<p>S has a wonderful professor who has not only taught him in class but has also been his advisor since he declared his major. He's met with him countless times this year to give guidance and suggestions for his thesis as well as career plans. He's a past and future source of recommendation letters etc. Is a nice gift appropriate? Or should it be something low key ? S was thinking more along the lines of something tangible - he does not want to do a gift card, tickets to a show, certificate to a restaurant etc. </p>
<p>^^^ Thanks. I really meant to emphasize whether a gift was appropriate or typical at all. Really not sure and one of the few questions I don’t think I’ve seen addressed on this board.</p>
<p>D gave her advisor/honors thesis director a beautiful, but not too costly Russian teapot (the woman loved tea) and took her out for a high tea brunch.It was meaningful as the woman had recently adopted a baby from Russia.
This woman had done quite alot for D in terms of LOR’s,thesis direction,help in mulling graduate school offers,etc.They had a pretty close relationship.</p>
<p>I would agree with the nos on gifts. I don’t see it as appropriate, myself.
I’d suggest that your son thank this prof, however, and tell him how much he has appreciated his support and guidance. He should do this in person, at the very least. A note might be nice, too, but in-person thanks is important, imo.</p>
<p>Son didn’t. Maybe he should have. Advisors (two of them) helped steer him toward an appropriate graduate school and guided him carefully on his honors project.</p>
<p>Daughter has never met her advisor. Probably never will, unless he has to sign something that says she has met the graduation requirements. So I don’t think a gift would be appropriate.</p>
<p>This is slightly unrelated, but I met my dad’s former advisors the other day, who had helped him a lot and remembered him fondly. I doubt he gave them a gift, bankrupt as he was, but they made a big difference in his career and the professors were appreciative of his appreciation.</p>
<p>Not really a gift, but S1 was fond enough of his GC and couple favorite teachers that he still makes a point of visiting them when he’s home for Christmas break each year. They meant a lot to him.</p>
<p>Mine will give her instrument teacher a small gift, probably a gift card to Starbucks. She will also give her boss of four years a small gift. I don’t think she’s planning to give anyone else a gift upon graduation.</p>
<p>S1 did not give his advisor a gift. He was very helpful to S1 thoughout the four years of college but giving a gift never crossed our minds. I’m certain S1 thanked him for all his help.</p>
<p>After my daughter was accepted ED1 in December, she gave her college advisor and her 2 recommenders each a box of cookies that she made, plus a handwritten note. She gave it to them in private so that they would not feel that they would have to share the cookies with always-hungry students. The recipients really appreciated it. Gift cards are too impersonal and seem too much like payment (they say on their face how much they are worth. And how how much should be put on the card? $10? $15? $100?). An “attaboy” handshake and a smile is just plain lazy, shallow, last minute, and insulting.</p>
<p>H has been a college prof for about 20 years, and I was one for about 6 years. Both of us did lots for student including helping them find internships and jobs, but no student ever gave us a thank-you gift nor did we expect such a thing. We both do appreciate and treasure the handwritten thank-you notes some students gave us.</p>