<p>Alright, before the onslaught of "you're bribing!" comments I expect to see shortly, please hear me out. I know I'm walking a fine line, and don't want to do anything unacceptable.</p>
<p>I've been communicating with a professor at a school I'm about to submit an application to. He's a professor is a core course and a possible thesis advisor. We met briefly during the open house, and once more when I sat in on his class. All his students say he's EXTREMELY nice, and that's definitely the impression I got from him.</p>
<p>I emailed him to set up a meeting, and he replied saying he'd be happy to meet, but things are very hectic since the semester just started, and he has a 14-day-old son also, like me, named Max - he pointed out the name in the email. He asked me to check back in a few days, and I think we'll meet sometime this week.</p>
<p>I plan on discussing his research, my research, and possibile thesis advisors. My question is, would it be at all acceptable to bring something really small and inexpensive to congratulate him on the birth of his son, or is that completely unacceptable? It'd be something REALLY SMALL, like a keychain. What about a card? Would that be too much since, we don't know each other well? Again, he is a very nice, approachable, likable guy in his early/mid-30s. When I sat in on his class around Christmas, he brought everyone cookies his wife made.</p>
<p>If it matters, I'm a guy too.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>I think it’d be nice and he would act happy, but he would probably throw it away or something. Especially if he’s a science professor, the gift would just end up in the mess of other things in his office.</p>
<p>I’d go with a funny/heartwarming card</p>
<p>Haha, he’s a political science/math professor. How do those usually treat gifts? You seem to really know your stuff :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I might just go with a card!</p>
<p>Um… I am going to come down on the side of NOT doing it. When you meet with him, ask after his son, and ask if he has any photos. Ooh and ahh over them appropriately. 
That is enough.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t. If this was a professor you knew well personally - like an advisor or even a professor who taught you a class and informally mentored you - then I would. But this is a professor you barely know, so it has the potential of coming off as a bribe (even if you didn’t intend it that way) and would at the very least make you seem like you don’t understand proper social conventions.</p>
<p>@intparent, Fantastic option. Might just do that. Thank you guys for not jumping on me for this! I promise I have no sleazy intentions.</p>
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<p>Exactly. Traditional etiquette dictates never giving a gift to a boss or superior. Not everyone follows this anymore, but that does not make it less potentially awkward.</p>
<p>Nope, I wouldn’t do anything other than ask about the new baby and say congratulations. You don’t actually know this person - It would be weird and they would likely remember you in a less-than-flattering fashion. But asking them about their kid and letting them brag a little will leave a generally good impression. :)</p>