How should I ask to get a letter of rec - please help this anxious applicant

[minchris]

Hi all,

I am applying for PhD program in Sociology for the fall of 2018 and I am getting quiet nervous as the due dates are coming soon (my first batch is due on December 1st).

The main problem I am facing now is getting a letter of recommendation - I already have one letter of rec from a professor I am close with and another one from my former manager. It has already been 4 years since graduation and I have unfortunately lost in touch with many professors. Listening to the advice that many gave me, I sent an email to my old professor from senior thesis class five years asking for feedback on my statement of purpose (I am honestly not sure how well he remembers me, but he probably remembers me the best then the other professors). My original intention was to see him in person and then receive feedback and ask him for a letter of recommendation.

However, right after I sent him an email, I got a reply from him saying that he got a knee surgery this semester and that it will be hard for him to see me this semester, but he wants to see me next semester instead. He also said that he would be willing to give feedback to my statement for purpose before the due date. I was grateful that he replied, but sorry at the same time for seeming to ask a lot while he is recovering from a surgery.

So it seems like I will need to change my plan and I am not sure what to do. Should I directly ask him for a letter of recommendation now or wait until I receive his feedback on my statement of purpose and then ask him for a letter of recommendation?

One part of me feels that because of the time pressure, I may have to ask him now because I would want to give him some time write a letter of recommendation or find another person in case he does not want to write a letter of recommendation. Another part of me feels that it might be better to give him some time to read through my personal statement of purpose and then ask him how he feels about writing a strong letter of recommendation for me. My plan right now is to at least ask him if he would be willing to have a phone conversation to understand more about my intention.

So, how should I reply to his email I received today? I would appreciate any advice/thoughts!

Thank you

Chris

[Psychologyandpizza]

It seems like you’re in a tough situation here. If you need his letter of rec to apply, I would ask him as soon as possible. Keep in mind though that it is very very late in the game to be asking for letters of rec for deadlines that are likely December 1 or sometime around then.