DeWinter

All I have to say is WOW. A thesis advisor missing five deadlines? Yikes. I think you should keep pestering him over and over again. Since thesis advisors have longer CVs because they put down the theses that they have chaired (making themselves look better in academia), I'd say you have every right to ask him for recommendation letters. I'd never heard of schools asking such a specific letter of recommendation but I'm sure it should be fine if you find a backup until the advisor sends his. Make sure to inform the schools, though. They're really understanding of letters that are out of your control.

They think you're a stellar candidate but they want to meet you in person before they give the final stamp of approval. My two cents.

Really happy for you the ones whose original LOR writer came through. I had to get a 4th LOR writer because the 3rd writer who had stated that she would have them all submitted by noon last Saturday failed to do so. To all who are in this horrible position, go and talk to someone else IMMEDIATELY. Do not waste time on this. Don't worry about getting another recommendation writer after submitting applications. I explained to all my schools and they were totally understanding. In fact, the new LOR writer can email the letter as an attachment to the administrative assistant of the department or the grad school. Good Luck! I know (trust me) the position you're in. The best remedy is to find another one ASAP and let the schools know that your 3rd writer is MIA. If you cannot find one in your field, try to find one who is a PhD and can at least account for your character and integrity for grad school. Even though it's not from your field, at least, there will be someone who is a bit "distinguished" and looks better than a tutor or something. Students shouldn't have to be in this position (if they've done everything they can like emailing, reminding, etc). It reflects quite poorly on the flaky professor and failing to write after repeatedly stating so is quite unprofessional.

Sounds like a horrible situation. It's absolutely unethical what the girl has done with forging the letters but sadly, I cannot say that you are in a great position. It's damned if you do, damned if you don't. If you don't report it, she'll go ahead and perhaps cheat her way through admissions. If you do tell on her, it will come back to haunt you and the girl will eventually come to know that it was you because probably you're the only one she told. So you're in a horrible position... I just think your advisor is the best way to do this, rather than going straight to the department chair. It's just a sticky situation for all and everyone. Probably the department chair had question marks in his eyes because this is SO WAY BEYOND UNETHICAL. I can't even imagine how this girl had the guts to do it. So I'm guessing she turned in hard copies of all the letters and turned them in? No online LORs. I feel that she's going to get stuck in her own web of lies because they probably call the professors sometimes and verify. At least, they know from online LORS that they have the official addresses of the professors. With letters, perhaps they verify? Karma has its way. Keep us posted on whether she's gotten into any schools!

Hello all, First post and was a lurker. Registered because I'm particularly drawn to this thread. I'm in the same boat as Joro and digits2006. I informed my LOR (committee member) writer in October (well actually, they had offered to write one for me). Well, this LOR writer was MIA for the month of December and I was panicking like a mad person. My first round of schools were around the December 31/January 1 deadline so I had been sending the person deadline information the whole time she was MIA. She was overseas doing research (I had not been aware of this fact). Anyway, so it gets to the frustrating part- She gets back to me on the 24th stating that she hoped she had not missed any deadlines, she was finally back and to let the schools know that my LOR writer had been overseas where it was difficult to write (long story short). I was utterly utterly glad to have heard from her and I sent her my updated CV and more deadlines info. She responded stating that they look "great!" and "very organized", also that it will be easier to keep in touch with her. So December 31st slowly passes by without any notification of an uploaded recommendation from her. Turns out that she has missed 4 deadlines of schools. For the past 10 days, I have written emails to her. No reply. I finally tell my advisor (chair) of the situation- he suggests going to Professor X but to at least let the previous LOR to give me a courtesy of a "no". I write to Professor X, asking for a last minute recommendation and her, stating that I need to find someone else if she can't do it (At this point, I am assuming that she can't do this). Well, she writes back immediately stating that she's on it (after 3 weeks of not hearing from her) and she'd turn them all in by the next day at noon. I notify Professor X to please ignore my email because I won't need the LOR. So, I am quite relieved to hear from her. Well, guess what, Saturday has slipped by and it's almost Sunday evening. No recommendation letter notifications. I am at my wits' end. I have three more schools coming up!! A top choice school is meeting for the first time this Wednesday. Can't professors uploads online LORS on the weekend? Or is she incredibly forgetful? Is she just dodgy? It's 10 days past the deadline!!!! All this time, I have been super nice and polite to her on the emails. Need advice please! If I'm incoherent, please blame it on the stress. ETA: If this needs to be a separate post, please let me know!