Former supervisor is on sabbatical; when to follow-up?

[ImHis]

Hi folks,

 

Here's my situation: 

 

I haven't spoken to my undergraduate research supervisor in 2 years. I sent an e-mail about 2 weeks ago updating everything that has happened so far. However, I get this automatic reply message saying my supervisor is on sabbatical so it could be a while before messages will be returned. Fortunately, I found out that my supervisor will be teaching for the summer term on campus. I'm planning to apply for grad school for next fall and hoping to ask for a LOR.

 

Should I just wait until my supervisor returns to follow-up or to follow-up now? Should I call or re-send an email?

 

Thanks for your insight

Edited April 26, 2014 by Patont

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

More emails will probably result in more automatic replies. It's my understanding that professors don't want to be bothered while on sabbatical but will respond in case of emergency. Unless your supervisor loved you, it might do more harm than good to contact him/her. So it's up to you. That's just my opinion though.

[ImHis]

That's what thought about sabbaticals too, which is why I didn't make an attempt to follow-up after the first e-mail. When we last spoke, my supervisor offered to help in future applications though.

 

Are you advising I shouldn't contact my supervisor anymore even when they have returned from the sabbatical?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

No, I'm saying I wouldn't bother him/her while on sabbatical. If you want to wait for them to return, that's fine. But it probably wouldn't do you any good to interrupt his/her sabbatical with a request like that. It might hurt any chances you had of a LOR. I would either wait or ask someone else. 

[ImHis]

Thanks! I'll follow-up when they return. I'm not in a rush since it'll be a while before the application clearinghouse opens.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Patont