How to thank my recommenders

[JoMarie]

I recently submitted 14 applications for PhD programmes in philosophy. I feel bad for causing my recommenders so much work, and I was wondering what was appropriate in terms of saying thank you. I guess that once I have heard back from all schools I should at least send them all cards informing them how it turned out. But how about a bottle of wine or the like? Problem is also two of my four recommenders are in different countries so I'd have to send something by post. What's appropriate here? They are English, an American pretending to be English, and Dutch - in case that matters for what etiquette requires. Thanks for suggestions!

[pheonixx]

I have two of my letter writers a small box of chocolates and a handwritten letter. One of my writers was my mentor throughout undergrad and postgrad and we have a great relationship so I gave her a fancy mug with chocolates and a letter. Just a small token of my appreciation for their guidance and work. I'm keeping them informed through this whole process (sending emails when I get interviews).

[felicidad]

I sent handwritten thank you cards to each of my recommenders. If and when I get accepted into a program, I am going to send them a small token from my school of choice, such as a coffee mug.

[LLajax]

I went with a handwritten thank-you card and handmade baked goods.

[Tall Chai Latte]

Handwritten cards for all

[Tall Chai Latte]

I also bought them a small, consumable gift (like dried tea leaves, one of my recommenders likes drinking tea) when I visit them for Christmas break.

[quantitative]

As with any good gift, I tried to come up with cheap/thoughtful gifts that fit what they mention to you in passing. If they always are drinking tea/coffee, get them a nice tea/coffee bag (as I did for one professor). For my mentor, who would always tell students about how much he loved Christmas and decorating for it, I got him a Christmas ornament that fit this story he always told. I simply thanked them in person with a gift.

Just think about what you know about what they do with their free time...and if you can come up with a nice gift based on that, they'll love it.

Edited February 10, 2012 by quantitative

[CarlieE]

I did hand written thank you cards.

[katiemk1230]

I like all these ideas. My question is *when* should I give them a token of my gratitude? I'd do it now but it seems like every week, one of my schools is "missing" (read: they lost it) one reference or another and I have to bug my references yet again. I want to give them something when I know everything is done, but should I wait until I get all my decisions? With at least one of my schools, that could be quite awhile...

Edited February 12, 2012 by katiemk1230

[ribeth]

I sent thank-you letters the week after all the LOR submissions had been confirmed. Some people send them after they hear back from all their schools--but since that can take months, I thought it best to send them sooner. Instead, I told my writers I'd get in contact with them again after I received my admissions decisions (I'm graduated, otherwise I'd be in their offices everyday complaining about how long the process takes. Hah!).

Edited February 12, 2012 by ribeth

[felicite]

Mine had to be written the week before finals, so I baked them cookies and gave them each a handwritten thank you note right before finals. I knew I wouldn't see them until January so that is why I did it so early and it nicely coincided with the holidays.

[CarlieE]

I got notified of an interview very early on in The Season and so I opted to wait until I got a rejection/acceptance to write my thank you cards, especially because this first interview was my top choice school and my LORs knew that..

Anyway, I got accepted so I wrote "I got accepted into XXXX!! " in purple sharpie in the top section of the thank you card. I wanted to send thanksyous with a happy bit of news (if I could).

But had I been rejected, I would have waited until the end of the season in April and then sent thank you cards so I could include the (sad) results of my applications.