<p>My high school senior son wants to give thank you card and a gift to his guidance counselor and the teachers who wrote LORs. He is thinking restaurant gift cards. Is that too much like money? Should he give something else? Thanks for your opinion and ideas!</p>
<p>I had my son give them a handwritten thank you note, with a modest Starbucks gift card inside. It was really pathetic to see how appreciative they were -as if students rarely said thank you.</p>
<p>Just FYI in case anyone suggests home baked treats: my BIL and SIL are teachers and they say that they *never *eat home baked food that students bring in. It goes straight in the trash after school. (Fear of drugs, poison, poor sanitation, etc etc.)</p>
<p>My son didn’t just send a thank you card, he waited till the spring when he knew where he’d gotten in, and then wrote a really over the top thank you to the GC, thanking her for doing such a great job and giving her plenty of credit for writing what was probably a very nice recommendation. She called the house and was practically in tears she was so touched. No one in that office had gotten a real letter before. I think we also gave her some nice chocolate.</p>
<p>D1 waited until the spring and gave a mug from her college, filled with chocolate and a BN gift card. She gave it to all her recommenders and the GC, along with a hand written note. They also were very appreciative.</p>
<p>Thanks for your ideas! Good feedback about homebaked goods-I was thinking of homemade, tho’ neither he nor I are great bakers… now I don’t have to feel guilty :)
I think I will ask him to go with chocolates and/or a gift card. He wants to give it now to show his appreciation irrespective of how the results turn out.</p>
<p>I agree with giving them now rather than later. My D’s recommendations were sent in early Sept, they were the first things colleges received! She gave the 2 teachers gift cards - one to Starbucks, one Barnes & Noble. The GC wrote her report and then left the school; she left before we could give her anything, and I am a little concerned what will happen if any colleges try to contact the GC.</p>
<p>DS did a thank you note and a gift card for the GC and two teachers who wrote recommendations. You may want to check your district’s policies because some have a limit as to what teachers can accept. He gave them in the spring.</p>
<p>It looks like DD14 will probably ask the same teachers so I’m especially glad ds took the time to thank them nicely!</p>
<p>The best thing your son or daughter can give a teacher is a heartfelt letter explaining how important this teacher has been to them, how much they learned, and what they will treasure when looking back on this educational experience. Specifics are the key - mentioning a particular assignment, paper, conversation, class - something that lets that teacher know how much impact they have had is a letter they will treasure for the rest of their careers. Bonus points if the spelling and grammar are perfect. And yes, a Starbucks card or chocolate is a nice addition.</p>
<p>My kids wrote notes, included with homemade pumpkin bread w Starbucks gift cards. GC & Teachers were very happy. S & D gave them before Christmas break. I thought the coffee would come in handy over the holiday shopping expereince. Some really liked the bread, maybe others threw it away. </p>
<p>I thought the kids should thank the teachers before they find out where they were accepted. It was an unconditional thank you note! They also did end up pestering them for a few more to be sent out as well.</p>
<p>And to missypie post- I think a lot of them do not receive any acknowlegement. Also know that it takes at least 1 hour to write a really good recommendation closer to 2 1/2 by the time the submit on Naviance, or make copies etc. They are deserving of whatever you can do to show appreciation.</p>
<p>My son hand wrote thank you cards letting them know how much he appreciated all of their help and extra effort towards his LOR and application. He included gift cards that were unique to each…Starbucks, B&N, local running store, etc. They were all very touched and appreciative.</p>
<p>My son is giving thank you notes and elk steaks. Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. He had a very good hunting season…</p>
<p>Heartfelt thank-you letters from my son went with him to school today for his 2 LOR-writers. I peeked at them, and he did write about what was unique about each as a teacher and their classes, and how much he appreciated their support over the years and now. I slipped in a short note from my husband and I, too. We included an Amazon gift card for each. It seemed like Thanksgiving week was a good time to do this, because they did their part so recently, and during a very busy time in the semester. </p>
<p>We’ll follow it up in the spring with mugs from whichever school he decides to attend, I’m sure.</p>
<p>My d wrote thank you notes and enclosed a movie theater gift card. Well received!</p>
<p>Hand written notes are usually appreciated as mcuh as any thank you gift.</p>
<p>Also, you should check the rules in your state. In some states, such as Massachusetts, there are limits as to what a teacher can accept as a gift. In Massachusetts teachers cannot accept a gift worth over $50, and must report any gift worth more than $10 to the state ethics commitssion.</p>
<p>My D also gave teachers and counselor Starbucks GC ($15 eac.) with a handwritten thank you note.</p>
<p>DS gave GC homemade zucchini bread made with zucchini we grew ourselves. She called me almost in tears, her grandmother had passed away 2 weeks earlier and she had always made her zucchini bread for a special treat. She was really touched.</p>
<p>I don’t write many LORs, maybe 1 or 2 a year, but I have never gotten more than a thank you note (and usually not even that) for doing them. So I’m sure that a heartfelt note would be much appreciated, and anything more than that would be very special.</p>
<p>My son wrote a thank you note and gave teachers a nice pen. They seemed to like the pens.</p>
<p>Not only did DD write a handwritten thank you note, but I have written twice since she was admitted telling the counselor what DD perceived as the strengths of her college in terms of future student admissions. She said that she really appreciated the feedback - with her caseload, there is no time to followup with students after they graduate, so she doesn’t know what happens!</p>
<p>D sent hand written thank you’s and a bar of our local chocalate. Was always appreciated. Mayby $5…no one expects students to spend more.</p>