How To Thank Professors For LORs

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RockMyWorldPlz

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So, I just received an absolutely outstanding letter or recommendation from one of my professors. How do I go about expressing my thanks. I've heard several ideas such as sending him a "Thank You" card, sending him a gift, or just personally thanking him. What does everyone think? What have you done in the past to express your gratitude for your professors' recommendations? I feel like I must do something for him but I'm not sure what. Is a simple "Thank You" card/letter too insignificant or too cliche? Let me know what your thoughts are please. Thanks in advance.
 
While we're on this topic, does anyone know about the policy with regards to submitting LORs for medical school? I believe I've read somewhere that the actual letter writer must send in the recommendation himself or herself. Is this true? I already told the professor that I would like to keep in touch just for this reason. Does anyone know whether the writer has to submit it or can I submit it myself? Thanks in advance.
 
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Thank your prof in person, and also drop a nice thank you card in the campus mail. Gifts are too bribe-like.

That's what I thought as well. Plus, I'm still enrolled in this individual's course and university policy might discourage gift-giving under these circumstances.
 
Thank-you cards are great and you would be surprised how many people do not send them. Just write something personal and promise to keep in touch.

After you get your first/dream school acceptance, bring cookies. That way, it is a true thank-you rather than a bribe. Profs remember these things.
 
While we're on this topic, does anyone know about the policy with regards to submitting LORs for medical school? I believe I've read somewhere that the actual letter writer must send in the recommendation himself or herself. Is this true? I already told the professor that I would like to keep in touch just for this reason. Does anyone know whether the writer has to submit it or can I submit it myself? Thanks in advance.

Med schools won't believe an LOR is genuine if it has passed through the applicant's hands at any point during the process, because in theory you could have altered it or even substituted a completely different letter. So your LOR writer must send the letter directly to either your school's premed committee (if you are using one) or a letter service like Interfolio, which then transmits the letters electronically to the med schools.
 
How do you know it's an excellent letter? Did he send you a copy? I'm just wondering how when people say "I have great/strong LORs" they know this, since you're not allowed to see your own letters. Unless of course they decided to send you a copy.....

Which is sweet
 
How do you know it's an excellent letter? Did he send you a copy? I'm just wondering how when people say "I have great/strong LORs" they know this, since you're not allowed to see your own letters. Unless of course they decided to send you a copy.....

Which is sweet

I was totally in the dark about most of my LORs, except for the fact that I knew how long they were. The one from the professor I know the best was 2 pages, the rest were 1.

I've heard of some people getting to write their own letters, which honestly sounds worse than getting to read them.
 
I wrote a Thank You card, but now I'm thinking just a note might be a little better. I don't know, cards seem a little too much like a template to me.

Oh, and I baked some cookies, but ended up sharing it with the research and grad students instead of giving the entire dozen or so to the professor. He had a couple and appreciated the gesture, and everyone else was really happy to have something to munch on.
 
I was totally in the dark about most of my LORs, except for the fact that I knew how long they were. The one from the professor I know the best was 2 pages, the rest were 1.

I've heard of some people getting to write their own letters, which honestly sounds worse than getting to read them.

Yeah, I would hate to have to write my own...I imagine the writing would feel awkward and somewhat contrived, trying to get across how wonderful you are, instead of someone else talking about it from the outside...
 
How do you know it's an excellent letter? Did he send you a copy? I'm just wondering how when people say "I have great/strong LORs" they know this, since you're not allowed to see your own letters. Unless of course they decided to send you a copy.....

Which is sweet

Yes, my professor sent me an e-mail with the attached letter. In fact, that's all that was done; there was no submission to Interfolio or anything like that.

I'm early in the application process and this is my first medical school LOR, so I was unaware of how the submissions actually take place. I appreciate the advice on Interfolio; I will certainly be looking into that and will request that my professor submit it to this service.

So, you're never allowed to view your LORs through Interfolio after they've been submitted? That's a total bummer. Hopefully, LOR writers will agree to sending me a hardcopy in addition to the electronic submission.

It seems that the general consensus is that "Thank You" cards are adequate in expressing one's gratitude to a professor. I'd really like to do something more but I don't want my gestures to be misinterpreted. Thanks for all the comments.
 
I was totally in the dark about most of my LORs, except for the fact that I knew how long they were. The one from the professor I know the best was 2 pages, the rest were 1.

I've heard of some people getting to write their own letters, which honestly sounds worse than getting to read them.

What do you mean? Like professors told the students to write a letter about themselves from the viewpoint of the instructor? Then the professor would sign and submit the letter as their own?
 
Yes, my professor sent me an e-mail with the attached letter. In fact, that's all that was done; there was no submission to Interfolio or anything like that.

I'm early in the application process and this is my first medical school LOR, so I was unaware of how the submissions actually take place. I appreciate the advice on Interfolio; I will certainly be looking into that and will request that my professor submit it to this service.

So, you're never allowed to view your LORs through Interfolio after they've been submitted? That's a total bummer. Hopefully, LOR writers will agree to sending me a hardcopy in addition to the electronic submission.

It seems that the general consensus is that "Thank You" cards are adequate in expressing one's gratitude to a professor. I'd really like to do something more but I don't want my gestures to be misinterpreted. Thanks for all the comments.

I don't think that gifts are out of line, so long as they are given after the LOR has been completely submitted, i.e., they can't change what they wrote, and as long as they weren't promised a gift when you asked them to write the letter. If they didn't expect a gift, how can it possibly be bribery? I gave all of my references a small gift after the letters were turned in and they seemed to really appreciate it. Granted, they were also my two major/thesis advisers and my academic adviser, so the gifts were also for all of their help in that regard. If you give a gift, I highly doubt that your gesture will be misinterpreted - just be sure to give it after you are done with the current class.
 
A simple expression of gratitude in person will mean more than a card or gift - you are thankful for a reason, so let them see it
 
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