Thanking teachers for recommendations?

Applying to College
1

I plan on thanking my teachers for writing my recommendations, I just wanted a second opinion on when to do so. My teachers recently submitted them, and my deadlines are 10/15, 11/1, 11/15, and 1/1. Should I thank them now or thank them after the last? I did not assign all colleges at the same time, just the ones due on 10/15.

Since I did not assign all colleges at the same time, they’ll still be able to use the same written one for all the colleges correct? They won’t have to rewrite a rec for the January deadlines since I haven’t assigned them yet?

2

I’m going to assign the rest of the essays soon, do I thank them then? And they can reuse their rec correct?

3

Hi TrapNumen. Good question. You’ll want to email all of them after the last recs have been submitted—that way you are being presumptuous in case they decide they don’t want to recommend you after all. So wait until the beginning of January.

4

I think I’ll briefly thank them on Monday, and then inform them I’m sending out the rest of the assignments. After the last deadline for those assignments I’ll give them a more personal thank you.

5

And remember to thank them again and let them know when you settle on your college choice down the road.

6

As a professor who spends MANY hours carefully writing LORs, I can say thanking your teacher any time is appreciated. A simple note will do. Candy always seems a little over the top. And, please, definitely give them the details about where you got in, where you didn’t, and thank them again at the very end of the whole process. I think sending them a postcard from your new college in the fall is also a nice idea. They can then show that as inspiration to their next class of students. Maybe your class can even start that as a new tradition!

7

Yes, agree anytime is good. Sometimes sooner is better. My son and daughter have done it variety of ways: writing thank you notes, giving small tokens such as a gift card, or just verbally saying thank you. I think the most important part is that you follow through either way. Teachers take a lot of time out of their schedule for LOR’s, many times far too many students as some are “favorites”. They deserve as many thank you’s as they can get…it’s great you plan to thank them!

8

To those that said email your teacher thank you, please write them a letter. A handwritten letter is infinitely better and rare these days. It is a wonderful habit to get into.