Thanking Professors for Writing Letters

[how to thank]

I am looking to thank the 3 professors who graciously wrote me letters of recommendation and peeled, licked, affixed countless stamps on my behalf.

Any ideas about a nice way to express gratitude for this thankless act of service? Appropriate gifts, gestures, etc?

[laughthroughit]

I would ask other students in your department about this. I wasn't sure either but I asked some recent grads what they did and everyone just put cards in the mailboxes of their letter writers. You might thank your Chair/Advisor with a small gift, but it would really depend on your relationship with the person and what is expected in your department.

[coldweathergirl]

Thank you notes with gift cards (amazon.com, local restaurants) was the norm in my program. However, professors have said to me that writing letters in part of their job and gifts are not expected (but appreciated)

[letter writer]

It is definitely part of the job! I write lots of letters, and I never expect gifts. A "thank you" (verbally, via email, a card) is a nice gesture, but also not required.

That said, I have had students give small, thoughtful gifts to committee members after successfully defending their dissertation (and, less often, their MA)... and I'm always happy to get them (especially when thoughtful and as a memento to help me remember the student once he/she has moved on)... but, again, I would never fault a (poor, starving) grad student for not getting me gifts! But perhaps I am a little less narcissistic than the average prof...

[guest1311]

I'd never expect a gift from someone I wrote for. A simple thank you is sufficient. It's part of the job. But, I'll add that one nice thing to do during the process is to provide pre-addressed (and stamped if necessary) envelopes to your writers -- that way the letter writer just has to print the letter and stuff the envelope. And also, doing it yourself helps guarantee that the envelope is addressed correctly!

[KnitWit]

I gave each member of my committee a little crocheted bookmark that I made myself and a thank you note. Now that I'm an assistant prof., I like to get thank you notes from students for writing letters so I can include them in my annual review portfolio.

[taketwo]

I don't think this is established culture in my dept, but thanks to prompting on this thread (and last year's as well) I gave each of my letter writers a mug with an image based on their hobbies plus handmade cards. Relatively inexpensive.

Also, more often than not the bulk of letter writing work (addressing, printing, stuffing envelopes, mailing) falls to administrative staff. Don't forget them with as you say your thank yous!

[idk]

I'm topping this b/c I just defended and got a post-doc and would like to thank my committee members but have no idea what they would want. I'd like to get them something personal but they all have rather expensive hobbies and tastes. I guess a card is okay? Any other suggestions?

[anon27]

Bottle of wine?