<p>i wanted to give my teachers a gift for writing me a recommendation, and also its the holiday season. whats a good gift?</p>
<p>i gave mine starbucks gift cards</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Don't go too over the top</p>
<p>how much money is good for a gift card? i got accepted to my top choice, so I wanted to give them a nice gift.</p>
<p>As a former college prof, my advice is to give a handwritten thank-you note that includes some specifics about what you enjoyed about the teacher's way of teaching. I also suggest that after you get all of your acceptances, give the teacher another thank-you note listing them.</p>
<p>That's the kind of "gift" that I most appreciated from my students. Gift cards, etc. seemed a bit like payments and made me uncomfortable.</p>
<p>A plate of home made cookies, however, also could be a nice way of saying "thanks".</p>
<p>Another gift could be something like a cup, pen or coaster from the college that you choose to go to.
Whatever you do, however, you should give a handwritten thank-you shortly after the teacher sends in the recommendations. Don't wait until you get results to do this. Whether or not you get accepted at the place of your choice, your teacher still did you a favor, and deserves a handwritten thank-you.</p>
<p>$20 should be fine. They're not writing these letters expecting anything. I think Northstarmom hit it on the nose.</p>
<p>I guess I'm a bad example, though, as I did my thank you notes by e-mail (I lived in Japan, in my defense!)</p>
<p>Northstarmom, how long should the handwritten note be? Would 5-6 sentences be enough?</p>
<p>since its the holiday season, would something for Christmas, like an ornament or decoration be a good gift along with a letter?</p>
<p>ArielTriton,</p>
<p>I would avoid that, since there's a fair chance that your professor doesn't celebrate Christmas.</p>
<p>if they do celebrate Christmas, would that be okay?</p>
<p>I mean, it's a nice gesture, but I think you're worrying too much about it. A well-written letter means more than an object. </p>
<p>I did get one of my recommenders a nice bottle of beer, but I'm guessing you're not of age.</p>
<p>well, im definitely going to write a nice letter. i just thought it would be nice if i also gave them a present as well.</p>
<p>At our midwest high school a nice thank you note and a $5.00 gift card to a book store is what people usually give. It really is just a token gift., not a payment. I think most teachers use the gift cards they receive to buy something for the school or the classes that they teach.</p>
<p>I thanked my teachers personally, but (as others have said), I will probably buy them small gifts. You don't want to make them feel uncomfortable (e.x. it's a bribe or something ;) ) but you should definitely show that you really appreciate them. Maybe a small bag of chocolate truffles...the small gift card could be hard to use if the place won't let you use a GC & cash. Barnes and Noble lets you apply a GC towards a purchase and pay the remaining in cash/credit/check though.</p>
<p>"
Northstarmom, how long should the handwritten note be? Would 5-6 sentences be enough?"</p>
<p>The content, not the length is what's important. The most heartwarming thank-you notes refer to something specific about the way the teacher instructs or relates that made a difference in the student's life.</p>
<p>Something like. "Thank you so much for taking the time to write my recommendation letters. I have appreciated your teaching and mentoring particularly how you encouraged me to pursue my interest in the peace movement by doing a history fair project on Father Berrigan. That experience inspired me to plan to major in history in college. Sincerely,...."</p>
<p>I've received handwritten notes, and gift cards to bookstores/coffee shops.
Baked goods are also nice.</p>
<p>Quite often it is the parents expresssing gratitude as opposed to the student.</p>
<p>At my suggestions, my daughter wrote notes to her teachers who wrote letters. She shot down the idea of a gift card or anything else, calling it 'creepy' (!) Guess kids don't think like adults, since I do not expect anything for writing rec. letters, but appreciate it when I do receive something.</p>
<p>"She shot down the idea of a gift card or anything else, calling it 'creepy' (!) Guess kids don't think like adults, "</p>
<p>I am a former college professor, and I agree with your daughter. I didn't want gifts from my students, but did appreciate handwritten thank-you notes with specifics about how I'd helped them.</p>
<p>It's the thought that counts not the gift. Baked goods and flowers are always good.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Don't worry if you don't have time to make them from scratch, because there's a whole new batch of "pre-portioned," ready-to-bake cookies on the market.
Nestle Toll House -- An 18-ounce package cost $3.79
Pillsbury Chocolate Chunk and Chip -- An 18-ounce package cost $2.99.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I teach high school and the best thank you is "Thank you," and written is the best! When the students get into their schools, another thank you is great. I agree with the above posters who said that anything more than that is completely unwarranted. Although writing rec letters can be tough (after all, we think long and hard about them), it is part of our job. I would feel totally uncomfortable if the students for whom I wrote gave me anything.</p>
<p>I wrote thank you notes to my teachers. I didn't get too specific or cutesy because both my teachers know me and already get it that I think they're really awesome teachers and loved their classes. The cards were just to say "thanks" and let them know that I appreciated their letters of recommendation. Nothing too fancy.</p>
<p>I contemplated gift-cards, but decided that there isn't a monetary value that I could assign to their help in the application process. 20 bucks seemed like a cheap representation of my gratitude.</p>
<p>I decided, a meaningful thank you note is best.</p>
<p>We perused and found a nice tie with Latin inscriptions on it for her Latin teacher - who wrote a rec for nearly all her 13 applications. He also likes ties!!! We are getting a Borders card for her English teacher. I would say that $20 - $25 should suffice. A handwritten note of appreciation would be priceless.</p>