<p>I got into a few good schools and I want to show great appreciation to teachers and counselors who wrote my recommendations. What kind of gifts should I give them? I don't want to buy chocolates, by the way, since I know some people don't like them.</p>
<p>What would you parents, if you were teachers, want as gifts? Remember, it must be affordable for a soon-to-be college kid.</p>
<p>I'd like to hear the advice of "grown-ups" ;)</p>
<p>As a former professor who has written recommendations for students, the best appreciation that I got were hand written notes for the student telling me of their successes and thanking me for my contribution to their success. I also appreciated it when students sent me a postcard or winter holiday card with an update about how things have been going in whatever experience that I helped them get.</p>
<p>I had no desire for material gifts. The nicest presents that I ever got were sincere thank-you notes with specifics about how I helped students attain their dreams.</p>
<p>I agree with Northstarmom -- the best thanks I've received from the students I've worked with are hand-written, heart-felt letters letting me know that I played a small part in helping them achieve their dreams. I treasure those, and keep many of them on the bulletin board above my computer, yet I couldn't tell you where the "gifts" that accompanied them are today. Even better is when students keep in touch with me from time to time, to let me know how they're progressing -- that is a special form of thank you.</p>
<p>If you want to do something more, keep it small and personal, something that says, "I did this just for you." </p>
<p>You're a good kid to even be worried about this, and I suspect that will make your "thank you" even sweeter. :)</p>
<p>PS -- don't forget to thank your guidance counselor for their help too.</p>
<p>I wrote a note and made cookies/some other food for all of my teachers, and they seemed to really appreciate both.</p>
<p>Our son visits his hs when he is in town(not as often now-sigh) and makes a point to drop in to see his wonderful gc and favorite teachers, most who wrote a l-o-r. He says they are delighted to be kept up on his college progress.</p>