Reminder email?

[Karajan]

My first deadline is fast approaching, and two of my referees haven't submitted their letters yet. I'd like to be sure they haven't forgotten, but I don't want to make it sound like I think they're being irresponsible! How might I best phrase a reminder in an email?

[butterfingers2010]

Are your letters being done online? If so, a lot of them allow you to send an auto-generated "reminder e-mail" through the online application. That might seem more gentle than an e-mail directly from you.

If not, just send a brief, politely-worded e-mail reminding them that the deadline is coming up: "Hi (person's name). I just wanted to remind you that the deadlines for my letter of recommendations are coming up. They are due (due dates). Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you, and thank you again for writing me a letter. It certainly means a lot to me!"

Short and sweet should do the trick.

[ktel]

My letter writers always asked for reminder e-mails, I don't think it's rude. They haven't submitted them yet, so you should remind them to, simple as that.

I would literally just say "Just a reminder that application X is due on Y"

[cunninlynguist]

One of my LOR writers submitted hers very quickly. The other two... not so much. I have been in contact with them, however, and both confirmed that all of the notification e-mails were received. At some point it's out of your hands and their schedule dictates their timeliness.

Given that your deadline is right around the corner, you may want to resend the e-mail directly from the system as jellybean suggested; that way they won't have to dig through older e-mails and it may prompt them to submit them immediately.

[Sigaba]

If you're especially concerned over how your ping might be interpreted, bend over backwards with the phrasing. That is, find a way to remind without using the word "remind" in your email.

"I just wanted to touch base with you..."

"I recently realized that I've neglected to point out..."

"I may have generated some confusion in my last email..."

"I am taking this opportunity to thank you again for agreeing to write letters of recommendation on my behalf for X (due on ____), Y (due on _____)...."

Edited November 8, 2011 by Sigaba

[mj53]

How would I approach reminding a doctor I work with who is writing me letters? I don't really want to e-mail him. Would rather ask him face to face since I see him every day but I don't really know how to word it without sounding pushy.

Basically Im worried about the week of Thanksgiving since our office will be closed all week that week. So basically if I don't get the letters I need to mail myself back from him by next week I'll be in full out panic mode (first deadline December 1st)

Edited November 10, 2011 by mj53

[Sigaba]

How would I approach reminding a doctor I work with who is writing me letters? I don't really want to e-mail him. Would rather ask him face to face since I see him every day but I don't really know how to word it without sounding pushy.

Basically Im worried about the week of Thanksgiving since our office will be closed all week that week. So basically if I don't get the letters I need to mail myself back from him by next week I'll be in full out panic mode (first deadline December 1st)

mj53--

Here's a suggestion. Invite him to Starbucks during a break and treat him to a coffee. During the small talk, you can talk about the application process, where you are in that journey, and, if he doesn't get the hint, make a by the way reference letters of recommendation. If he doesn't get that hint, change topics. Then, after the break is over, you can send him an email saying that you neglected to ask about the letter of recommendation he's writing for you.

[Done]

Hey why don't u just ask him? I mean if u work with him anyway u should know him well enough to just ask how far he is.

[Karajan]

i went with the automated reminder email from the application itself.