Letters of Recommendation

[Anonymous]

Can you provide any insight as to why families don't facilitate students writing thank you's and giving a token of appreciation for writing their kids' college letter of recommendation? It takes minimum 1-2 hours for the Common App rating scale, letter, and upload details. Add in non-Common App, scholarships, etc. on top of that. I don't do it for the $, but I also feel severely underappreciated when its met with absolutely no acknowledgment. Just so disheartening. Sad end to an exhausting year.

[Anonymous]

I hear you PP. I actually just wish kids would tell me if they got the scholarship, or Eagle Scout or pre-college program. And let me know which university they got into. Some kids do tell me and I am always so excited to hear about it. I especially think the kids who need last minute recommendations should write a thank you letter. Some kids beg me to write a recommendation that takes an hour or two with three days notice. I say yes sometimes but it’s definitely a burden.

[Anonymous]

I asked my kids to send thank you letters and gift cards to their recommenders but in hindsight they were right, its part of teacher's job and gifting sets a wrong president, ones who cant afford feel bad. Just write a note of gratitude.

[Anonymous]

I get thank yous — this seems doable. But two thoughts:
— The students don’t want to ask. They have to. They are giving this system and don’t feel in a position of choice (esp if the teacher teaches English or math). That may be why they fail to realize why it’s an extra and a pain in the neck for you.
— A “token of appreciation”? In the context, it would feel bribe-like if the custom were to give gift cards, etc, for letters of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

I’m glad I teach 9th grade and not 11th grade because college recommendations is a lot of extra work for the teachers at my high school who teach juniors.
No thanks. Teaching is already underpaid and thankless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get thank yous — this seems doable. But two thoughts:
— The students don’t want to ask. They have to. They are giving this system and don’t feel in a position of choice (esp if the teacher teaches English or math). That may be why they fail to realize why it’s an extra and a pain in the neck for you.
— A “token of appreciation”? In the context, it would feel bribe-like if the custom were to give gift cards, etc, for letters of recommendation.

By token, I mean a chocolate bar or something along those lines…by no means a bribe. 20 letters written, 1 thank you this year. I just might not have it in me to do this again. And we aren’t required, so that’s okay.

[Anonymous]

I have young kids and it’s been a long time since I was in high school but I don’t recall writing thank you notes to my high school teachers who wrote recommendations (this was in a W school in MCPS). I take it the culture has changed? I think people assume (perhaps wrongly) that it IS part of your job and deserves no additional thank you than you would give any teacher whose job took up a lot of time (for example, that of an AP English teacher who presumably has to read a gazillion papers every semester). Not saying they are correct but if you’re looking for the reason why parents don’t press it, that may be one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get thank yous — this seems doable. But two thoughts:
— The students don’t want to ask. They have to. They are giving this system and don’t feel in a position of choice (esp if the teacher teaches English or math). That may be why they fail to realize why it’s an extra and a pain in the neck for you.
— A “token of appreciation”? In the context, it would feel bribe-like if the custom were to give gift cards, etc, for letters of recommendation.

By token, I mean a chocolate bar or something along those lines…by no means a bribe. 20 letters written, 1 thank you this year. I just might not have it in me to do this again. And we aren’t required, so that’s okay.

Yep. I teach Upper ES and always get flooded for kids that need recs for their middle school privates. 10-15 kids each taking 1-2 hrs, plus sometimes phone follow ups and additional info comes out to an extra week of work/year

[Anonymous]

Part of your job though is a subjective definition.
It is an implied part of the job. It is not stated explicitly and will not affect your evaluation.

For HS teachers writing college recommendations, they are free to set the limit at 5 or 20+.
Also, good teachers get punished by having to write many more than weaker teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of your job though is a subjective definition.
It is an implied part of the job. It is not stated explicitly and will not affect your evaluation.

For HS teachers writing college recommendations, they are free to set the limit at 5 or 20+.
Also, good teachers get punished by having to write many more than weaker teachers.

I wrote over 30 college recommendations last summer. I agree with other posters that each one takes 1-1.5 hours of my own time to complete. I received one thank you.

Even if people assume it is part of my job (which it isn’t), good etiquette would still suggest that a thank you is appropriate. I don’t want a gift card, candy, etc. One student sent me an emailed “thank you” and I was very appreciative. My own kid will be applying for college next year. I’ll be encouraging her to send a note of appreciation to her teachers.

[Anonymous]

Aren't students taught about the college application process at school? Teachers should instruct their students on how to appropriately ask for a recommendation and send a proper 'Thank You' email or card after.

Many parents just don't know any better.

[Anonymous]

Start saying no?

[Anonymous]

Can’t you use a form letter and adapt it so it would take more like .5 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you use a form letter and adapt it so it would take more like .5 hours.

Not if you want a strong, personalized letter. Each letter I write is unique. I use specific data and anecdotes that will highlight the student’s strengths. That’s what I would want teachers to do for my child. Sure, some universities don’t care much about the recommendation letters. I don’t know where my letters are going, however, and I am not going to make a student assume the risk by my cutting corners.

[Anonymous]

Those of you saying just say no to kids don’t seem to realize that would mean kids don’t have recommendation letters from junior year teachers. I can imagine the posts on DCUM about lazy teachers saying no to your kids asking for letters. And some schools require certain subjects so I would be screwing kids over if I didn’t write it.

I’m one of the PPs and am not asking for a gift or a fancy letter. A thank you email letting me know where you will be matriculating or even stopping by my classroom to let me know you got the scholarship would be enough.