Stanford one Letter of Recommendation "not received"

[wjkaka]

Hi guys, just two quick questions.

I'm applying Stanford mechanical engineering ms program.

By the time I submitted my application, I had four recommenders on my list. Apparently the program only requires 3 letters, but I did this anyway just in case of any uncertainty.

Now deadline has passed, three of my recommenders have already submitted their letter before the deadline and the fourth Professor is now probably too busy to write it for me.(just as I expected) Therefore, right now I have 3 received letters and 1 pending recommendation which has not been started. My application status shows "Post-submission materials incomplete". I tried to remove the pending one by my self but I was not able to because I sent the request already.

So I have two questions.

1. If the fourth letter is not to be submitted, is this going to be an incomplete application which prevents my app from being reviewed by the committee?

2. If the fourth letter is not to be submitted, is this going to hurt my chance of being admitted because they may see an unfinished recommendation?

Thank you in advance!

[dendy]

1. No, if only 3 were required you should be ok

2. No, they know some professors are flakey, and they might think you are responsible because you made sure you would have 3.

There's still a chance your fourth recommender will still submit their letter and have it accepted, schools are usually pretty forgiving on LOR deadlines.

[wjkaka]

1. No, if only 3 were required you should be ok

2. No, they know some professors are flakey, and they might think you are responsible because you made sure you would have 3.

There's still a chance your fourth recommender will still submit their letter and have it accepted, schools are usually pretty forgiving on LOR deadlines.

Thanks a lot for your reply..Now I can concentrate more on my final exams...