Thanking Your Business School Recommenders
Originally published on January 17, 2022. Updated on November 27, 2024.
During the season of Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to take a pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for. If you’re applying to business school in Round 2, you may still be in the thick of applications. And if you applied in Round 1, you’re likely anxiously awaiting your schools’ decisions. But no matter where you are in the process, there is one thing it’s important not to let slide – thanking your business school recommenders.
As we’re sure you can imagine, it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare and submit this critical application component. While your business school recommenders were likely happy to do this for you, it is still work—on top of everything else on their plate. You totally get it, having balanced work and applications over the last several months, right?
Start with a Thoughtful Note
Expressing gratitude for their efforts is more than appropriate. So, what’s the best way to do this? Your business school recommenders may be slightly older than you or may not share your interests or lifestyle, and that can feel intimidating—we get it!
However, the goal is simple: acknowledge the effort they took out of their busy schedules to help you. It’s not about extravagant gifts or large dollar amounts. The first place to start is always with a handwritten, sincerely worded thank-you note. Whatever you choose to pair with your note is just icing on the cake.
A Few Gift Ideas
That said, here are some ideas to get you started.
- A nice bottle of wine, such as a red in the $30-40 range, is a generally a crowd pleaser. A site like wine.com can help you navigate the options.
- Some low maintenance greenery, like a succulent from Lula’s Garden, is a nice way to brighten your business school recommender’s office in the middle of another pandemic winter.
- The MOST delicious pears from Harry and David are always a treat. Seriously, they are amazing and worth every penny.
- If your recommender is a cocktail connoisseur, a cocktail kit from Cocktail Courier can give them something special to look forward to after work.
- A box of luxurious chocolates from Bridgewater Chocolates, offering a variety of handcrafted treats, makes for a thoughtful and indulgent gift.
- Particularly if you know there is a certain cause near and dear to your recommender’s heart, a contribution to a related charity is a great way to go.
Personalization is Key
At the end of the day, hopefully you know your business school recommenders fairly well – well enough to be familiar with their interests. Thoughtfulness and personalization are key to a thank you gift that sufficiently expresses your appreciation.
If you’re a Round 1 applicant, you’re likely anxiously awaiting decisions, which will start rolling out next week. For Round 2 applicants, now is the time to focus on finishing your essays and ensuring your recommenders are actively working on their submissions. No matter where you are in the process, taking a moment to thank your recommenders, is an important step you don’t want to miss.
For those navigating the Round 2 application process, here are some some articles to peruse:
How Long Do MBA Applications Take and Am I behind for Round 2?
Whose Advice Really Matters on Your MBA Applications?
Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.