What Are Creative Ways to Thank a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter proton
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Professor
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around creative ways to thank a professor for writing a letter of recommendation, particularly in the context of a student entering a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Participants explore various methods of expressing gratitude, considering the appropriateness and impact of different gestures.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests traditional methods like a thank-you card or chocolates, but seeks more creative alternatives.
  • Another proposes that doing well in the REU program is a way to repay the professor's support.
  • Some participants recommend sending an email update about the REU experience as a form of thanks.
  • A suggestion is made to give a book related to the professor's academic interests as a thoughtful gift.
  • One participant humorously suggests leaving cash in the professor's mailbox, which is not taken seriously by others.
  • Several participants emphasize the value of a simple thank-you note, noting that many students do not express gratitude, which can be meaningful to professors.
  • Concerns are raised about the appropriateness of gifts, with some noting that professors may be prohibited from accepting them due to ethical guidelines.
  • There is discussion about whether a second thank-you note is appropriate if the student has already expressed gratitude via email.
  • Some participants argue that a handwritten note is more impactful than an email, while others suggest that in-person thanks may suffice for those who see the professor regularly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that expressing gratitude is important, but there is no consensus on the best method to do so. Some favor simple notes, while others suggest gifts or updates about the student's progress. The appropriateness of gifts remains contested, with differing opinions on whether they are suitable or even allowed.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the ethical implications of giving gifts to professors and the appropriateness of multiple thank-you notes. There are also varying opinions on the impact of different forms of gratitude, such as handwritten notes versus emails.

Who May Find This Useful

Students seeking to express gratitude to professors, particularly those who have received letters of recommendation or similar support.

proton
Messages
349
Reaction score
0
i'd like to thank one of my professors for writing me a letter of rec to help me get into the REU program. i can't think of any ways to thank him other than writing a thank-you card or buying him chocolates? :smile: can you guys think of better ways? also, i have finals this week and then have to leave for my REU so I don't have much time. hopefully he won't be disappointed that I thanked him so late in the school year as I was so busy and totally forgot about him
 
Physics news on Phys.org
repay him the same way you repay your parents, by doing them proud.
 
mathwonk said:
repay him the same way you repay your parents, by doing them proud.

:smile:

Why don't you write him a little e-mail when you start work? Enthuse about the project you're working on and thank him for writing the reference for you.

In this case I think chocolate is going a bit overboard.
 
If not more than you wanted to spend and you can choose right, a book sort of on the side of the academic subject like history of the science in question, shows interest and can write thanks in it?

PS depending where you are sometimes interesting old 2nd hand books cost no more than new ones, just an idea.
 
Last edited:
just link him to this...or atleast ask him to join PF this shud make him proud enuf
 
Write a letter of recommendation for him- to the chair of his department.
 
You'd be surprised how much a simple thank you note means, since not many students do that. I know I certainly was highly appreciative when students tell me that they appreciated what I had done and how it has affected them.

So you really don't have to buy your prof. anything, really (after all, how would you know what he/she really wants or likes?). Besides, depending on how strict the ethics code is at your school, your prof. may be prohibited from receiving any kind of gifts from the students. Just the fact that you wanted to let him/her know that you appreciate what he/she had done is more than sufficient.

Zz.
 
Hi Proton,

Anything more than a simple note of thanks, in my opinion, is inappropriate. Writing reference letters for students comes with the territory of the profession.
 
A heart-felt message saying thanks would be great. Sending a hand-written note or card is much more effective than an e-mail.
 
  • #10
i agree with a note of thanks and a note to the department head. professors get very few thanks for the many routine acts of service and support they perform. but every semester the head reads a litany of anonymous gripes from students who wanted a higher grade, in the form of "class evaluations".

and lisa is right too. I probably still have the two or three handwritten notes I have received in over 30 years of teaching and service. I don't know if I have any of the emails. Once I got a really nice ecard, but unfortunately trashed it out of embarrassment. I would have saved an actual card.

As to the note to the head, think how much more it means to you practically, to have a letter of reference than just to be told you did a nice job in the course. In the same way, the prof feels good to be complimented, but is actually benefited practically by a letter to his boss.

E.g. I once received a generous award for service in which I think a key element was a letter from a student who had been especially grateful for the impact of my class. I appreciated the letter just for itself, but that award also helped feed my family that summer.
 
Last edited:
  • #11
wow i didnt know that buying a gift would be a bad idea, let alone prohibited possibly

well i already sent him an email a few months ago, telling him that I got into the program and i thanked him. but i haven't spoken to him since then, and i don't even know if he's still around campus as we are in finals week and he might not be teaching any classes this semester.

would sending him another thank you be appropriate?
 
  • #12
proton said:
wow i didnt know that buying a gift would be a bad idea, let alone prohibited possibly

well i already sent him an email a few months ago, telling him that I got into the program and i thanked him. but i haven't spoken to him since then, and i don't even know if he's still around campus as we are in finals week and he might not be teaching any classes this semester.

would sending him another thank you be appropriate?

If you do send another thank you, at least add some updates in it as to avoid being obsequious. lol.
 
  • #13
"cant think of any ways to thank him" Wait until dark and drop some cash in his mailbox.
 
  • #14
ZapperZ said:
You'd be surprised how much a simple thank you note means, since not many students do that. I know I certainly was highly appreciative when students tell me that they appreciated what I had done and how it has affected them.

So you really don't have to buy your prof. anything, really (after all, how would you know what he/she really wants or likes?). Besides, depending on how strict the ethics code is at your school, your prof. may be prohibited from receiving any kind of gifts from the students. Just the fact that you wanted to let him/her know that you appreciate what he/she had done is more than sufficient.

Zz.

I agree. The few thank-you notes I've received are just so wonderful, especially when they come with a gushing report of the wonderful progress my students are making on a project, new job, new school, etc.

If you've already sent one note at the time you were accepted, I agree to wait until you have an update to send. It's nice to hear when one's students are doing well and what they're doing.
 
  • #15
Should you still write a note even if you still work for them daily? Does it make it awkward? Also, should it be written on a thank you card or type something up formally?
 
  • #16
alright, i plan on sending him an email in a few weeks thanking him for the letter of rec and providing him with details on how I'm doing in the REU
 
  • #17
Beeza said:
Should you still write a note even if you still work for them daily? Does it make it awkward? Also, should it be written on a thank you card or type something up formally?

If you have the sort of interaction where you're seeing them daily, I think a thanks in person is sufficient. If you've already moved and they won't see you much again, then an email or thank you card are better.
 

Similar threads

Other Name omitted from Professor's research paper- What should I do?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
6K
Admissions Who should I pick for my third letter of recommendation?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Admissions Asking for letter of recommendation from current professor?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Looking for physics internships requiring one letter of recommendation
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Admissions What REU's to apply to with a mediocre GPA?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Admissions How good do recommendation letters for Master's programs have to be?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Admissions Can a non-academic write a strong letter of recommendation for grad school?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions Does it matter who the recommendation letter is from?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Other How can you know what a professor is like personally?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Admissions Bad and Good recommendation letters
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K