Thank you notes to recommenders

[16777216]

Hi all!

I'm stressing a little about how to thank my recommenders. My brother mentioned that he sent physical thank-you cards to his (that was for law school), but I don't know what the protocol is for graduate school recommenders. Should I try to send out physical notes, or are emails sufficient? What kind of form should the note/email take (besides, 'this is where I've gotten in, thank you so much')? Anything else I should do?

[gliaful]

I haven't thanked my recommenders yet, but I heard somebody on here say that they bought mugs from the school they decided to attend and gave those with thank you notes inside to each recommender.

I like that idea and will probably do something similar.

 

It probably depends on your relationship with your recommenders. I think a nice email would be okay. I would probably tell them in whatever way you contacted them initially for a letter. 

Like, I see my PI a couple times a week. I've been telling her about interviews/other procedural stuff along the way.

My other recommenders I see less frequently, so I will probably email them.

Edited January 3, 2015 by pasteltomato

[michelium]

I think it depends on your relationship with you recommender. Sometimes just an email would do. However, I know I have been quite a pain in the whole process (adding and removing schools from my list). I've tried to come up with some gifts for my recommenders that are thought out. For example, I know one is obsessed with superhero movies, so I got that one a super hero book (lame, I know) and a thank-you card. I know a lot of students who get them chocolate or whatever too, and that is nice, I just figured to be a bit different. Still not breaking anyone's budget, and little bit more from the heart. There is plenty of cute chemistry trinkets on the shopping websites these days as well. 

[16777216]

So two of my recommenders aren't professors where I go to school (one former manager, one professor who moved after I had his class). I'd love to get my manager something (he's been so great!), but would it be appropriate to ask him for his address to do so?

Also, thanks for the input!

Edited January 3, 2015 by 16777216

[peachypie]

I took the time to write handwritten thank you notes to everyone.  I also got a small gift for each of them, something within the 5-10 dollar range.  Chocolates or tea or something like that.  I gave these out after i had officially decided on my school so I could include that in my note.  I also sent out quick emails to let them know what was going on once I had gotten some invites (some I worked with at the time so that may have something to do with it).  I feel like a handwritten note is just a touch more personal and appreciative than an email.  Also when I have written LORs I really appreciated a nice note because its something I could put up on my desk for a bit too.  an email you can't savor quite as much.  its all preference though.

[ChanEvansLam]

I handwrote notes and bought recommenders nice wine/scotch depending on their preference.

[Monstercookie]

I would go for the wine approach as well. However, I am european and I suppose cultures may vary a lot.

[doyouevenchop]

I will be writing hand-written notes for all of my recommenders. I think an email is too little effort for someone who wrote you a positive reference (and didn't have to). I bought small gifts for all my recommenders as well, some coffee or tea + mugs, etc. 

[electron]

For my main research advisor, I'm only going to get him a gift before I leave his lab. I think the letter is something that is part of the job as a mentor (assuming you deserve it, in which case it is something the advisor is probably more than happy to write). To me, thanking the professor for the letters detracts from my appreciation of his mentorship (as if the all the other little things that might not even be obligations are less important). I think just one big thank you gift for everything is perfect. Obviously that depends on the relationship though. I will probably give my other two letter writers a hand written note and maybe some personalized trinket I think they would appreciate for the letters.

Edited January 4, 2015 by electron

[jujubea]

I hand-wrote thank you notes to my recommenders as soon as they submitted the letters.

 

I plan to buy small gifts (love the school-affiliated idea above!) for them once I'm accepted and have decided to attend. If I don't get in anywhere (cringe), I've already sent a legit thank-you note, and would probably just follow up with an e-mail, or phone calls to discuss how I can improve my application(s) next year.

[w0mbat]

I got one of my recommenders a CD because I know he's musical. I'll be getting another a book or a bottle of wine... 

I don't usually attach notes because I see them in person regularly, but when I give them the gift, I tell them I really appreciate that they go out of their way to write recommendations for me and thanks for being cool people.