Remind LOR writers of deadline?

[wetheplants]

Hey guys, what are your thoughts on this?

Can I email my writers and nicely remind them that the deadlines are this weekend/monday...?

I'm the bad application kid who is probably going to submit three applications (due on 15, 15, and 17) tomorrow... woop woop. The links have been open for my LOR writers for about a week now, though. One out of three have submitted it.

I've been emailing them over the last month letting them know I'm working on stuff (and I gave them months in advance heads up to actually write it.)

Is it really pushy to be like "hey, the deadlines are this weekend?"

[ginagirl]

When's the last time you emailed the ones who haven't yet submitted? If it's been a while since you've emailed them, I don't see anything wrong with a "friendly reminder". You can also use it as an opportunity to thank them for writing one, etc, since it's almost the end of the process.

[TakeruK]

Normally, I think it would be okay for you to remind them at this point (for deadlines on the 15th and 17th). However, since you only have had the link open for about week, I would wait until 2 days before the deadline (most people probably open the link about a month prior and send a reminder a week prior). Or, if you feel that you would be too pushy sending a reminder only 2 weeks after the first request, perhaps you want to wait until after the deadline to send the reminder (since most deadlines are for you, not for the LOR writers). 

 

When you send the reminder, I wouldn't just email them though. If possible, I would go into the application website where you entered your LOR info and click on "send reminder" if that is an option. This will cause the system to send your profs a reminder email that contains the link for them to upload their recommendation. Having the link handy is convenient for the prof and will probably make them more likely to do it faster!

[emburst]

I agree with TakeruK. Resend the links along with the email reminder. I did exactly this for one of my "stragglers" and they did it within the day.

 

Also, I'd double check with the schools of those deadlines to see if it's OK if the letter comes a little after. This is more to relieve your stress about the deadline. (Of course, don't tell your letter writers about this as it may encourage them to put it more off!)

[bsharpe269]

Sending reminders is no big deal, professors usually appreciate it. One of my LOR writers has needed a reminder for just about every deadline. The day before the deadline, I just send a couple line email like "I wanted to reminder you that two of my letters are due tomorrow night. Thank you so much for help with this process."

 

If you just reminded them a week ago though then I think I would wait until the day before the deadline. Since you said they are due the 15th, then I would send an email tomorrow.