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What are you giving your LOR writers as a thank you? I was thinking a Starbucks gift card, but I go to school in Utah and coffee isn't big here. I am aware of only one Starbucks within 40 miles of my school. Any other ideas?

A bottle of quality whiskey.

....

I gave my recommenders a scented candle. Plus a thank-you card. A gift under $15 should be fine. Unless, of course, you know that they wrote you a fabulous letter. Then a $17 gift should suffice.

A bottle of good wine.

SpaceDawg wrote:A bottle of good [strike]wine[/strike] Scotch.

I must object.

You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

I gave a handwritten "Thank you" and gourmet cupcakes.

j.wellington wrote:You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

Yeah me too...now I'm wondering if I should add something else...

Are there rules about accepting gifts? Is there some dollar amount that is "safe" versus might cause problems?

And to the OP--something like a Barnes and Nobles/whatever your bookstore of choice gift card might be nice I don't think I've ever had a faculty member who doesn't like books!

A book of stamps...Made up for the cost of sending the letter! And a 2 - Liter bottle of Diet Coke...When in Utah, give Mountain Dew!

j.wellington wrote:You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

+1. Now i think I should send something more than the thank you email

sarlis wrote:

j.wellington wrote:You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

+1. Now i think I should send something more than the thank you email

DEFINITELY should send something more than a thank you email. I think the least you can do is write it by hand.

I got one a decent bottle of wine, but it had a really cool label

one a DVD of Boston Legal Season 1 off ebay (used to refer to it in lecture, although ive never bothered to watch it)

and one more ill probly get a card and some wine

missvik218 wrote:

sarlis wrote:

j.wellington wrote:You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

+1. Now i think I should send something more than the thank you email

DEFINITELY should send something more than a thank you email. I think the least you can do is write it by hand.

yeah. do you think it is to late? they sent them in in september or october.

better late then never, right. now i feel bad about not sending anything...

sarlis wrote:

missvik218 wrote:

sarlis wrote:

j.wellington wrote:You guys are guilting me. I was just gonna send a nice card.

+1. Now i think I should send something more than the thank you email

DEFINITELY should send something more than a thank you email. I think the least you can do is write it by hand.

yeah. do you think it is to late? they sent them in in september or october.

better late then never, right. now i feel bad about not sending anything...

Yep, it is better late than never for sure. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant but I would go to the trouble of writing the message yourself and either mailing or hand delivering the card. A little goes a long way with these.

Ive heard somewhere that proper etiquette for thank you cards is w/in one year

im sure LOR writers would understand if you waited util later in your cycle, they are probably excited to hear which school you will attend

My GF is knitting scarfs for her LOR writers. She's nuts though!

missvik218 wrote:

sarlis wrote:

missvik218 wrote:

sarlis wrote: +1. Now i think I should send something more than the thank you email

DEFINITELY should send something more than a thank you email. I think the least you can do is write it by hand.

yeah. do you think it is to late? they sent them in in september or october.

better late then never, right. now i feel bad about not sending anything...

Yep, it is better late than never for sure. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant but I would go to the trouble of writing the message yourself and either mailing or hand delivering the card. A little goes a long way with these.

Thanks for the info. I will drop something off in their mailbox or go to office hours. Also, a gift card more thank likely.

I have also emailed them about how my cycle is going, but a note or letter is much better, i think.

i think i would wait until you have chosen a school and then send a handwritten update and thank you gift at the same time

I'm staying in touch by e-mail with my recommenders, and I'll send hand-written cards when my cycle is over and I know where I'm going. Having taught for several years, I know gifts from students are nice, but sincere communication and advice-seeking can be more meaningful.

WhiskeyGuy wrote:

SpaceDawg wrote:A bottle of good [strike]wine[/strike] Scotch.

I must object.

+ 3,692

nyyankees wrote:i think i would wait until you have chosen a school and then send a handwritten update and thank you gift at the same time

+1.

algren wrote:

WhiskeyGuy wrote:

SpaceDawg wrote:A bottle of good [strike]wine[/strike] Scotch.

I must object.

+ 3,692

Algren returns!

I ordered both my recommenders an engraved pen. Will be accompanied by a thank you note. Spent a little more because one is my current boss and really cool guy and other is a faculty member of my alma mater but also friend. Went out to lunch with him several times before intention of askign to write LOR

Thank you cards and a small box of chocolates.