Gift for letter writers

[Orbits]

What does the etiquette book say about this? I had 2 professor write me a LOR for a summer internship and the same 2 write LORs for transferring. I feel quite indebted to them since LORs are not easy to write. I remember people talking about this when I was applying out of undergrad...but I guess they took away the search option on this site?

[jacy85]

You could maybe write a thank you note and include a gift card for a nice local restaurant.

[PaleForce]

What does the etiquette book say about this? I had 2 professor write me a LOR for a summer internship and the same 2 write LORs for transferring. I feel quite indebted to them since LORs are not easy to write. I remember people talking about this when I was applying out of undergrad...but I guess they took away the search option on this site?

People seem to feel very strongly about this.  One group says a token gift is appropriate.  The other says that it's completely inappropriate because it's part of their job to do this and can be sticky for a professor to receive gifts in return for doing something that is part of their job, it may call into question their ethics with their colleagues- I'm a member of this group.  I sent my recommenders hand-written thank-you notes and plan on keeping touch with occasional emails/drop-ins and will send them a postcard from the school I end up at to say thank-you once more.

The search option is on the homepage.

[anniehall]

I always bake a banana bread and send it to them in a nicely wrapped package with a note (cookies also work well).  That way they don't feel like there's been a transaction involved but they know I'm appreciative of their efforts.

[PaleForce]

I always bake a banana bread and send it to them in a nicely wrapped package with a note (cookies also work well).  That way they don't feel like there's been a transaction involved but they know I'm appreciative of their efforts.

Eloise- this is a great idea & a far more personal way to show your thanks!