<p>When I leave for winter break (2nd week in December), I was thinking of getting a few of my professors -- in the more personal ~20 student classes, not lectures with 200+ kids -- a little holiday gift like a small thing of chocolates and a card that said thanks, I really enjoyed this class this semester, have a good holiday, etc. Does anyone else do that? Or should I not? I don't want them to think that I'm like bribing them to give me a better grade or anything, but I really do appreciate some of my professors that make classes engaging and that I learn a lot from! What would you do?</p>
<p>I have never seen/heard about this, but maybe others have done it?</p>
<p>If you do that, I suggest doing it after you get your grade so it doesn't look like you're bribing them.</p>
<p>When I was a prof, the nicest things I got from students were notes that let me know what they enjoyed and appreciated about my teaching and mentoring. The time to send such notes is after you get grades, not before. Unfortunately, there really are students who are flunking who try to bribe teachers by giving them notes and gifts before grades are due. One girl who was flunking even sent me an invitation to her graduation. </p>
<p>Profs also really appreciate it when your final exam and paper demonstrates that you learned a lot in their classes. :)</p>
<p>For one time professors? I don't recall having done it because of concerns of grade bribery (even though I certainly didn't come off as one of those kids). But for multiple time professors, I did so because I saw them as mentors and friends. And of course, they wrote my letters for graduate school at that time. Since I was already taking classes with two professors that I've had before and were writing my letters, I made sure my notes included more than just "thanks for a great class!"</p>
<p>In terms of aligning gifts with the end of term/holidays, it's really the best if you do it with the understanding that your professors know who you really are- not a briber. As NSM points out, just do very good work during the semester and if you have to leave campus before grades are due, at least the gifts would mean just a "Thank you" not "please give me an A."</p>
<p>Believe it or not, academics are very, very difficult to shop for. Ugh. I had a terrible time shopping for my mentor/advisor. Just keep it real simple even though a kind notecard will just do.</p>
<p>Well I have an "A" average in all of my classes so far (many between 95-98+%), so I don't think it would come off as bribing in that way, but I will be off campus after the last day of finals... so the grades won't be finalized for some time after that. I was thinking of giving it to them on the last day of class for that semester.</p>
<p>I think you might be best off with a simple thank-you e-mail a few days after grades are posted. I try to make a point to tell the professors whose classes I enjoyed that their lectures were very good the following semester, since I know they put a lot of work into preparing them.</p>
<p>My husband is a professor and he occasionally receives a small gift, such as candy or homemade cookies. He always appreciates the gesture. We still use the mug from Wyoming, and the coasters from India. Since you have good grades, I don't think it will be looked at as bribery. Be sure to write in your note something about why you enjoyed the class and what you learned.</p>
<p>I always get things for my favorite teachers. I'm a dance major so it's a bit of a different situation, but I usually get my favorite teachers fuzzy comfy socks or cocoa mix or something. I made a baby blanket for my favorite teacher last semester as she was pregnant, but she wasn't my teacher at the time. I also bake pretty much on a weekly basis for fun, so I usually take some stuff in to my favorite teachers from that, but most of my favorite teachers aren't my teachers right now. I've never done anything like that for an academic teacher.</p>
<p>after a seminar type class last year the fifteen of us in the class went in together for a thank-you/christmas gift for the professor.</p>