LOR Professor MIA

[mm1928]

I had asked a professor for a LOR, which he said he would, about a month and half ago. Now, it's the day before the deadline and still nothing. I have emailed him a couple of times but he has not responded to any of the emails either. I called, and he didn't answer the phone so I just ended up leaving a message. What do I do? It's too late to find a backup writer... It'd be helpful if he at least replied to my emails..but nothing.. 

[horrificmodernist]

This is similar to the situation I'm going through now. The first thing I'd do is call the graduate admissions office for your schools and let them know what's up and see how hard that deadline is. I called two of my schools and both of them said that they realized this was something that was out of the applicants control and that the deadline was for your application/writing sample/etc. The first school said it wouldn't void my application but to check in with the department to make sure.

See what they have to say about that - the second school even told me that they could upload information for a new letter writer after the deadline if my current letter writer never got back to me, so I would start thinking about a possible third letter writer that could possibly submit by the end of next week.

I was absolutely freaking out about this, and calling the departments made me feel 100 times better. Definitely call the grad admissions or department, though, 'cause my second school said they were pretty accommodating for students if they were upfront and let them know what was happening. 

I hope this helps, and I hope you hear from your letter writer soon and that everything works out!

[mm1928]

Yep. I emailed the 2 departments of the schools. They both said it's fine for the letters to come in a little after the deadline as long as I submit my part on time. 
I even went by his office today but he wasn't there. I left a handwritten note and slid it under his door....so I'm hoping and hoping that he at least saw that. I guess I'll just have to see what happens tomorrow...and since it's the weekend if he doesn't submit tomorrow I'll have to track him down on Monday..All this is just so stressful

[rising_star]

mm1928, I'm not sure about your school but, at many institutions, the spring semester hasn't begun yet so it would be a lot more difficult to find a faculty member in their office if you drop by or call. Also, while it's stressful for applicants, remember that many faculty do things at the last minute (just like many applicants submit everything at the last minute). That doesn't mean it won't happen though!

[mm1928]

Thank you! Its just that he hasn't responded to anything ever since we met and he agreed to doing the letter. The department he's in has mentioned that he generally doesn't respond to emails...which is supposed to be reassuring I guess? Hopefully he remembered and comes through..I even slid a note under his office door.