Gift/Thank you card for LOR Writer Forum

[whymeohgodno]

Did all of you do this? Or is dropping by their office and updating them/thanking them enough?

[Sandro]

Yea I need to do that this week. I'm thinking card/giftcard.

[whymeohgodno]

Yea I need to do that this week. I'm thinking card/giftcard.

Giftcard?

[bfaiken]

Yea I need to do that this week. I'm thinking card/giftcard.

Giftcard?

Lol.

[Sandro]

Yea I need to do that this week. I'm thinking card/giftcard.

Giftcard?

Like starbucks or something, although one of them doesnt drink coffee and is kind of weird.

[whymeohgodno]

Yea I need to do that this week. I'm thinking card/giftcard.

Giftcard?

Like starbucks or something, although one of them doesnt drink coffee and is kind of weird.

So you think a giftcard/thank you card will be better than just going in and saying thanks? Hmm, I don't know what I'll get my professors.

[bartleby]

what's min. on that? $50? i can't see myself giving an adult a $20 gift card

[Xifeng]

I got them nice chocolates (only like $12 though) and wrote a note thanking them again/telling them my final decision

[whymeohgodno]

I got them nice chocolates (only like $12 though) and wrote a note thanking them again/telling them my final decision

Did you give it to them in person or leave it in their mailbox?

[nshapkar]

what's min. on that? $50? i can't see myself giving an adult a $20 gift card

Enough for at least a semester's worth of coffee.

[Xifeng]

I got them nice chocolates (only like $12 though) and wrote a note thanking them again/telling them my final decision

Did you give it to them in person or leave it in their mailbox?

I stopped by their offices but they weren't there in two of the cases, and another one was on the phone and I had to get to class so I just dropped 'em off in the mailboxes and emailed them saying I left them something (so they wouldn't discover them like, weeks later).

[bfaiken]

what's min. on that? $50? i can't see myself giving an adult a $20 gift card

That's why I lol'd. It's a nice thought, but unless there's a reason behind it (if the professor is known for bringing Starbucks to class every day or something) it seems a little silly. As a former teacher, I can promise you I'd much rather have my students save their money. The acknowledgment that I helped them out and they were grateful was/is worth a lot more than any gift card they can afford (and I mean that sincerely, not just some sappy, BS crap).

It's a nice thought and gesture, but unnecessary. I'd at least go with an actual gift (chocolates are a nice thought, a paperweight is cliche but works, etc) if anything.

[whymeohgodno]

what's min. on that? $50? i can't see myself giving an adult a $20 gift card

That's why I lol'd. It's a nice thought, but unless there's a reason behind it (if the professor is known for bringing Starbucks to class every day or something) it seems a little silly. As a former teacher, I can promise you I'd much rather have my students save their money. The acknowledgment that I helped them out and they were grateful was/is worth a lot more than any gift card they can afford (and I mean that sincerely, not just some sappy, BS crap).

It's a nice thought and gesture, but unnecessary. I'd at least go with an actual gift (chocolates are a nice thought, a paperweight is cliche but works, etc) if anything.

Any chocolate connoisseurs here? Only chocolate I eat are mini snickers...

[stowhat]

I sent a small giftcard and thank you note in the fall to each of my LOR writers. One of my professors actually mailed the giftcard back to me with a very funny/charming note explaining why he could not accept it. I'll probably send a card in a few weeks to thank them again and let them know where I'll be attending.

[bartleby]

i gave a huge godiva biscuit tin set to one LOR (employer / lawyer in area i plan on practicing) - it was like $50 retail; $20 on sale.

i gave a kleen kanteen w/ bamboo lid to my fave professor who is all into vegan stuff / yoga / going green - $30

i wrote an LOR for my other professor so i considered it a wash. actually she was pretty rude to me when she asked for it, lol

i think a gc cheapens the relationship between u and ur professor and the work they put into ur LOR. nice gesture but save the money and just write a thoughtful note.

[AntipodeanPhil]

As someone who works as a professor and has written a small number of LORs, I second the view that a giftcard would be slightly inappropriate. It's too much like an exchange of cash.

If you have to buy something, I would support chocolates. You can't go wrong with Godiva. I would - however - more strongly recommend just writing your professor a note at some point to indicate your appreciation and to let the person know how things went. Even if the professor doesn't know you very well, he or she will be pleased to hear that a student got into a prestigous law school.

[Xifeng]

.

[Sandro]

My professor had starbucks in almost every class. I'm not going to give him a box of chocolates

I've gotten a lot of worthless gifts, and its very hard to get a gift for someone you dont know very well. I personally value gift cards to places I frequent much more than say, a bunch of milk duds or snickers

[DocHawkeye]

I don't really think that it is appropriate to get gifts for the people that wrote your letters of recommendation. If they are university professors, it is a part of their jobs to write such letters. Your acceptance into prestigious programs actually helps them in their promotion and tenure, so a note thanking them for their work and letting them know your final decision is appropriate. To complicate matters more, they may not be able to accept gifts. In many cases, state employees are not able to accept such gifts. For the purposes of these rules, university professors at public institutions are state employees. At my undergrad, a private college, there was a rule that students and faculty could not exchange gifts as well. I guess the moral of the story is that if you're going to get a gift, do your homework and be sure they recipient can accept it.

As a college teacher, I personally would find it awkward if a student brought me a gift as a thank you for a letter I had written (as a part of my job).

[whymeohgodno]

So the safe options seems to be a thank you letter/note. I hope my professor doesn't feel insulted I didn't get him any chocolate?

[whymeohgodno]

So the safe options seems to be a thank you letter/note. I hope my professor doesn't feel insulted I didn't get him any chocolate?

[kublaikahn]

You tight asses need to go in the student store at your LS and get a nice sweatshirt from the school you ultimately chose.

And make sure the note says you will keep them updated as to your career progress. Keep the person in your network.

[boozehound]

Kindle for one; Burberry scarf for other. (Your gonna be a lawyer...money all over the place!)

[blsingindisguise]

I don't really think that it is appropriate to get gifts for the people that wrote your letters of recommendation. If they are university professors, it is a part of their jobs to write such letters. Your acceptance into prestigious programs actually helps them in their promotion and tenure, so a note thanking them for their work and letting them know your final decision is appropriate. To complicate matters more, they may not be able to accept gifts. In many cases, state employees are not able to accept such gifts. For the purposes of these rules, university professors at public institutions are state employees. At my undergrad, a private college, there was a rule that students and faculty could not exchange gifts as well. I guess the moral of the story is that if you're going to get a gift, do your homework and be sure they recipient can accept it.

As a college teacher, I personally would find it awkward if a student brought me a gift as a thank you for a letter I had written (as a part of my job).

This. The whole idea smells very bad to me.

[coldshoulder]

When should you thank them? Only after acceptances?