Unresponsive LOR professor

[yuan1231990]

The university I am applying for requires three letters of reference and two of my referees have already submitted their letters. The last prof who agreed to write my letter asked me to write a first draft for her. Since she is one of the two profs who are directly related to my field of interest, I could not think of a better choice and wrote the draft and sent it to her about a month ago.

However, with the deadline of my application approaching, I sent several emails to remind her on this but no response was received. I cannot go to her office and talk to her in person because I am living in a different country at the moment. Therefore, I asked another prof her other contact info and got her phone number yesterday. After sending her a message via mobile phone, she replied something like this: 'Been busy recently but I found some problems after reading your draft. Please correct them'. I am willing to correct any part she deems problematic but the fact is that she didn't point out any. I asked her to tell me the part I need to change but again no response for almost a day and the deadline for her to submit my letter is 3 days away!

On the one hand, I could replace her with other profs. By replacing her, the deadline for submission will be moved to 7 days later because the deadline is the earlier one between the deadline for referee and the deadline of my application. On the other hand, I doubt if it is appropriate to do so and other profs would be willing to write one for me in such a short notice.

What is the best way to deal with such situation? Should I wait for her or contact other profs for backup instead? 

[amolang]

I think you have tried everything you could, and you have every reason to change your reference if there is any candidate for you.

Committees understand that applicants cannot control their professors, so I think you are safe as long as you can send a third letter within this month.

Change the reference, but if you will do it, make sure it will be someone who you can rely on.

Edited December 8, 2015 by amolang

[aichan93]

My referee submitted 1 week late, and it's all clear..so don't worry