Reference Thank You Letters

[Ingridd]

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Three people wrote references letters for me back in July. It is now November, and I just got an invitation for an interview at the pharmacy school that I really want to go to. I did not write any of my references formal thank you letters. Is it too late? I’m afraid it would be awkward since I waited until after securing an interview to formally thank them. I know all of them pretty well - I just thanked them personally as soon as they finished their letters. One I thanked through a text message because she lives far away. I feel awful now because I was unaware that I might've done something that wasn't very cordial by not sending them letters.

Also, is e-mail too informal for these letters? And I thought about getting each of them a small gift for taking the time to write me a letter, but I wasn’t sure what to get them.

 

[vaughnpereira]

Write them letters now. It's never too late to thank someone and I'm sure they will appreciate it.

 

[Pojman]

Three people wrote references letters for me back in July. It is now November, and I just got an invitation for an interview at the pharmacy school that I really want to go to. I did not write any of my references formal thank you letters. Is it too late? I’m afraid it would be awkward since I waited until after securing an interview to formally thank them. I know all of them pretty well - I just thanked them personally as soon as they finished their letters. One I thanked through a text message because she lives far away. I feel awful now because I was unaware that I might've done something that wasn't very cordial by not sending them letters.

Also, is e-mail too informal for these letters? And I thought about getting each of them a small gift for taking the time to write me a letter, but I wasn’t sure what to get them.

It is deffinatly not too late! It is never too late for something like this. Just mention that you apologize that it is somewhat delayed, but you felt that it was important to remember to thank them for the time and effort that they put into writing you a thank you letter.

When I want to send a gift to someone, and I don't want it to seem like I actually went out and spent money on them, or seem like its "too much". I send them homemade baked cookies. I have searched the world over for the best cookie recipe, and I believe that I have found that recipe. I bake them a batch of cookies, and send the recipe along with the batch of cookies. That always seems to be a huge hit. If anyone wants to know the worlds best cookie recipe, feel free to PM me and I will share it with you. They are called "vanilla pudding chocolate chip cookies".

 

[david05]

I think it's still early. Try to get accepted and then thank them with the news 😀 .

 

[Ayuka001]

i got my writers a thank you card and a $20 starbucks card

 

[Ingridd]

Thanks for the replies. I'm working on the thank you letters right now. I'm still worried it might seem awkward because I've already told them, informally, how grateful I am for their letters. It also feels odd writing "Dear Mr. Smith" etc when I normally address them by their first names.

 

[ACE Rx]

Three people wrote references letters for me back in July. It is now November, and I just got an invitation for an interview at the pharmacy school that I really want to go to. I did not write any of my references formal thank you letters. Is it too late? I’m afraid it would be awkward since I waited until after securing an interview to formally thank them. I know all of them pretty well - I just thanked them personally as soon as they finished their letters. One I thanked through a text message because she lives far away. I feel awful now because I was unaware that I might've done something that wasn't very cordial by not sending them letters.

Also, is e-mail too informal for these letters? And I thought about getting each of them a small gift for taking the time to write me a letter, but I wasn’t sure what to get them.

It's never too late. People love to know that they were helpful and somehow made a difference. 🙂

 

[xtsukiyox]

I think your personal thank-you in person was good for on the spot. Since you've waited, you might want to send handwritten thank yous and frame it as "and here's an update on how I'm doing - I got an interview to my top choice!" I sent handwritten notes and a Starbucks gift card to each of my recommendation writers.

That reminds me, I've been remiss on updating one of them (that I haven't seen in person) on my acceptance. 😀 I'm going to send him an e-mail.

 

[Pharmacopia]

i got my writers a thank you card and a $20 starbucks card

thats what I did and still do to people I want to keep in touch.