Dealing with a ?forgetful? recommender.

[StephanB80]

Sorry if someone else had a similar post in the past, I didn't look to far here for answers and decided to just go ahead and post. 

 

Just a little background: 

• I am applying for a program starting in Spring 2014 and need three recommendation letters.
• For my application, I need three recommenders (2 of which have already submitted)
• Admission is rolling, but the graduate adviser suggested I get my application completed by October 4th (this previous Friday), so I could be considered for TA positions or any open research positions.
• Recommendations are submitted online and I immediately recieve an email from the university I am applying to when the recommendation is filed.
• I graduated in Spring 2013, so I do not see any of my professors face-to-face at all.

My final recommender, who happens to be the graduate admissions director at my former university, has now twice emailed me replies telling me he WOULD send the letter by a certain date and failed to do so.  (The first time: three weeks ago, letting me know it would be in in a week.  The second:  Thursday night, telling me he was "working on it now and would send it in the morning") 

 

As of Friday evening, I had recieved no email from my recommender or the university letting me know that the recommendation had been sent.  I am planning on emailing him tomorrow, just to let him know that my recommendation still has not been submitted. Can anyone offer any advice as to how to ensure my letter gets in at all?

 

 

-Thanks for any help/advice possible

 

 

[fuzzylogician]

It sounds like this person will write you a letter. There is not much more you can do that you aren't already doing. Email again on Monday, be apologetic but stress the time-sensitivity. It's very often the case that universities will consider a file that is complete except for the letters of recommendations, because they know that the letters are outside the control of the student. Professors also know that often the application files won't be reviewed immediately after the application deadline, so while the student needs to complete everything by the stated deadline, they have another couple of weeks before their letters are actually needed. It's nerve-wracking for the student, but some professors do it anyway. Just remind your professor that you're dealing with a rolling deadline, not a hard set one. But even then, the good news is your application may be reviewed and you'll be just fine even with this one late letter. 

[StephanB80]

Thanks a lot!

Your response took some weight off my shoulders