Thanks for reference letter

[Hakkola]

A professor of mine took the time to write me a reference letter for law school. I know this is considered their duty to do if you're a good student, but I'm wondering if there is any customary way of saying thanks, like a bottle of wine or something, or if just a verbal "thank you" is expected?

[irs]

I'd go for the wine or something like that.
Then down the road if you call him he will be a reference for you as well.

[badatusrnames]

I'm not so sure if it would be proper to give him a gift as there may be ethical rules he has to observe about accepting gifts from him students. You giving him a gift may put him in an uncomfortable position.

I think a sincere thank you letter or card may be more appropriate. As much as he might want to accept a gift from you, he might not be able to.

[Xtrema]

May be a Thank You card with a coffee card inside?

[Rat Fink]

.

[hash]

(i'm assuming you're a student.) ... thank you card with something meaningful written on it. if you get in, followup with another card letting him know how you did. wine is going a little overboard.

[D. Dub]

I just started grad school in January.

I gave my references a nice, inexpensive bottle of wine $20-30.

It's not overboard at all....

[Gainsbarre]

Originally posted by Hakkola
A professor of mine took the time to write me a reference letter for law school. I know this is considered their duty to do if you're a good student, but I'm wondering if there is any customary way of saying thanks, like a bottle of wine or something, or if just a verbal "thank you" is expected?

Hm...what I did is I gave them a thank you note and then kept in touch with them (I've kept in touch with about half a dozen professors from undergrad, even though I've only asked 3 of them for reference letters). For professors, writing reference letters is a part of their compensation -- it falls under the "service" component of their responsibilities.

[Boat]

get him a flat...

[2EFNFAST]

Just make certain that it was a good letter of reference - I applied for a stats masters, didn't get it. When I was bored one day I paid and got a transcript of what my references said about one - one of them (a professor whom I thought I got along with) said some of the meanest things I've ever heard about myself!

Now, when I look back I am 1000000000% thankful that i was NOT accepted into the masters program; however, it still bothers me that I could be a good student, and the prof. would say one thing to me and write another.

Boooooo

[peterparker]

Originally posted by Rat Fink
nothing says thank you like a rusty trombone

[pints]

I was wondering the same thing. i was thinking about a gift card to Willow Park Wines to stick into the card.