mrmolecularbiology Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) At many of my interviews I got comments about how positive my LORs were and I want to get a small gift for each of my recommenders. (even if I had not been told my letters were positive I would still want to give some kind of thank you). So Anyone who has given a gift, what type of gift is appropriate? One of my LOR writers is a coffee enthusiast, so If anyone knows a place to get speciality coffee blends that would be cool I think. Another writer really likes classical music and science literature, but I'm afraid whatever I pick he will already have. My boss is the third writer and I'll probably just get him a bottle of scotch before I head off to grad school. Thoughts on these ideas? Anyone else giving a small token of their appreciation? or is this a bad idea altogether? Edited March 20, 2013 by mrmolecularbiology Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfessorChaos Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I thought about mailing a tshirt or something or sending a coffee mug of the school i eventually attend. I imagine it couldn't hurt. Plus, if I was a professor who wrote a bunch of recommendations, it would be kind of neat to see a "trophy wall" of where my students ended up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenleblanc Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I sent a box of whitman's chocolates and a hand-written thank you card once I decided on my school for the fall. After all, I wouldn't have come this far without them! And I think there are a few threads on this subject in the LOR forum... More ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Policy_wonk Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I sent a nice, hand written thank you and a $10.00 starbucks card. I think a card alone would have been enough. Emails are weak and should be avoided. Spend the extra money on very nice stationery, I recommend Crane & Co. It will not go unnoticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain Elle Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'm a poetry applicant so my letters were written by writing professors. I got them each the newly released book of poems by my favorite poet and included a handwritten note. I didn't wait until the end of the "acceptance" season. I just waited until I got my first acceptance and mentioned it in the note. The gift doesn't need to be extravagant, just a gesture of thanks. But I agree with the previous poster--splurge on some nice stationery. Without these people we wouldn't have even been able to apply! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lypiphera Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Two of my 3 recommenders were my bosses at work, and there is a strict policy about gift-giving to superiors so I couldn't exceed $10. I got them all chocolate covered espresso beans from a fancy local chocolate place and got a very positive response on them. I would have spent more without that rule, though of course you don't have to. I also included a hand-written thank you card (from Michael's - nice but I didn't splurge). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephchristine0 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 dunkin donuts cards!!!! the best gift I've ever gotten! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandiZ Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Hand written "thank you" cards. I also gave a bottle of wine to the two I know who drink and some nice chocolates to the one I know does not drink. It is never too late to say "thank you." TakeruK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberrant Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Called me cheap but I only thank them in person with a handshake. Except for the ones from my home country who I met them through a year of exchange and research - played basketball with one and had lunch together with another when I went home again (I spent most of my time in the U.S.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsilon Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I've heard spending more than $10 is seen as a little... much. A nice 6 pack of beer or a bottle of wine, a fun book about whatever subject they/you are in, chocolate, these things always work. If you are artistic, I always hand-draw them a thank you card, seems to go over well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdt13 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I was in New Orleans for a conference and stopped by one of the famous local candy shops. I bought each a box of chocolates and pralines to go with a note in a card. This was pre-interviews, but I plan on getting each a mug and/or tshirt from the school I choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JungWild&Free Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I think it's nice to get personalized gifts and, I also think it can be appropriate to spend more on people who invested a lot of time in you. I applied twice so 2 of my 3 writers did this process for me again, which is extremely time-consuming and was integral for my admission to a program. For my boss, I got him a combined thank-you/Christmas gift where I bought him some fun office knick-knacks from www.uncommongoods.com and he really liked them. I also got a writing/storytelling game for one of my writers with a very creative family from the same website, and she loved it. Both of those were $30 or less. For my mentor throughout college, though, I bought her a framed art print for her office which was about $50 shipped. I know it seems like a little much but this person shaped my college experience and career goals and spent a significant amount of time working towards my successes for the last 5 years. I included a thank you note with each and they all loved their gifts and did not seem surprised by how much I spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacie_ChE Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) I did a handwritten thank you note and some homemade cookies. I got thank you's for my thank you's Edited April 5, 2013 by ephaliren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compiler_guy Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I sent a personalized gift basket with boutique chocolates and other sweets ( 25 - 30 $ ) It turned out successful - the LOR's liked it! though they complied I ruined their diet :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
student12345 Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Each recommender gets a mug from the school I'm attending, and I'm putting a little stuffed normal distribution plush from Etsy and a handwritten note in each Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norangom Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I'm getting them each a mug from my chosen school and will be personalizing it with a handwritten thank you card and chocolates. I'm also getting a small plush toy from my chosen school for my mentor's kids and a bottle of something expensive for him and his wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookeSnow Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Is a thank you gift required? I had planned to send a nice thank you card. I think I'm hesitant because I always was told that putting anything that looks like a monetary value on a recommendation is bad. Would it be awful if I just send a hand written thank you note? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauche Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Is a thank you gift required? I had planned to send a nice thank you card. I think I'm hesitant because I always was told that putting anything that looks like a monetary value on a recommendation is bad. Would it be awful if I just send a hand written thank you note? Either one would be fine depending on your preference. If you want to make it more personal, write a thank you note. If you prefer to buy a simple (or fancy) card and just sign it, go for it. There's nothing wrong with either option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOCooter Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Each recommender gets a mug from the school I'm attending, and I'm putting a little stuffed normal distribution plush from Etsy and a handwritten note in each Oh man, I wish I had known about the plushies before I bought all my cards and gifts. Those are awesome! I think it's adorable how the person makes Chi-squared and other distributions too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlsstc Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I was thinking of giving a donation to the dean's fund for one of my recommenders (who is the dean) and giving a gift card to donorschoose.org to the others. I thought about a mug from where I will be attending, but then I thought it might be wierd to give a mug to the recommenders at the school where I declined admission. Plus thank you note. Only problem is I can't decide on $ amount... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookeSnow Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Either one would be fine depending on your preference. If you want to make it more personal, write a thank you note. If you prefer to buy a simple (or fancy) card and just sign it, go for it. There's nothing wrong with either option. Thank you, this eases my mind so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Lots of good ideas here. I wanted to get boxes of chocolate, maybe Lindt or Godiva, but I am still waiting to hear back from one school. School is out and all of my references are off until September. If I put chocolates in their staff mailboxes and they aren't picked up until September they will melt in July and look deformed. lol I think mugs are probably the best way to go and it's a gift that lasts. Maybe I could even put some Starbucks coffee pouches inside. But I'll send them an email too so it doesn't take 3-4 months for them to get the news. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr. t Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 All my recommenders were also medievalists, so they got this and a $10 starbucks card: Jumat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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