<p>S wrote personal letters to the teachers he wanted to write his college letters over the summer. They communicated via email that they'd get together when school began. S met with teachers, teachers wrote rec for ED. S was HOPING to send celebratory thank you notes -- couldn't have done it without you - type. Was rejected.</p>
<p>So now.. does he write the formal thank you note now? Recommendations have been now sent to seven additional schools. Or does he now wait until April so he can also inform them what school he is going to. He has certainly thanked these teachers personally numerous times, but this whole note thing is now bordering on needing help from Miss Manner or Ann Landers!</p>
<p>Certainly, it would have been my preference for him to write formally immediately, but he had a point when he said since he doesn't see the recommendations, he would merely be saying thank you with no specifics. anyway.. any thoughts would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Personally, it is my feeling that one should never underestimate the value of good manners.</p>
<p>He is saying thank you for their time, not for their "help" in getting into his college(s). A thank you would be appropriate right now, perhaps with a small box of candy or something similar for the holidays.</p>
<p>We waited until senior year was almost over. Both kids continued to have these teachers for courses during their senior year. At the end of the senior year, they wrote letters thanking these teachers for all of their help during high school AND for writing their letters of recommendation. We didn't get gifts for everyone...only the two folks who had been most involved with the kids both in courses and in ECs. Oh...and we also wrote a note to the high school administration thanking these teachers too.</p>
<p>He should provide handwritten thank-yous immediately after the recommendations are written. He's not thanking them for getting him into college, he's thanking them for taking the time (It takes as long an hour to write a recommendation) to write his recommendations.</p>
<p>After he decides where he will be going to college, it would be courteous for him to thank them again -- preferably in writing, letting them know where he'll be going to college.</p>
<p>Since he hasn't yet sent thank-you notes, but has gotten a rejection, he still should ASAP send them notes, and he could include info such as, "Although I was rejected by the college that I applied to, I appreciate your support. I've found other colleges that I'm very interested in, and I'd appreciate it if you could recommend me to them" or "and I'll be using your recommendation with my applications to them. While I'm disappointed at not getting into my first choice, I appreciate all of the help you've given me. Your support means a lot."</p>