Gratitude 101: Why and How to Thank Your Recommenders

With Thanksgiving right around the corner you’re likely planning to gather with family and you may even take some time to think or talk about what you’re grateful for. November is a wonderful time to express gratitude toward those who helped you on your college journey - such as the teachers and counselors who wrote recommendation letters for your applications.


This is a white quote box with cut outs of the words Thank You over a sky blue background.

Applying to college takes a village, and thoughtful recommenders are a huge part of that process. They crafted heartfelt letters that illuminated your strengths, passion, and potential. Now is the perfect opportunity to say thank you.


Here are some tips for sending notes of appreciation:


  • Send an email or handwritten card. Both are meaningful gestures.
  • If you attend a large high school, remind them of who you are and when they taught or counseled you. They likely write many recs!
  • Share specific colleges you applied to or have been accepted to.
  • Share a meaningful update on your senior year or future college plans.
  • Express sincere gratitude for their support and influence on your growth.


Here is a template you can adapt with specifics from your experience. For example, you might add a sentence about what you most loved about the class you took with them and any piece of information they taught you that you will remember forever.


Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms. _______],


I hope you are doing well! I wanted to take a moment to thank you for writing a letter of recommendation for my college applications. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that for me.


Thanks in part to your letters, I have already been accepted to [Name of colleges]. 


I am so grateful for your support through my college application process. Thank you for seeing my potential and helping me convey it to admissions teams. I could not have done it without you!


Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Sincerely, [Your Name]


Teachers typically do not receive thank you notes for writing recommendation letters and often these require hours and hours of work beyond their teaching duties. Writing a quick thank-you note takes so little time but has a huge impact. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude this season is so important! 


Some colleges are even asking about gratitude in their applications. For example, University of Pennsylvania asks students to “Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!)”