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Appropriate thank-you gifts for letters of recommendation

FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤinterior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
edited June 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
A few ex-coworkers and bosses put in letters of recommendation for me for grad school recently. I also had a few college administrators who pulled some strings to get some erroneous info removed from my transcript.

I wanted to send them thank-you gifts. Would a small note and a $20 Starbucks gift card be appropriate, or is that too cheap?

every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Feral on

Posts

  • a5ehrena5ehren AtlantaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    That's more than I would do, so I wouldn't say it's too cheap.

    a5ehren on
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited June 2011
    It's definitely not too cheap, the only question I have is whether you wouldn't rather give something more personal/meaningful that they might remember you by.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I would say a simple thank you note is enough. I don't know if giving gifts after receiving a reference is actually appropriate.

    Esh on
  • FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Esh wrote: »
    I would say a simple thank you note is enough. I don't know if giving gifts after receiving a reference is actually appropriate.

    Not a bad point. I double-checked and it looks like it's inappropriate when asking for the letter, but not necessary when sending a thank-you note.

    Thanks, guys.

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    For what it's worth, the pulmonary attending, cardiologist, and nursing manager who wrote the references who I am pretty sure got me into school I bought a thirty dollar bottle of wine for each. Just called their secretaries who know them pretty well to find out what kind they like.

    MegaMan001 on
    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • ueanuean Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Heck man I got a $20 starbucks card for my 30th birthday.

    uean on
    Guys? Hay guys?
    PSN - sumowot
  • DeebaserDeebaser on my way to work in a suit and a tie Ahhhh...come on fucking guyRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    x2 for "gift doesn't really seem appropriate at all". A thank you note seems more than fine.

    Deebaser on
  • MentalExerciseMentalExercise Indefenestrable Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Something small to show your appreciation would, in most cases, be perfectly fine. Rather than a gift card though, I would go with something perishable. A pound of Alto Grande or Kona coffee. A bottle of wine is always nice. Really nice chocolates or other super gourmet candy works great. A small box of safron for someone you know cooks. A pair of beautiful flower bulbs for someone that gardens or keeps plants in their office.

    That's what I've got off the top of my head.

    MentalExercise on
    "More fish for Kunta!"

    --LeVar Burton
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Feral wrote: »
    A few ex-coworkers and bosses put in letters of recommendation for me for grad school recently. I also had a few college administrators who pulled some strings to get some erroneous info removed from my transcript.

    I wanted to send them thank-you gifts. Would a small note and a $20 Starbucks gift card be appropriate, or is that too cheap?

    Yes, for this it is appropriate.

    Good luck in grad school, bro.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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