Thanking a Professor for Writing a Letter of Recommendation

<a href=Woman writing thank you notes at table" width="4818" height="3626" />

Tara Kuther, Ph.D., is a professor at Western Connecticut State University. She specializes in professional development for undergraduate and graduate students.

Updated on July 16, 2024

Recommendation letters are vital to your graduate school application. You will likely 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, your application is submitted, and your next step is a simple thank you note showing your appreciation for writing the letter of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation are a lot of work for professors as they are asked to write many each year. Unfortunately, most students don't bother with a thank you letter.

Why Send a Thank You Letter?

At its most basic, taking a few minutes to send a thank you note for a letter of recommendation is a common 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 other students and helps keep you in the writer's graces. After all, you may need a letter again 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 take time to include specific details and examples that illustrate why you're a good fit for the graduate program. They also highlight other personal qualities likely to make you a successful graduate student.

Their letters of recommendation 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 key 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 note can be an email, but a handwritten card is always a nice touch, showing your appreciation for the extra time they put into your recommendation letter.

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

A Sample Thank You Note

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.

Other Information to Include in Your Thank You Letter

Of course, write more in your letter to your professor if, for example, your instructor taught a course that was particularly important or enjoyable. Faculty members are always delighted to hear 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. Show you appreciate the letter of recommendation and the personal attention you've received during your academic journey if you have had meaningful interactions with your professor outside of the classroom.

Cite this Article Your Citation

Kuther, Tara, Ph.D. "Thanking a Professor for Writing a Letter of Recommendation." ThoughtCo, Jul. 16, 2024, thoughtco.com/thanking-profs-for-recommendation-letters-1684909. Kuther, Tara, Ph.D. (2024, July 16). Thanking a Professor for Writing a Letter of Recommendation. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/thanking-profs-for-recommendation-letters-1684909 Kuther, Tara, Ph.D. "Thanking a Professor for Writing a Letter of Recommendation." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/thanking-profs-for-recommendation-letters-1684909 (accessed September 8, 2024).

copy citation Don'ts for Getting Letters of Recommendation for Grad School How to Get a Recommendation Letter for Graduate School How to Get Recommendation Letters for Grad School Sample Graduate School Recommendation Letters When Your Grad School Recommendation Letter Doesn't Arrive Recommendation Letter Etiquette Grad School Recommendation Letter by a Professor Sample Template Should You Write Your Own Recommendation Letter for Graduate School? Dos and Don'ts for Requesting a Grad School Recommendation Letter Should You Ask a Teaching Assistant for a Recommendation Letter? The Timing of Requesting Graduate School Recommendation Letters Should You Get a Recommendation for Grad School from Your Therapist? Graduate School Recommendation Letter From Professor Who Should You Ask for a Recommendation Letter? NonTraditional Applicants to Grad School: 3 Tips for Getting Recommendations Sample Graduate School Recommendation by a Professor ThoughtCo is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

We Care About Your Privacy

We and our 100 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to provide:

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)