When does cutting it close become late?

[m-ttl]

I've had one professor submit all of my recommendation letters, and another say she would work on them in the next few days, around two days ago (My first deadline is tomorrow). I'm quite certain she'll get everything in. 

 

That said, I have a third recommender who goes out of the country on Christmas break, and I know she took my materials with her. The 31st deadline only requires two recommenders, and was added after the original list was made. I only need two letters for the first school, but my second deadline was the 1st, so this is not really "Earlier". 

 

My question is this: If she doesn't submit by say, the 1st (a day late), should I email the Graduate School and ask if my application will be incomplete?

 

I will probably have the two required recommendations by tomorrow, and can just ask to have hers removed. I'm not really a person who likes cutting it close with deadlines (I gave everyone all the information they needed a solid month in advance), but I'm not sure if I should worry about them being late by a day or two, especially when the deadlines are New Year's Eve and New Year's day respectively. Is there probably a bit of leeway there since it's a holiday and they're unlikely to sit down to consider applications' recommendation letters that day? 

[browncow]

I would recommend finding out as soon as possible what impact a late letter will have on your application AND following up with your recommender.

 

Regarding the school: I am applying to a program that has a firm deadline for all materials, so one letter short means my application gets scrapped. Not something you want to find out a day after the fact. Keep in mind that you probably will not get an answer from the school on New Year's Day if you get an answer during Christmas break at all. Nobody sits down to look at applications the instant they are submitted, but for some schools it is a matter of policy and seeing if applicants can follow the rules.

 

Regarding the recommender: You don't have much to lose by sending a gentle, polite reminder where you thank your recommender again. People who are busy are likely to appreciate you taking responsibility for keeping track of a timeline, within reason. It's two days before the deadline, with a time difference and an upcoming holiday. The only more reasonable thing than following up now would have been to send a reminder a week ahead of time.

 

Think about it like a professional situation where you've asked your boss for a favor. Or think of being the boss and doing your intern a favor. Would you appreciate your intern acting like an assistant and keeping track of this favor for you, or would you want to be worrying about it yourself along with all the things you are supposed to be doing for your own boss? Would you appreciate your intern reminding you before a deadline when you still have time to deliver, or coming around later saying oops, you were late?

[m-ttl]

Oh I already emailed a personal (and polite) reminder as of yesterday (I've been traveling too). This was coming a little less than three weeks from the initial automated request. They still have tomorrow to submit, although I'll email today and see if this is really a firm deadline. All of my other materials are submitted, so really this is my only concern. I follow directions just fine -- professors? Well... who knows. 

 

The other two professors responded to my polite reminders very quickly (but they're still "in town" so to speak). If I have to remove an "extra" letter, I will, but it would be a shame to remove a recommendation I know will be very good. I'll email the school and see if the policy is concrete, I guess. 

[browncow]

I see, I didn't realize you'd already sent a reminder. Good luck, then. Doesn't seem there is much else you can do. You might try calling the school to get a quick answer if anyone is in the office.

[m-ttl]

I see, I didn't realize you'd already sent a reminder. Good luck, then. Doesn't seem there is much else you can do. You might try calling the school to get a quick answer if anyone is in the office.

 

I sent an email -- hopefully there will be some response. Unfortunately for me, I'm going to board a plane for five hours. And am about to depart the train -- searching for the phone number seems a bit perplexing on the site. (Everyone prefers email, nowadays). That said my 2nd required recommender just submitted, so I have the two I need...

 

[EDIT] and all the auto-emails say everyone's out of office until the 6th. Hmm. 

Edited December 30, 2013 by m-ttl