

[shepardn7]

Is it better to send a "thank you card" after the deadline or after the acceptance (or rejection?) news?

[Strangefox]

Is it better to send a "thank you card" after the deadline or after the acceptance (or rejection?) news?

Well, I think you can send it as soon as they submit letters. And you can also send a note when you know you are accepted!

[eklavya]

Is it better to send a "thank you card" after the deadline or after the acceptance (or rejection?) news?

is this really a common thing to do if your letter writers are (HUGELY) renowned in your field? and they are science people. i did thank them via email, and i am sure they know i am grateful for their letters.

but 'thank you' card or not, i think all our LoR writers do a heck of a job in pitching in for us. they deserve a day dedicated to them!

[shepardn7]

Well, I think you can send it as soon as they submit letters. And you can also send a note when you know you are accepted!

I didn't send right after they submitted (all at different times, some closer to deadlines than others). I was so busy that time got away from me, but now that I've submitted, I want to send a small note of thanks via mail (of course I already thanked them profusely through email).

[Strangefox]

I didn't send right after they submitted (all at different times, some closer to deadlines than others). I was so busy that time got away from me, but now that I've submitted, I want to send a small note of thanks via mail (of course I already thanked them profusely through email).

Are you sure you need to send an additional note via mail if you have already thanked them via email?

[shepardn7]

Are you sure you need to send an additional note via mail if you have already thanked them via email?

That's what I was wondering. If it's generally customary to send a "real" thank you card upon receipt of the letter OR after accepted into a program. People have even said, for example, that they buy their rec writers bottles of wine or gift cards. I'm not sure what is expected here. For example, my advisor bought me (and her other advisees) a little gift and gave it to me at graduation, but I had never thought of buying her one -- I wish I had at least had a card for her then! So, yeah, basically I was wondering if it's customary to do a brief emailed "thank you so much" after they submit, and then send them a more palpable token with acceptance news (though across the board rejections would complicate that plan).

Edited December 3, 2010 by sarandipidy

[balderdash]

I sent mine an email thanking them for their help once they had submitted recommendations for my MPhil, but once I was accepted and knew where I was going, it was wine all around. In my experience, it's the best way to do it.

[gradstudent84]

I've actually done some research on this, and many people were against giving gifts to professors. I disagree with this. I think it's perfectly okay, as long as it's not too much. Yes it's the professors' jobs to write letters but it can be quite overwhelming. I wrote handwritten cards and gave chocolates including a gift card with a small amount, and it was fine.

[Strangefox]

I wrote handwritten cards and gave chocolates including a gift card with a small amount, and it was fine.

I am sorry - a small amount of what?

[Bukharan]

Yeah, I was wondering as well.

[stupidcat]

Is it better to send a "thank you card" after the deadline or after the acceptance (or rejection?) news?

I'm buying my referees lunch as a thank you.

[shepardn7]

I'm buying my referees lunch as a thank you.

Mine all live hundreds of miles away. I think that's part of it. They feel distant, and I would need to send anything for them to the grad dept, not their homes (I don't want to ask him for addresses) or in person. One of my writers is also somewhat MIA because she is on sabbatical. So I wasn't really planning on buying a gift (especially not wine, that would be difficult to do), but I would like to send a card with a nice message.

Edited December 3, 2010 by sarandipidy

[gradstudent84]

I am sorry - a small amount of what?

Small amount of money. Like a $5 gift card.

[qbtacoma]

I sent thank you notes as soon as my recommenders agreed to write letters for me, as well as some homemade baked goods. I didn't go out of my way to thank them specifically after submitting the letters, but we've corresponded on things like program deadlines and I thank them in each of those emails. I think sending a card with a coffeeshop gift card ($5 or $10) or something in it is a good idea. It's not like they are expecting us to pony up anything big.

[modernity]

This has been very thoroughly discussed on this board before... if you wanna dig up the old threads to see... the general consensus was this from what I remember:

Buying gifts is okay, IF you are very close with the professor - ie you've been to their house, you hang out outside of class, you're on a very close first name basis, etc. it is NOT okay if you are not very close because it can put the professor in an awkward position, and definitely not okay before they have submitted (it can appear to be a bribe of sorts).

Sending a card whether or not you have thanked them in email IS customary - I've talked to professors and read blogs published by professors that talk about how insane it is that people they write LORs for can't take the time out to send or drop off a quick card considering they put in the effort to write on average to about 5 schools, use their professional connections to help you, etc. Thank you cards are just good business in your regular life, but even more important when you're talking about people who are helping you with your professional career. Also - if for some reason you didn't get in this year, and you need them to write for you again last year - trust me, they'll generally remember whether or not you properly thanked them for their hard work.

When in doubt - you know the particular professors personality, well hopefully you do if you're assuming they know yours well enough to write a LOR for you, err on the side of caution and what you think would best suit their personality/sensibilities.

But ABSOLUTELY say thank you whenever the chance presents itself. They will be in your academic/conference circles for years to come, and you need as many people in your corner as possible.

[shepardn7]

This has been very thoroughly discussed on this board before... if you wanna dig up the old threads to see... the general consensus was this from what I remember:

Buying gifts is okay, IF you are very close with the professor - ie you've been to their house, you hang out outside of class, you're on a very close first name basis, etc. it is NOT okay if you are not very close because it can put the professor in an awkward position, and definitely not okay before they have submitted (it can appear to be a bribe of sorts).

Sending a card whether or not you have thanked them in email IS customary - I've talked to professors and read blogs published by professors that talk about how insane it is that people they write LORs for can't take the time out to send or drop off a quick card considering they put in the effort to write on average to about 5 schools, use their professional connections to help you, etc. Thank you cards are just good business in your regular life, but even more important when you're talking about people who are helping you with your professional career. Also - if for some reason you didn't get in this year, and you need them to write for you again last year - trust me, they'll generally remember whether or not you properly thanked them for their hard work.

When in doubt - you know the particular professors personality, well hopefully you do if you're assuming they know yours well enough to write a LOR for you, err on the side of caution and what you think would best suit their personality/sensibilities.

But ABSOLUTELY say thank you whenever the chance presents itself. They will be in your academic/conference circles for years to come, and you need as many people in your corner as possible.

Right, I agree, but I was wondering if it's better to send the card after the acceptance news or after the deadlines or when. I guess I'll just send them now.

Edited December 4, 2010 by sarandipidy

[modernity]

Right, I agree, but I was wondering if it's better to send the card after the acceptance news or after the deadlines or when. I guess I'll just send them now.

Its best to send them right after the deadlines because acceptance news can take months - and that way you don't forget, or they don't think you forgot. You can always send a follow up and tell them what the results were - particularly if they've asked you to.

[gradstudent84]

Shoot. I already gave them thank you cards/small gifts before all the letters were submitted....

[Strangefox]

Shoot. I already gave them thank you cards/small gifts before all the letters were submitted....

Is that a problem? Unless, of course, they now will decide not to submit letters since they already have your gifts

[gradstudent84]

Is that a problem? Unless, of course, they now will decide not to submit letters since they already have your gifts

Haha talk about shooting my own foot....that would be terrible.