Is it unethical to provide one's professors $$$ to cover the cost of mailing letters of recommendation?

Question

I just want to make sure these documents get to their destinations by December 1st....

I'm not sure why you morons assumed that I failed to provide my recommenders ample time to send in my letters.

Answer 1

I would provide them with pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes. Assuming you have already asked you professor's for their recommendations, and they have agreed, you should let them know NOW that the deadline is 1 December, and contact them again on the 28th to confirm that they have been sent. You are running a little late here, if people don't know they need to write a letter for you.

Admissions departments are usually generous with time for this deadline (although they aren't always generous with your own application!)

Answer 2

Yes.

If you have a December 1st deadline, you simply make it clear to the prof that it's your deadline. The idea is that they, of their own will, mail the recommendation. Putting a SASE in there would pretty much be akin to saying, "Since I know you're going to do it anyway, here - do it fast." Bad taste.

Best idea... give them a lot more time than you did.

Answer 3

I'm sure the university department will cover the cost of mailing. Did you make it clear to your references that it had to be in by December first? If so, then no money need change hands.

Answer 4

Don't give money because that could be misunderstood. Give them an addressed and stamped envelop instead. And include a note about the deadline.

Answer 5

I would not give cash. May raise some flags but prepaid postage envelopes are a good idea.

Answer 6

NO, in fact it is the polite thing to do.