Recommender and SOP

[black.bird]

I have asked somebody who has been inspiring to me to write one of my recommendation letters. He was not my professor but he was kind of working with where I obtained my MA and I had actually participated in a workshop taught by him. 

I sent him an email and mentioned that he was very important inspiration for me to make this decision to apply for Phd programs. He kindly accepted to write for me, then asked me for my SOP. I sent him. Then I understood I have actually talked about other professors, but haven't even mentioned his name. Even now the SOP is long enough, and I have to cut many parts, so I wasn't even sure that I am going to keep other names before this... 

Now It is almost two weeks that I haven't heard from him. Do you think that he is kind of upset or mad at me? And he has changed his mind? Should I edit the SOP and mention his name? Then resend it to him with an excuse??  

Thanks!! 

Edited June 29, 2016 by black.bird

[fuzzylogician]

25 minutes ago, black.bird said:

Now It is almost two weeks that I haven't heard from him. Do you think that he is kind of upset or mad at me? And he has changed his mind? Should I edit the SOP and mention his name? Then resend it to him??  

Were you expecting an answer from him? Like, did he promise to comment on your SOP and give you a timeline for doing so that he's already behind on? Because if not, there is nothing he would need to communicate with you about any time soon -- not until there are deadlines coming up. I don't think he would be mad that you didn't mention him by name, frankly I don't think it's necessary to mention anyone from old institutions by name, and certainly not everyone who's been influential. The SOP is a forward-looking document and you should spend most of your time discussing your current/future research plans and how the particular school you are applying to is a good fit to support those interests. You talk about your past with the express goal of demonstrating that you are well prepared to pursue those future goals that you are applying to grad school to achieve. That usually doesn't need to involve too much discussion of your undergrad professors (certainly not discussing each one by name) because what matters is what you did and what you learned, not so much who they are. You should mention this professor only if it advances the narrative you're creating, but you are not compelled to do so just because he is writing you a LOR. He will explain how he knows you in his LOR.  

In any event, if he was supposed to reply and missed a deadline, I'd give it a few days if there is nothing urgent, then simply follow up without assuming that anything is wrong. There can be a million reasons why someone might forget to reply to an email, and they very rarely have anything to do with anyone being mad. If there is no reason for him to reply right now and you don't need anything from him, I'd leave it alone. You can send a newer draft of your SOP in the fall when you start finalizing it and you can be in touch when you have your full list of schools that you plan to apply to, to let him know about their deadlines and to set up a reminder system. Other than that, it's early in the summer, there is nothing more you need from him right now. I would not assume that there is any problem unless there is clear and explicit evidence of that.

[black.bird]

Thanks for your thoughts! I think you are totally right.