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Recommender Gifts

post #1 of 8
2/23/11 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
I recently applied to a shitload of grad schools and, as such, had to get a shitload of recommendations. The last application is due at the end of this month, so I feel the time is ripe to get my recommenders a nice gift. Anyone have some good ideas?

I want to avoid giving anything with an actual value on it (ie a gift card), seems way too tacky. Alcohol was my first thought but I don't really know these peoples drinking habits.
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post #2 of 8
2/23/11 at 1:07pm
Don't do it. Write a polite note of thanks. I have been in academia and in the private sector and have written far too many of these things. Don't cloud the ethical issue with any sort of gift. A nice hand written note on good stationary is the proper thank you. Nothing more and nothing less.
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post #3 of 8
2/23/11 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by junkyard_sal View Post
Don't do it. Write a polite note of thanks.

Having been in academia and in the private sector and have written far too many of these things. Don't cloud the ethical issue with any sort of gift. A nice hand written note on good stationary is the proper thank you. Nothing more and nothing less.

I'm waiting until after I've gotten all the recommendations I need to give a gift - wouldn't that take care of any ethical issues?
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post #4 of 8
2/23/11 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by junkyard_sal View Post
Don't do it. Write a polite note of thanks.

Having been in academia and in the private sector and have written far too many of these things. Don't cloud the ethical issue with any sort of gift. A nice hand written note on good stationary is the proper thank you. Nothing more and nothing less.

+1. If you go onto bigger and better, that person may still have that note and frame it. A bottle of vodka(which I would love) will be gone!
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post #5 of 8
2/24/11 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by junkyard_sal View Post
Don't do it. Write a polite note of thanks.

I have been in academia and in the private sector and have written far too many of these things. Don't cloud the ethical issue with any sort of gift. A nice hand written note on good stationary is the proper thank you. Nothing more and nothing less.

This is exactly right. I've been in academia for years, and no one--I mean NO ONE--expects gifts. A handwritten note of thanks is the only appropriate gesture.
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post #6 of 8
2/24/11 at 7:37pm
I went through the same thing a few years ago - I got all my recommenders a book pertaining to the subject with a personal connection to me (as well as a handwritten note on the inside of the book).
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post #7 of 8
2/24/11 at 10:59pm
Teger, if any of your recommenders is not a tenured faculty member, drop a note to the Dean about how helpful Prof X has been to you.
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post #8 of 8
2/25/11 at 6:34pm
Go with edibles like chocolates.
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