Wozezeka Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 Is it appropriate to send thank you letters to recommendation providers once the process is over?
Vene Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 Yes, absolutely. It's also a good idea to inform them of the outcome of your applications and if you get it/where you decided to go.
peachypie Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 Yeah it is more than appropriate. As mentioned above, I opted to wait until I had finished interviews and made my decision so I could personally acknowledge my decision with them.
bsharpe269 Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 I've been thanking them every chance I get pretty much. I was so excited when I got my first interview and emailed them with the news. To this point, I've only thanked them in person and over email. When I am done with the process and make my decision, I intend to get them each a coffee mug or something for the school I choose with a hand written thank you note.
nuih Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 I gave thank you/happy holiday cards to my letter writers and grad students who helped me with grad apps. But I plan to give another thank you card at the end of everything.
ritapita Posted December 16, 2014 Posted December 16, 2014 I got each of my letter writers a gift and a note card. In my case, my letter writers have been close faculty mentors and committee members for my masters work, so I know them on a personal level very well. They wrote me long, thorough and amazing letters. I didn't wait for results, because I wanted to let them know right away that I appreciated their efforts. Plus it is the holiday season, so it is good timing. I got each of my letter writers a book. They were all closely involved in my research and I got them each a book that they would enjoy but related to my research somehow, which would make it a bit memorable for them. None of the books were over about $20, but I picked wisely and made sure it was something they would enjoy and keep. I would say thank you gifts/notes depend on how close you are to them, but if they were a good letter writer for you I would put some personalized effort in to it. It takes time and thoughtfulness, and our futures in grad work do depend on these letters to some extent. Even problematic letter writers should get a note of thanks out of respect for their time spent. Any gesture WILL be appreciated regardless. If you don't know what they would like, or want to keep it super generic, a good ol' starbucks card and a thank you note will suffice.
rising_star Posted December 17, 2014 Posted December 17, 2014 Absolutely appropriate. And a second thank you once you decide where to go as well.
commodork Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on gifts as well. Would a $20 or so gift card be considered an inappropriate gesture? Definitely want to do something nice for my recommendation writers - especially since I've asked them to submit to so many schools, but I don't want to unintentionally misstep on that.
isilya Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on gifts as well. Would a $20 or so gift card be considered an inappropriate gesture? Definitely want to do something nice for my recommendation writers - especially since I've asked them to submit to so many schools, but I don't want to unintentionally misstep on that. I think a gift card is totally fine! A lot of people do that. Personally, I got my letter writers customized coffee mugs that were around $20 (just ordered them today!). Putting together custom mugs was a fun distraction from work
MathCat Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I think a gift card is totally fine! A lot of people do that. Personally, I got my letter writers customized coffee mugs that were around $20 (just ordered them today!). Putting together custom mugs was a fun distraction from work I did this too. I like it better than a gift card, because it lasts longer and it also doesn't have an immediately obvious dollar value on it. isilya 1
drownsoda Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I think it would be weird and kind of ungrateful if you didn't thank them. I basically thanked them twenty times over in email correspondence. I got each of my recommenders a Moleskine notebook as a gift. I also wrote them personal thank you letters, and tied them to the notebooks with ribbon. I haven't been on campus over Christmas break, but I'm going to drop them by their offices this next week.
FinallyAccepted Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Last year, I tried to get cool things that I knew my LOR writers would like. Scarves for two of them who wear a lot of scarves and an adorable onesie and jacket for the other who was on maternity leave by the time applications were due. I was rejected last year, so they edited their letters for this year. I sent them notes this year, but no gift. I may still get them something gift-wise, but I'm not sure.
commodork Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I think a gift card is totally fine! A lot of people do that. Personally, I got my letter writers customized coffee mugs that were around $20 (just ordered them today!). Putting together custom mugs was a fun distraction from work Ohh, good call! I wound up splitting the difference with a small Starbucks card and delicious chocolate pretzels from my hometown
Kleio_77 Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 I ordered a hand made card off etsy that says "Thank you Dr. XXXX," and I plan to buy him a small package of quality chocolates. I know this professor fairly well, not as well as my honors advisor, but I have made an effort to visit him in his office over the last two years of my undergrad and he has also let me practice a presentation before travelling to another institution for a conference. I work full-time right now and have one class on my lunch break a few days per week, so popping by his office is not an option. He suggested I provide him with some of my documents, such as my cv, transcripts, and SOP, and the last paper I wrote for him, which I have neatly assembled along with a document stating application deadlines, addresses, etc. I am wondering if it is in bad taste to give the card and gift at the same time as my information package, or if I should wait until after my applications are complete?
MathCat Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 I work full-time right now and have one class on my lunch break a few days per week, so popping by his office is not an option. He suggested I provide him with some of my documents, such as my cv, transcripts, and SOP, and the last paper I wrote for him, which I have neatly assembled along with a document stating application deadlines, addresses, etc. I am wondering if it is in bad taste to give the card and gift at the same time as my information package, or if I should wait until after my applications are complete? I would probably wait until after he's submitted his letters. Kleio_77 1
ashiepoo72 Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 I'd wait, too, only so it doesn't seem like you're trying to butter him up. I know you're not, but better safe than sorry Kleio_77 1
Kleio_77 Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks MathCat and ashiepoo72, I should know better to trust my own instinct, and I will wait.
isilya Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Speaking of "buttering" a professor up... One of my letter writers is a faculty member at a department I'm applying to. I'm unsure of when to send him my card/gift. I know he wouldn't think it's a bribe or anything, I just don't want it to create a conflict of interest. But at the same time, I don't want to send it after official decisions are completed which will be months from now! What do?
ashiepoo72 Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 I'd send him a nice thank you card then when you get your admits a mug from the school you choose or something like that. I'm planning on giving my professors a thank you card and book related to my research interests before decisions come in, then a school mug when I (hopefully) get in a PhD program. Other potential thank yous I've heard: Starbucks (or other coffee/tea) gift card, baked goods, wine (if you're close with the prof and of age!)
atnight12 Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 I ordered a hand made card off etsy that says "Thank you Dr. XXXX," and I plan to buy him a small package of quality chocolates. I know this professor fairly well, not as well as my honors advisor, but I have made an effort to visit him in his office over the last two years of my undergrad and he has also let me practice a presentation before travelling to another institution for a conference. I work full-time right now and have one class on my lunch break a few days per week, so popping by his office is not an option. He suggested I provide him with some of my documents, such as my cv, transcripts, and SOP, and the last paper I wrote for him, which I have neatly assembled along with a document stating application deadlines, addresses, etc. I am wondering if it is in bad taste to give the card and gift at the same time as my information package, or if I should wait until after my applications are complete? Do you think that you could give me the link to this etsy store? Kleio_77 1
BeatrizBear Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 Do you think that you could give me the link to this etsy store? Seconded. I'm waiting until I hear back from the schools to send thank yous so I can give them a follow-up, but a nice card would be appreciated, I think. Kleio_77 1
Kleio_77 Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 The etsy user name is: chloescraftsuk; she also has a fb page: Chloe's Crafts (UK). The card I ordered has not arrived, so I have no review to provide just yet!
Sandysum Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 I gave thank you/happy holiday cards to my letter writers and grad students who helped me with grad apps. But I plan to give another thank you card at the end of everything. That's so nice of you! I just got my online links sent out to my professors and I was surprised that they are so open to helping as I used to be a really shy student, albeit I scored well. Pretty good idea to get them something. My professors are spread out now over Europe and Asia so perhaps I have to get them an online voucher or something
Kleio_77 Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/153636225/thank-you-teacher-personalised-papercut?ref=shop_home_active_5 This is the card I bought, it was delivered super fast to Canada from the UK, and I am very happy with my purchase. The inside of the card is blank.
drownsoda Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 I just got an email from one of my professors thanking me for the gift and letter (I got each of them a nice hardbound notebook and tied individual letters to them). She was really appreciative and said she would use the notebook for poetry or her "nature observations." I'm really glad she liked it, because I had trouble deciding on what to get each of them. I settled on the moleskine notebooks because those are pretty much universally professor-friendly, and they're nice.
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