shockwave Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 My references have been very supportive of my applications. They will be submitting 12 LoR's for me and have been very helpful through my supervision. I was hoping to send them a small token of gratitude. A holiday card is definitely one thing, but should I get them something else that is small too? Perhaps something like under $20 that they would find nice? Or is that not a good idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porridge Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I did and will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmm Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I did too -- but one prof was a bit uncomfortable accepting a gift. It worked out OK, though. We're still on good terms :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilgreycells Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I gave all my recomenders gifts during my application season and they really seemed to appreciate it. The dollar limit is a good idea. My recommenders were 2 faculty that I am extremely close with (celebrated holidays with their families before) and my supervisor from my job so I set my limit a bit higher but as long as you feel comfortable with the amount I think you're good to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moody Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 If you do it should be something small - like maybe some cookies you baked. It can get into uncomfortable ethical territory if it seems like more than a small gesture of appreciation. Much more important is for you to keep your letter writers informed about the outcome - it is always gratifying to hear that you wrote a letter that helped someone get admitted to a good program / receive a scholarship / etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockwave Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Well what would you recommend if they are in three different areas of the country? I was planning on mailing them a gift of some kind during the holiday season but they are literally in three different regions of the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moody Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Honestly, I would say just send a card. Really. I would feel quite uncomfortable receiving a gift in the mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeruK Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I was also worried about the ethical issues of providing a gift while they were writing letters (although maybe it wasn't a big problem since I already given gifts to these people before) and/or while they were still supervising my work and could potentially be part of my thesis defense committee! And half of my recommenders were far away (at my undergrad school) and I didn't want to send them a gift in the mail either. So my solution was to write appreciative emails to everyone at this time and then I waited until August 2012 (when my MSc degree was finished) before writing another card and attaching a small gift. At that time, I was also able to provide more details in the note and I was able to convey my excitement and my gratefulness for their help in getting me the exciting PhD opportunity! I was able to circumvent the "mailing gifts" problem because I went back home to visit my family before going to my PhD school so I was able to visit my undergrad school during that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quant_Liz_Lemon Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 (edited) I gave all my recommenders gifts. They weren't big or flashy. Just $20 galilean thermometers. I doubt that it would influence them. However, I don't believe I would have if I had had to mail them. Edited December 1, 2012 by Quant_Liz_Lemon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loseric Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) OP, I am in the same boat. My recommenders are all at my undergraduate institution and I am across the country, so as much as I would like to, I can't give them a simple gift, like baked goods, in person. They'll be writing 10 LORs for me, which I know is a big investment of their time, and I want to show some appreciation. Would a $10 or $15 gift card to somewhere like Starbucks included with my thank you notes be inappropriate? (I'd send it AFTER the letters were written, of course.) Edited December 4, 2012 by Loseric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaputzing Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Because I don't want to make another thread: I'm applying to the school I'm current at, in the department I'm already in, and my letter writers are all in this department. I want to send them small gifts as a sign of thanks, but I'm afraid it'll be seen as a bribe, since at least 2/3 of them are on the school's admissions committee! I suppose in this case just a simple card would be best (and I am thinking I'd just toss it in their school mailbox since I don't have the home addresses for most of them)? And then after results come in, I'll send them an additional something I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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