Thank you letter for professor recommendation after acceptance

Recommendation letters are vital to your graduate school application. It's likely that you will need at least three letters and it can be hard to determine who to ask. Once you have professors in mind, they agree to write a letter, and your application is submitted, your next step should be a simple thank you note showing your appreciation.

Letters of recommendation are a lot of work for professors and they are asked to write a number of them each year. Unfortunately, the majority of students don't bother with a follow-up.

Why Send a Thank-You Note?

At its most basic, taking a few minutes to send a thank-you note is a common act of courtesy for someone who has taken the time to do you a favor, but it can also work to your benefit.

A thank-you note helps you stand out from the other students and will help keep you in the writer's good graces. After all, you may need a letter again in the future for another school or a job.

Recommendation Letters

An effective grad school recommendation letter explains the basis for the evaluation. It may be based on your performance in the classroom, your work as a research assistant or a mentee, or any other interaction you had with faculty.

Professors often take great pains to write letters that honestly discuss your potential for graduate study. They will take the time to include specific details and examples that illustrate why you're a good fit for the graduate program. They will also highlight other personal qualities that are likely to make you a successful graduate student.

Their letters are not simply saying, "She'll do great." Writing helpful letters takes time, effort, and considerable thought. Professors do not take this lightly, and they're not required to do it. Whenever someone does something of this magnitude for you, it's nice to show your appreciation for their time and attention.

Offer a Simple Thank You

Graduate school is a big deal, and your professors are playing an important role in helping you get there. A thank you letter need not be lengthy or overly detailed. A simple note will do. You can do this as soon as the application is in, though you might also want to follow-up once you're accepted to share your good news.

Your thank you letter can be a nice email. It's certainly the quicker option, but your professors may also appreciate a simple card. Mailing a letter is not out of style and a handwritten letter has a personal touch. It shows that you wanted to spend extra time to thank them for the time they put into your letter.

Now that you're convinced that sending a letter is a good idea, what do you write? Below is a sample but you should tailor it to your situation and your relationship with your professor.

A Sample Thank You Note

Dear Dr. Smith,

Thank you for taking the time to write on my behalf for my graduate school application. I appreciate your support throughout this process. I will keep you updated about my progress in applying to graduate school. Thanks again for your assistance. It is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sally

Other Information You Can Include in Your Thank You Note

Of course, if you want to write more to your professor, you should certainly feel free to do so. If, for example, your professor taught a course that was particularly important or enjoyable to you, say so. Faculty members are always delighted to hear that their students appreciate their teaching.

The thank you note can also be a place to thank your professor for guidance during the graduate school application process or advising during your undergraduate years. If you have had meaningful interactions with your professor outside of the classroom, show that you appreciate not just the letter the professor provided, but also the personal attention you've received during your academic journey.

In my case, two of my recommenders were previous research advisors (one of whom became my thesis advisor). The third taught me for two semesters. By junior year, I had gotten to know them quite well. Senior year, I applied but didn't get in. They were all so encouraging and supportive. My thesis advisor took on the role of an advisor after graduation. Another recommender helped me in my job search. These professors went above and beyond and gave their time to help me out. Two of them wrote recommendations for my job applications.

I kept in touch with them, and made every effort to see them each time I visited my alma mater. In my second year of teaching, I applied again, sticking with the same set of recommenders. My thesis advisor guided me again through the process, lending invaluable assistance. I wrote them constant (not too many) updates with each acceptance/rejection, then a final email after I'd made my decision.

I am also thinking of small gifts which I will present when I see them in person in a couple months. I gave thank-you gifts to two of them after graduation, anyway. Besides my recommenders, other professors have also been there for me. And I did send a thank-you card to a chemistry prof updating her on my admissions decision (she also advised me through the process). A few weeks after mailing the card, I sent an email to which she replied within a few hours. So, I do agree that email is useful since it affords a means of prompt response. Cards are nice, but the recipient may not be able to respond, especially if they do not have your current email.

Ultimately, it depends on the relationship. There are 3 or 4 professors that I would like to keep in touch with on a longterm basis, and I will do this through a combination of emails, letters and personal visits. Thank-you cards work great if you probably will not keep in close future contact with the recipient. And, no, while it is nice, I do not think buying and mailing a card is any indication of one's sincerity. An email could be just as heartfelt. The relationship is what really counts.

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