<p>When should I give teachers thank-you notes/gifts? Soon after requesting letters or when I'm admitted? What do I say when I give them a gift?</p>
<p>(Sorry, I think the "asking for recommendations" thread is getting really unwieldy and difficult to get info from)</p>
<p>Give them the notes -- hand written ones -- right after they send the last of your recommendation letters. After you're admitted, let them know, and thank them again -- in person or by sending them a note.</p>
<p>It's not necessary to give a gift. In fact, some teachers may not like or want a gift -- may make them feel almost like they're being bribed. My perspective is that of a former college prof who has written reccs. I still have some of the thank-you notes that students gave me. The ones that I treasured said more than, "Thank-you for the recc." The student also included a line or two about what they'd learned or enjoyed in my class or had appreciated about my teaching or mentoring.</p>
<p>A lot of the time you don't know when they've sent out the recommendations. Depending on the deadlines, I would wait 2-3 weeks after you request it to give them the note/gift. If they haven't done their part, it can serve as a reminder that it needs to be done ASAP.</p>