<p>My school is about to end (we have one more week of school--finals week) and I'm interested in giving out thank you cards to a few of the teachers. The problem is that some of the teachers are the ones I'll be asking for rec letters this fall (i'm ending my junior year now) and I don't know if it'll leave a bad taste by praising them so much. I genuinely want to though. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Praising them too much? It's expected that when a person does a favor for you, you quickly write a thank-you note. It's considered rude to delay writing in case one asks for another favor months later.</p>
<p>Teachers are far more likely to respond quickly to your requests if you've made them feel appreciated by giving them thank-you notes quickly after their previous efforts on your behalf. Please follow your instincts on thanking them now.</p>
<p>Overcommunication can lead to misunderstandings. If you're unsure of how to proceed, play it safe and don't overdo it. A nice "Thank you, I really enjoyed your class and I appreciate all the help you've given me" should be enough. Try not to sound too flaky or insincere - teachers can pick that up in an instant. </p>
<p>I agree with northstarmom though, the cards should be sent (or handed to them in person) as quickly as possible, usually within a week of classes ending, and, of course, hand-written.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm not clear. You haven't asked them about a rec letter yet, right? So I'm not sure what you would be thanking them for. (Unless you always write thank you notes to your teachers every year?) I think you're saying you feel some kind of note will make them remember you and grease the wheels for when you hit them up in fall? In that case, just write how you enjoyed their class and maybe something you learned of special interest. For example you could mention that you plan to read more over the summer about a certain topic they covered which now interests you. In other words, make it more about what you got out of the course, than about them. You can thank them for any extra time or special help they gave you over the semester if that was the case. But yes make it very brief--fawning, praise or hype will appear insincere.</p>
<p>I agree with taramom. You will be asking these teachers for rec. letters in the Fall, and you really should write very simple thank-you notes related to how much you enjoyed the class, or how unexpectedly stimulating something was, or how the class set you in a new direction. But do not suck-up, or flatter. You would be making yourself very transparent. </p>
<p>On a side note, I do think its better to let these teachers know right now, that you would like them to do your rec. letters in the Fall. Many teachers have limits on how many they will write, and sometimes turn down requests. If you have been a favorite/outstanding student in certain classes, make the request now.</p>
<p>In our school, kids are encouraged to ask teachers for recs at the end of junior year, for all the reasons stated above.</p>
<p>So, here's how I would handle it: Talk to the teachers you would like to use for recs now (this last week), asking if they would be willing, and telling them that you wanted to make your request now so as to make it as easy as possible for them, giving them plenty of time.</p>
<p>Then, write your thank you notes for all the teachers you intend. For those who agreed to do a rec, add an extra note of appreciation for this additional help they are giving you.</p>
<p>Ahha. Thanks for all the replies.
I'm usually personal and write long And sincere thank you's. (For example, we have this new Eng teacher's who's really easy-going and whose teaching philosophy is just AMAZING. Very active, too, trying to raise awareness of AIDS, darfur, and initiated a open curriculum after the APs--the Rwanda project.) Even if I weren't asking for recs, I'd write a good lengthed thankyou note on how her contribution to the school and the community, blah blah, you get the picture.
But now that I'm looking at from whom to ask recs (weird grammar), I don't want to be seen as brown nosing. arggh.
Finals start tomorrow (school over in 3 days), and I think it'll be weird to ask for a rec now...no?</p>
<p>Not at all daniel. You should DEFINITELY chat with the teachers, and at least mention that you would really like them to write your recommendation letter in the fall.
My D did not suck up to any teachers, but just told them how much she enjoyed the class, and how pleased she would be if they could write her a rec. Her teachers wrote amazing and very personalized letters. And then , after the letters were sent, she made up personal gift baskets to show her appreciation.</p>
<p>It would not be weird to ask for a recc now. It would be smart because teachers would have plenty of time to write the recc over the summer. It's much harder for teachers to write reccs after the school year starts. It takes about an hour to write a recc so that's a lot of time when teachers also are working.</p>
<p>I agree with the Moms who are encouraging you to at least bring up the subject of your recommendations for the fall semester now. </p>
<p>My S also had a dread of "brown-nosing" which you simply need to get a handle on...and think more clearly about. Reframe this task and it becomes less onerous. I know many cultures, families and peers condition kids not to brag or be self-promotional so this process does feel dissonant to many of you.</p>
<p>You must market yourself in the fall of your senior year even if it goes against your temperament to do so, and this begins with clear communications with adults, which is not the same thing as bragging. </p>
<p>I found that teachers learned a great deal about my S from the thoughtful way he provided them with his college material, and I think his references became more personal from these communications. Once they could "picture him" somewhere, they also could champion him. Please keep in mind that school is a busy overstimulating place and teachers need crib notes to distinguish things that define each of their students, especially if you are not a huge extrovert. Introverted kids can get through this by writing up clear cogent summaries of their interests in colleges and by providing teachers with brief (!!) descriptions of their personal goals and hobbies. After you truly have your list of applications decided, write one sentence about each place that allows your teacher to literally visualize you succeeding there. Give her your comment from your personal visit to the school and why you could picture yourself there.</p>
<p>Teachers love to "sponsor" students who have clear goals, ask for support, make sense, address questions, and provide them with information that is relevant to references...attach your common application activity sheet...(Gee, Bill, I had forgotten you swam, wrote for the city newspaper, taught other kids all summer...etc.)....a brief statement on each college you will apply to and why that college might be good fit for you (and it is OK that your colleges may not resemble each other and may vary if you give them a clue as to how you could manage to extract a good education at each one). </p>
<p>Second tip...go by the office/classroom of the person who agreed to do your letters, and have the courtesy to give him/her a sentence or two on things like "how I liked my October overnight there" or "how my contact with the music or art department is coming along" or "I heard back from the Chem prof and attended a chem lab and here is what I saw".....She/He wants to stay "in the loop" as you further explore your college list.</p>
<p>Last tip from recent experience--write those thank you notes for the support given somewhere about Thanksgiving and right before Christmas break, as you can assume (but you might be incorrect!) the final reference letters are written. My S also gave very simple gifts..picture frame to one, classical CD to another that tied into their conversations and mutual taste, nothing over-the-top--even coffee, a book, cake/food is more like it. But he learned later that his reference letters were not written till very late December...after all they are not due till January first usually. So the references got to read his notes of appreciation before they actually wrote the final reference letters. (I am sure many other teachers get theirs off in the mail earlier.) Teachers are swamped and often have to take these reference letters home with them over Christmas. It is a big responsiblity to write a good reference letter and they don't get paid for doing this on their own time. Ask early!</p>
<p>References... are all about social intelligence and exchanges of information and appreciation. Social intelligence counts, kids, even as you apply for your academic next home! I wish each of you students a great fall and hope you will find teachers who will get behind you and celebrate your outcomes and comfort you if you also experience some deferrals/rejections.</p>
<p>wow. I never knew writing a rec was that...hard. Hmmmmm
Thanks for awesome advice!</p>
<p>You are very welcome. Treat your references as if you "get" that their time is valuable. Always show up prepared for your references as you would for an alumni interview...be yourself, yes, but be your most respectful and alert self. Spend the time to present them with a few salient things about your college choices in writing, and they will appreciate it. Otherwise, when they finally sit down and try to write some reference letters...your college list just looks like a jumble, and they can't be expected to have instant recall about every oral communication they have had with every college hopeful.</p>