Second round of applications OR wait a year?

[lifesgood]

I'm a senior in college, applying for Masters programs and have no idea what to do.  Can you help please?

 

I asked profs to write LORs last October.  Two of the three have sent in their LORs, but the last prof forgot, after frequent reminders from app systems and emails from me. I called yesterday, and he was kind enough to submit his LOR to three of my schools, and I'm hoping he will do the rest of them this week.

 

I have a question please:  since some of the schools have begun selecting candidates (one of them told me they had screened the bulk of applications, but since mine was not complete they had not looked at it) should I send more applications to other schools with programs that interest me, knowing that my chances at the first-round schools are probably gone OR put the whole thing off and go through it again next year if nothing comes from this disaster?   Does anybody have suggestions please? 

[dida]

It really depends on when the deadlines are... Has the prof already missed all of the deadlines? If so, did you contact the admissions offices to let them know and ask if any of them would allow a late letter?

When are the deadlines for the other schools you didn't apply to but are considering now? If you still have some time and are willing to put in the work, go for it. You still want to give all of your professors plenty of notice, though, so I wouldn't just spring a bunch of new applications on them unless the deadlines are far off.

[History Time]

One of my professors was a particular thorn in my side when it came to a letter. I have taken three upper-division History courses from him and received perfect scores on most of my papers from him. He knows my work well and likes it too. However, he is such an anti-social person that getting anything more than a gruff response to any sort of email is nothing short of a miracle. He submitted THREE of my eight letters late. I notified the programs ahead of time and they were more than willing to accept late letters when I explained his tardiness. Not only that, but he somehow lost the e-notification for one university and had to send a damn snail mail letter to them. They were okay with that too. Moral of the story: communication is absolutely key. Communicate with your professors and communicate with the programs you are applying for if anything is going to be late or missing. Most universities won't hold your feet to the fire for things you cannot control.

[lifesgood]

Thank you SO much!  I found out from one school that my (finally) completed application is NOT too late for consideration, so there could still be some glimmer of hope, and I'll take the excellent advice you have given me about applying elsewhere.  Thanks!