is it bad etiquette to not give a thank you note

[ronaldo23]

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Hey, I got a rec from my bio teacher, who I'm in a class with now and have had a class with last semester. I frequently go to his office hours, and will probably go to his office a handful of times before finals.

Is it okay to just thank him in person since I'm there alot, or is a thank you card really the standard...

 

[student1799]

Hey, I got a rec from my bio teacher, who I'm in a class with now and have had a class with last semester. I frequently go to his office hours, and will probably go to his office a handful of times before finals.

Is it okay to just thank him in person since I'm there alot, or is a thank you card really the standard...

Just write a brief thank-you note. Even though you see him frequently, etiquette still demands that you write one. Email is fine.

Personally, I think thank-you cards are tacky, but to each his own. Just write the note and get it over with.

 

[DrSno]

I didn't write my reviewers thank you notes. The thought never even occurred to me. But I'm sure they knew I appreciated it, and I thanked them when they agreed to and afterwards.

 

[DrWookie]

Just write a brief thank-you note. Even though you see him frequently, etiquette still demands that you write one. Email is fine.

Personally, I think thank-you cards are tacky, but to each his own. Just write the note and get it over with.

I don't think etiquette "demands" that you write a thank you note.

If you can thank someone in person after the fact I think thank you notes are unnecessary.

For instance, if someone gives me a present IN PERSON and I open it in front of them I will thank them, give them a hug etc... I will not then go home and write them a thank you card. I have already acknowledged their generosity in person, which I think is much more meaningful then a piece of paper or an email.

 

[qmcat]

i would generally agree with the above posters. for me, i thanked my lor writers based on how i knew them.

one of my writers LOVES ty-cards, and he thumb-tacks any ty-cards and all other letters students give him onto his office wall... so i ended up giving him a ty-card also to add to his wall. for one of my other letter writers, she tends to likes gifts and "useful" things rather than cards/letters (which she tends to glance over and throw out)... so i ended up giving her a copy of one of my music cd's (i'm a musician), and she loved it and even plays it in her car (at least thats what she told me haha).

so, i guess it depends on how well you know your profs/lor writers. if you know how they respond to cards/gifts then act accordingly. but if you don't know them too well, i guess an email or card wouldn't hurt and would be the usual formality for showing your appreciation.

 

[BlueElmo]

I think you should give them a thank you card. Remember, they did you a favor, and even though they may not say it, I'm sure they will really appreciate that thank you card. I know I would.

 

[darkosbunny]

Who can really say for sure one way or the other.

But I do know that a thank-you letter will never hurt your chances...it can only help you.

Not submitting a thank-you letter could possibly have a negative impact. Best to play it safe.

 

[235009]

Who can really say for sure one way or the other.

But I do know that a thank-you letter will never hurt your chances...it can only help you.

Not submitting a thank-you letter could possibly have a negative impact. Best to play it safe.

reading comprehension FAIL

the question was whether to send a LOR writer a thank you card

i would only do so if you are no longer in regular contact with the person. i would also opt for email rather than a card which is tacky and is going way overboard.

 

[MCP1]

How exactly are cards tacky?

I think a simple card with a personal message instead is much classier than an email. An email is much less personal and tackier to me.

Hell, before the internet, thank you cards were the norm.

I would say the best thing is just to thank them in person if its possible.

 

[justmoi]

maybe i'm old fashioned, but i stick to thank you notes of at least some kind. a simple card with a personal note means a lot. i've done this through high school, did this in college, did this for all my LOR writers, do this now, and the cards have always been appreciated. maybe my generation thinks its tacky, but my professors and advisors have always found it to be a thoughtful, meaningful gesture, and it shows that you took the time. i've always had great relationships with LOR writers and see them/email them/stay in touch, but that doesn't mean i cancel the formal card. the way i see it, when someone gives me a thank you card to show their appreciation for what I did for them, it means a lot to me and shows me that they thought about it and took some moments out of their day to find the words.

oh, and i hand them in person.

 

[badapplestix]

Starbucks gift card > note