<p>I just received my letters of recommendation. I'm going to mail thank-you letters to the people who wrote them, and was wondering if I should send a small gift, like a gift card or something. What do you think about this, and if you think I should get a gift, how much should I spend on it?</p>
<p>I think a thank you email is enough…</p>
<p>A thank-you card is the best idea, I think. It’s slightly more “personal” than an email. Buying a gift card can be seen as a bit awkward/inappropriate (unless it’s for someone like your longtime research advisor).</p>
<p>Thanks. Yeah, I’m going to go with the thank-you card. An email is too cold and impersonal.</p>
<p>A handwritten thank you note is the standard and a solid minimum. I also gave all my writers a couple handmade chocolates from a local specialty store that everyone loves. A small food gift or even something handmade if it relates to them/your work isn’t out of line if you know them better than your average prof. If someone went above and beyond for you in terms of writing it on very short notice or calling the school to confirm, make sure you mention your appreciation in the card.
I am the Miss Manners of LoRs in my own mind.</p>
<p>I gave/sent each of my recommenders a box of chocolates from my home state (~$16, 1 lb) and a handwritten thank you card in early January. The recommendations were already in, so it couldn’t have been misinterpreted as a bribe. All of them seemed surprised to be receiving a gift but were still appreciative. I’d thanked them all profusely several times before, and I don’t think they took it as anything other than a gesture of my sincere gratitude.</p>
<p>I’ve seen more than a few people who construe giving thank you gifts as a negative thing - awkward, inappropriate, etc. Why is giving a small gift/gift card such a big deal? Personally, I figured that was the LEAST I could do - having the opportunity to apply/go to grad school because of their recs is worth more to me than $16.</p>
<p>Agreed. Maybe I should get each of them a $10-$15 gift card to a coffee shop. I’m not sure if this would be a dumb move or not, because all three of them are well-off and it may be a little awkward to get them something they don’t even need.</p>
<p>A quick thank you note is fine. The best gift that your LOR writers can receive is to hear about the reuslts, even rejections.</p>
<p>Seriously, material gifts are actually a bit awkward in academia as people prefer praises, recognition and respect. Not only that, they’ll probably prefer that you spent that money on feeding yourself in graduate school when you’ll be barely living off ramen noodles!</p>