Ok, so this is kind of a stupid question about postage....

[murkydreamer]

I'm sending my profs a package with all the materials they might find relevant in writing me a recommendation.  If I include a stamped envelope (for sending the rec to LSAC) in that package, how much postage should I put on that? 

Ahh, the little details. 

[TDPookie1]

I'm sending my profs a package with all the materials they might find relevant in writing me a recommendation.  If I include a stamped envelope (for sending the rec to LSAC) in that package, how much postage should I put on that? 

Ahh, the little details. 

37 cents?  The recommendation probably won't exceed a couple pages, right?  I doubt it would need more than the standard amount of postage.

[dgatl]

ask them to sign across the envelope seal and give it back to you.  tell them that you intend on sending the letter with a tracking device to ensure LSAC receives it.  then do it.

[Ginatio]

I wouldn't include postage. There's just no need to worry about it. Profs send this stuff out through their academic department, which will cover the postage.

[M2]

I disagree...itsb etter to include postage rather than assume that postage will be paid for by the department

[Ginatio]

I disagree...itsb etter to include postage rather than assume that postage will be paid for by the department

but that's what they do... the prof isn't going to put postage on it himself and mail it out. he will put it in a departmental mailer, and give it to the secretary to send through the campus mail system, since the university is probably paying for mass postage anyway...

[jacy85]

Whether or not they use your envelope and postage, it's rude to not include it.  You're asking them, essentially, to do you a favor.  Therefore, you should provide everything they need to do it, including postage.  It's the polite, considerate thing to do.

[M2]

Whether or not they use your envelope and postage, it's rude to not include it.  You're asking them, essentially, to do you a favor.  Therefore, you should provide everything they need to do it, including postage.  It's the polite, considerate thing to do.

my thoughts exactly

[KareBear]

I agree. Including postage shouldn't even be a question, its common courtesy.

But back to the original question - if you decide to use a large envelope (for example, if you don't want your recommendation to be folded) it might require additional postage.  Otherwise, a regular 37 cent stamp would do.

[Ginatio]

Whether or not they use your envelope and postage, it's rude to not include it.  You're asking them, essentially, to do you a favor.  Therefore, you should provide everything they need to do it, including postage.  It's the polite, considerate thing to do.

whatever makes you feel better, i guess.

my dad's a prof, and i asked him about all this LOR etiquette stuff back when I was applying. He said that the department covers postage for things like this, and that profs send recs using university envelopes/stationary, so if you include a stamped, addressed envelope, they'll likely throw it out anyway. and generally, you shouldn't worry too much about small formalities such as this, since writing recommendations is basically part of a professor's job description.

and although including a postage-paid envelope may be polite and considerate, not including it isn't impolite or inconsiderate...