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gmatclb
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 12:52
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Did you guys send out gifts before or after the decisions?

Proper etiquette says I should send a gift, right?
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johnnyx9
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 13:15
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I read that in Montauk's book. I think it might depend on your relationship with the person. I think that my recommenders might think it's a little excessive, or too formal. I mean I'm sure they'd be psyched if I gave them a bottle of wine, but I've thanked them a bunch already (I see them at work every day) and I got them both bottles of port for Xmas so I think I might just get them a card or something when I'm admitted somewhere.
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gmatclb
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 13:53
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Yea... I was thinking of getting the gift if I get admitted.
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jayy178
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 14:08
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i gave a gift to my recommenders before any decisions were made. i think its just the right thing to do since they are taking time out of their schedule to write a letter.

for one of my recommenders i got some godiva chocolate and for another recommender i got him some frame sliders (if you know motos then you know what im talking about) since its more personal...
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sm176811
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 14:49
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My cousin gifted his recommenders some memorabilia (TShirts, mugs, posters etc) from the school he got in. (only after he was admitted).
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gmatclb
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 18:14
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sm176811
My cousin gifted his recommenders some memorabilia (TShirts, mugs, posters etc) from the school he got in. (only after he was admitted).


Did the recommenders go to the same school? I don't think its right to give them stuff from some school they didn't go to.

On a side note, I was thinking of getting this one guy a gift basket with chocolates, coffee, and other goodies. It cost ~$20.

Is this too cheap of a gift?
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rhyme
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 18:27
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gmatclb
sm176811
My cousin gifted his recommenders some memorabilia (TShirts, mugs, posters etc) from the school he got in. (only after he was admitted).

Did the recommenders go to the same school? I don't think its right to give them stuff from some school they didn't go to.

On a side note, I was thinking of getting this one guy a gift basket with chocolates, coffee, and other goodies. It cost ~$20.

Is this too cheap of a gift?


If you are US based, and he's your manager, that seems low to me. (That is if you don't work for some indian firm and make $2,000 a year). I plan on spending about $70 on each of my recommenders. It's not cheap, but I wouldnt have been admitted to the GSB without them.
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lhotseface
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 18:31
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I agree. I bought Bose headphones for my recommenders.

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gmatclb
sm176811
My cousin gifted his recommenders some memorabilia (TShirts, mugs, posters etc) from the school he got in. (only after he was admitted).

Did the recommenders go to the same school? I don't think its right to give them stuff from some school they didn't go to.

On a side note, I was thinking of getting this one guy a gift basket with chocolates, coffee, and other goodies. It cost ~$20.

Is this too cheap of a gift?

If you are US based, and he's your manager, that seems low to me. (That is if you don't work for some indian firm and make $2,000 a year). I plan on spending about $70 on each of my recommenders. It's not cheap, but I wouldnt have been admitted to the GSB without them.
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gmatclb
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Gift for recommender 22 Jan 2007, 21:22
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gmatclb
sm176811
My cousin gifted his recommenders some memorabilia (TShirts, mugs, posters etc) from the school he got in. (only after he was admitted).

Did the recommenders go to the same school? I don't think its right to give them stuff from some school they didn't go to.

On a side note, I was thinking of getting this one guy a gift basket with chocolates, coffee, and other goodies. It cost ~$20.

Is this too cheap of a gift?

If you are US based, and he's your manager, that seems low to me. (That is if you don't work for some indian firm and make $2,000 a year). I plan on spending about $70 on each of my recommenders. It's not cheap, but I wouldnt have been admitted to the GSB without them.


So you're implying to get the gift if I get admitted.
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cpetro29
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 13:00
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I got all three of my recommenders a gift card for $100 to a restaurant, store, etc. I thought that was generous, but I appreciated the work they did.
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 13:07
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I was thinking of getting each of my recommenders a painting of me sitting on top of a ladder with bags of money and I'm pointing down at them and laughing (they're at the bottom of the ladder). Also, in the painting I'll have a cigar in my mouth, and they'll just be looking up at me looking really sad.

But seriously, I did feel a little weird when I asked them to write my recs and I spoke with them about my career goals, it was basically like saying, "Hi, I want to stop working for you so I can really get a great job, but before I quit on you, you mind writing some great things about me to help me get out of here."
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 13:52
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johnnyx9
I was thinking of getting each of my recommenders a painting of me sitting on top of a ladder with bags of money and I'm pointing down at them and laughing (they're at the bottom of the ladder). Also, in the painting I'll have a cigar in my mouth, and they'll just be looking up at me looking really sad.


That would only work if in the painting you are lighting the cigar with $100 bills.
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rhyme
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 13:55
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johnnyx9
I was thinking of getting each of my recommenders a painting of me sitting on top of a ladder with bags of money and I'm pointing down at them and laughing (they're at the bottom of the ladder). Also, in the painting I'll have a cigar in my mouth, and they'll just be looking up at me looking really sad.

But seriously, I did feel a little weird when I asked them to write my recs and I spoke with them about my career goals, it was basically like saying, "Hi, I want to stop working for you so I can really get a great job, but before I quit on you, you mind writing some great things about me to help me get out of here."


Heres how my conversation FELT:

"Jack?"
"Yes rhyme?"
"Will you write a rec for me?"
"A rec? For what?"
"For grad school"
"Why are you going to grad school?"
"Because I'm tired of working for people who are so supremely incapable that I find myself just doing their work because it's less irritating than watching them fumble about like morons."
"What?"
"I'm looking to learn more."
"Oh."
"Yea, so I'm applying to Harvard, Chicago...."
"Haha..."
"What?"
"Chicago? Harvard? What else?"
"Kellogg"
"Kellogg?"
"Yea"
"You can't possibly get into these schools. Look at where you work."
"Yea, I know"
"Ok I'll write it but gosh its gonna be a waste of time!"
"Thanks you moron"
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 14:27
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Dear Rhyme:

Your humor and avatar has rubbed me in such a way that I can now state:

You are personally my new forum hero.

I can construct a MSpaint trophy accordingly if you would like. Lol.
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Einstein06
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 14:45
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I'm going to wait to see if I get in and, blaming them for any eventual rejection, gauge the gift that.
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dukes
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Gift for recommender 23 Jan 2007, 15:01
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Einstein06
I'm going to wait to see if I get in and, blaming them for any eventual rejection, gauge the gift that.

Funny, I was going to take the same approach. If I get dinged everywhere it'll be a small present. If I get in at Wharton I'll send them a case of wine.
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aaudetat
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Gift for recommender 26 Jan 2007, 20:49
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it seems a little odd to worry about how much the gift costs. get them something nice, something they'll like. Seriously, I don't buy $100 gifts for anyone (partner excluded - i'm his sugar-daddy and he's my hausfrau). Something thoughtful and specific is better than something general but flashy.
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Einstein06
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Gift for recommender 26 Jan 2007, 21:09
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aaudetat
it seems a little odd to worry about how much the gift costs. get them something nice, something they'll like. Seriously, I don't buy $100 gifts for anyone (partner excluded - i'm his sugar-daddy and he's my hausfrau). Something thoughtful and specific is better than something general but flashy.


i'm just consumption smoothing ... if i get rejected from everywhere I am going to need that $100 to reapply. If i get in, i can prespend my first bonus :lol:
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vinviper
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Gift for recommender 22 Feb 2008, 10:09
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gifts of the school you got into? But I think the gift shuold be no matter what, no?
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zmfatla
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Gift for recommender 22 Feb 2008, 10:24
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Pre-decision, I gave one a $25 Apple gift card and the other a $25 bottle of wine.
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