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Posted

I've submitted 2 applications and the rest could be sent in within the next week. All GRE scores and transcripts have already been sent. Two old professors have submitted their LORs. The ONLY thing holding back my applications is ONE of my LOR writers. I told him over a month ago that this week is my target application submission date and to please, please, please have his letters in by then or let me know if he won't be able to. He said it wouldn't be a problem. But a month has gone by, and I haven't heard anything from him. I emailed him twice last week to no avail. This prof has totally bailed on me before so I am FREAKING out that he's going to do it again. I really don't have anyone else that could write for me.

I'm going to send him another, more urgent email today. What should I say? I don't want to piss him off (for fear that would come through in my LOR), but I want to let him know that he's single-handedly keeping me from grad school right now. (Dramatic, I know. But true nevertheless.) Some of these programs admit on a rolling basis so it's crucial that these apps are completed ASAP! How have you guys handled this?

Help!

Posted

I would say to call him. Email causes all kinds of problems - people sometimes don't organize their inbox very clearly, emails accidentally go into the spam folder, emails get marked as read and the recipient forgets to respond, etc. Also, I have had very friendly, helpful professors who simply did not remember any of the things I told them in email format. Maybe this was because they did not grow up with the internet and still aren't used to the whole email thing? Who knows. In any case, emails don't really have much of a ring of urgency or importance to them, and are easy to ignore. If I were you I would definitely call him instead. If the professor's office number is not on the departmental website, call the department and ask to be put through to him (or ask what his extension number is).

Posted

Call... or write an email that says you're willing to come to the university (assuming you still live in the area) to pick it up and deliver it to the post office/fedex/whoever can overnight it. Explain how urgent it is, that its due and you need to get it in. If he still doesn't reply...there isn't much you can do, except try to find another LOR writer stat.

Posted

I've submitted 2 applications and the rest could be sent in within the next week. All GRE scores and transcripts have already been sent. Two old professors have submitted their LORs. The ONLY thing holding back my applications is ONE of my LOR writers. I told him over a month ago that this week is my target application submission date and to please, please, please have his letters in by then or let me know if he won't be able to. He said it wouldn't be a problem. But a month has gone by, and I haven't heard anything from him. I emailed him twice last week to no avail. This prof has totally bailed on me before so I am FREAKING out that he's going to do it again. I really don't have anyone else that could write for me.

I'm going to send him another, more urgent email today. What should I say? I don't want to piss him off (for fear that would come through in my LOR), but I want to let him know that he's single-handedly keeping me from grad school right now. (Dramatic, I know. But true nevertheless.) Some of these programs admit on a rolling basis so it's crucial that these apps are completed ASAP! How have you guys handled this?

Help!

KieBelle! My professor eventually came through for me. I would recommend sending an assertive email explaining that your schools have rolling admissions and it is critical that he send his letter asap. Follow up with an assertive phone message. (Write it down and read it if you have to.) Also, think about an alternative third recommender, if the bastard lets you down. Can you ask a former or current supervisor? Someone who can do it in one or two weeks? Just in case.

Posted

Hi Kiebelle!

I was dealing with the EXACT same issue last week. Two LOR writers who are chirpy and on time, and one who keeps me dragging (not just on grad apps but scholarship apps in the past). She always comes through at the last possible minute. I am not anywhere near my undergrad school -- not even in the same country -- so email is my only option (I cannot even picture Skyping this prof!! although I haven't reached that level of desperation yet, lol).

What I have done in the past is continue to send polite, brief emails that tag on my initial request email (the one w/ the links and specifics). Like you, I got the LOR writer's "yes" in person many months ago, so perhaps she sees my email reminders as nothing but. She may be reading them and just not replying. After 2 emails by me, she generally responds with a quick snippet.

So, I would be polite but persistent. Do not give up!! Like the other posters have said, a call definitely does not hurt, especially because you are on rolling admissions and NEED this. Professors know it is an unstated requirement of their job to be there for students, and LOR are part of their teaching package. Think of it that way. Sure, it's a favor to you, but also a sort of obligation for them (especially because this prof has already technically said yes). Don't feel like you're being annoying; you need to be pushy to get into grad school! I guarantee you are not the only student pestering them :)

Good luck!!! (to all of us...)

Posted (edited)

Ugh. I feel your pain. My third LOR writer is totally dragging his feet. He's not a professor either, so I don't think he understands the urgency. We have a great working relationship, which I'm afraid of ruining by being a pain in the ass, but I need those damn letters!

Edited to add: the worst part is, he's had the stuff to write them since AUGUST!!!

Edited by rogue
Posted

I dealt with a similar situation last year - one LOR writer who I seriously worried wouldn't write the letters in time, if at all. I ended up contacting a 4th person who agreed to write me a letter last minute. The original prof also came through (submitted the letter at like 11:59 on the last day, ugh!) so in the end I had 4 letters. I didn't contact the schools beforehand to make sure it was OKIt didn't seem to do any harm because I was pretty sure I was only going to have 3 letters, but it didn't seem to do me any damage. Maybe try this method..do you have anyone else who could write you a letter last minute?

Posted

Call! Email isn't working anymore, so call!

And call when he is likely to be in his office. Do you have office hours? If not, check out the schedule and call in between classes, when it looks like he'd be hanging out in his office.

Sometimes, during this whole process, we all lean way too heavily on email, but phone is usually far more effective.

Posted

I agree with the other posters...however, I must say that I love your topic description...totally cracked me up!

Posted

Alright, so I bit the bullet and called him. I had a script all written out to leave on his voicemail, per socal's suggestion, but he answered! He said he's working on them right now and will have the most important one in today and will finish the rest over the weekend. Hooray! So here's to hoping that my phone call has motivated him to actually follow through!

Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions! :)

Posted

Alright, so I bit the bullet and called him. I had a script all written out to leave on his voicemail, per socal's suggestion, but he answered! He said he's working on them right now and will have the most important one in today and will finish the rest over the weekend. Hooray! So here's to hoping that my phone call has motivated him to actually follow through!

Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions! :)

Congrats! This is my worst nightmare, so hopefully it won't happen. (Actually, I'm sure I have worse nightmares - incurable cancer, etc. - but you know.)

Posted

Alright, so I bit the bullet and called him. I had a script all written out to leave on his voicemail, per socal's suggestion, but he answered! He said he's working on them right now and will have the most important one in today and will finish the rest over the weekend. Hooray! So here's to hoping that my phone call has motivated him to actually follow through!

Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions! :)

Good deal!!! YAY! I'm happy for you!

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted (edited)
:) I'm glad everything worked out for you! I went through something similar, and after a couple email exchanges, the letters were finally sent. But as one other poster suggested, I actually had to overnight two of my letters to make sure they met December 1st deadlines. Edited by BCEmory08

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