wolf30 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Did anyone of you guys give your referees any gifts for writing you a reference letter? I am planning on giving my referee a gift but not sure what sort of gift is acceptable for a professor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogaandtea Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I haven't yet, but I think I am going to mail them a thankyou card for their support, etc. I may also include a small picture of me. I have seen similar things in other profs offices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolf30 Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Do you think a box of chocolate or a bottle of wine is appropriate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogaandtea Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 hm, I really think it depends on the person. I can think of a couple of people in my mind who seem far too formal that I wouldn't feel comfortable sending them a bottle of wine. I can think of others who would graciously except any gift. So I guess it depends on how well you know your references..... although I do think wine is a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpatient Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Gift card to chapters or something like that is always best, since bottle of wine they might not drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
try Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 I personally do not think it is professional to give gifts to references. Showing gratitude through a thank-you card and letting them know what the outcome is is all a reference needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMagic Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I think if you are planning to give a gift card, give like a walmart gift card, you can buy anything you want there or grocery store if your one of those people who don't want to support walmart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I haven't yet, but I think I am going to mail them a thankyou card for their support, etc. I may also include a small picture of me. I have seen similar things in other profs offices. LOL 10char Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmer08 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 LOL 10char LOL I was like WTF when I read that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NutritionRunner Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 I haven't yet, but I think I am going to mail them a thankyou card for their support, etc. I may also include a small picture of me. I have seen similar things in other profs offices. The picture thing sounds odd, unless the prof has asked for it. For example, in my program, the majority of students are applying for dietetic internships, and the profs in our department write the bulk of the reference letters. To facilitate things, the department asks that everyone asking for a reference letter submit a photo of themselves, so the profs can easily put a face to the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogaandtea Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 The picture thing sounds odd, unless the prof has asked for it. For example, in my program, the majority of students are applying for dietetic internships, and the profs in our department write the bulk of the reference letters. To facilitate things, the department asks that everyone asking for a reference letter submit a photo of themselves, so the profs can easily put a face to the name. lol really? like would it be weird even if I included a small grad pic of me? lmao you guys are making me question this idea.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otapply Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 In my opinion it's a bit odd - with a bit of clicking, your prof is able to see the picture on your student ID card.. The first day of all my classes, the profs have printouts of our pictures instead of a regular attendance list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepeak12 Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 lol really? like would it be weird even if I included a small grad pic of me? lmao you guys are making me question this idea.. I was thinking about this too LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 I think a photo is going over the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocibear Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 I haven't yet, but I think I am going to mail them a thankyou card for their support, etc. I may also include a small picture of me. I have seen similar things in other profs offices. So creepy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogaandtea Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 I was thinking about this too LOL Lol is it still creepy if my prof was my research supervisor for a year and a half and we had like a GAZILLION meetings and she's basically a friend now? Becuase I can see how it would be weird to give a picture to a prof I only had a couple of classes with... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icewraps Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Oh crap, you guys gave gifts to your referee? Now I feel bad, I never gave one to mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmer08 Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Oh crap, you guys gave gifts to your referee? Now I feel bad, I never gave one to mine I didn't... its inappropriate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markov79 Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Lol is it still creepy if my prof was my research supervisor for a year and a half and we had like a GAZILLION meetings and she's basically a friend now? Becuase I can see how it would be weird to give a picture to a prof I only had a couple of classes with... LOL i'd think something formal like a grad photo like that is okay, given the context, and as long as you think the person would actually be like "oh, that's nice :)". otherwise, yeah, i think most people reading your OP were picturing the second scenario LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolf30 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 I just ended up giving mines a thank you card with a coffee gift card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 I didn't... its inappropriate! Exactly. A thank you Email should be more than enough. A thank you card would also be Ok. And to the poster with the photo idea (still LOL ), the pictures you see in some profs' offices are likely their graduate students (current or alumni) or their family members/close friends. I still can't stop laughing at this picture idea. lmao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepeak12 Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 When is a good time to give a thank you card to them? AFTER you've got accepted or just in the meantime of this waiting game? It seems odd to give them a thank you card if you were to be rejected.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otapply Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 I would give it to them now, in the interim. Regardless of whether you get in or not, they still took the time to write you a letter. Hopefully if you don't get in you won't blame it on them either, since most professors will decline to write a letter on your behalf if they don't feel as if they have good things to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Scully Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 I give mine gifts always. But I'm a masters student and my supervisor is awesome and I've been working in her lab for years (since undergrad) and we've gone on trips/conferences together, so I know her very well on a personal level. I got her chocolates & thank you card. My other ref was a professor that I knew from college 10 years ago, he's also very cool and he's on my facebook haha so he got a coffee gift card. I think it depends on the relationship with the referee. I don't think it's inappropriate at all. If they know you well enough to write an amazing letter for you why can't you give them a gift? I think a small token of appreciation is okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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