Holiday gifts for recommendation letter writers, essay readers, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a school pen to each of his recommenders.

No one wants a school pen.

Exactly. That’s a total waste. A $50 restaurant gift card is sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Heartfelt letter and a gc

[Anonymous]

AFTER the recs are done and turned in.

Under no situation do you want it to look like bribery.

Our HS had Juniors ask before summer break and the teachers have them turned in by September of Sr year- barring a senior teacher. But they encourage Jr year teachers.

My kids apps are in and recs were sent. He will write thank u notes and give small gift before winter break.

We do not give gifts at all in HS directly to teachers. We contribute to teacher/staff brumches, etc (entire school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior - thinking ahead and doing it for the teachers that my kid loves this year.

$50-200 restaurant gift cards

That's WAY too much. And since your kid is a junior, it smells like bribery.

Yeah. That’s gross. It’s AFTER that u give it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would it look like a bribe? Unless the student said something to the effect of "can you write a letter of recommendation for me and my parents will make it worth your while"?

These thank you notes/gift cards are given after the letter has been written/essay read. How is it a bribe?

Quote was I have a JUNIOR - thinking ahead and doing it for the teachers that my kid loves THIS YEAR.

Therefore a bribe. Plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a school pen to each of his recommenders.

My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a small generic boxed gift and a decent amount gift card, TBD. It's not bribery!

Some public school parents are claiming a limit of $20-$50. What are private school parents giving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AFTER the recs are done and turned in.

Under no situation do you want it to look like bribery.

Our HS had Juniors ask before summer break and the teachers have them turned in by September of Sr year- barring a senior teacher. But they encourage Jr year teachers.

My kids apps are in and recs were sent. He will write thank u notes and give small gift before winter break.

We do not give gifts at all in HS directly to teachers. We contribute to teacher/staff brumches, etc (entire school).

Scrumptious brumches…yum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a school pen to each of his recommenders.

My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a small generic boxed gift and a decent amount gift card, TBD. It's not bribery!

Some public school parents are claiming a limit of $20-$50. What are private school parents giving?

Absolutely no gift cards or gifts allowed at our private school. However, handwritten thank you notes required by the CCO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a school pen to each of his recommenders.

My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a small generic boxed gift and a decent amount gift card, TBD. It's not bribery!

Some public school parents are claiming a limit of $20-$50. What are private school parents giving?

Absolutely no gift cards or gifts allowed at our private school. However, handwritten thank you notes required by the CCO.

My kid doesn’t go to that private school.
And handwritten notes are “required”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just got accepted to his 1st choice school. He is writing a thank you note and giving a school pen to each of his recommenders.

No one wants a school pen.

I saw a recommendation on here several years ago to write a note, give a $20-$25 gift card, and a pen from the school my DC would be attending. That's what we did, and DC felt good about it. The pen is a cute touch, and teachers need/use pens. I now work in a high school, and my colleagues view it as a thoughtful addition to the thank you and reminder of the student.

[Anonymous]

$50 Amazon gift card. Much appreciated by all who received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heartfelt letter and a gc

This. DH is a teacher, always loves the handwritten notes, and gift card is appreciated, doesn’t matter the amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heartfelt letter and a gc

This. DH is a teacher, always loves the handwritten notes, and gift card is appreciated, doesn’t matter the amount.

What are your thoughts on the junior?

[Anonymous]

I gave Godiva chocolates to my recommenders when I picked up the envelopes

[Anonymous]

My DCs did not do gifts. They also waited until they knew their colleges to write the thank you notes. My first DC got in ED, so those notes went out over Winter Break. My second DC did not do an ED as her top choice college only offered RD, so she wrote her notes in the new year.