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Calling the department sounds like a good next step.
I had the same problem...I emailed him again and just said I haven't heard back from you so I just wanted to make sure you have everything. Sry for the email again but I'm trying to avoid stress since my deadline is Dec. 1. That received a reply back. Calling his office is another way to get an answer back quick!
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Hi there! I had the exact thing happen to me and am so sorry you are in this position. I was so pissed off as I had given my LOR's months to prepare and one of my LOR just dissapeared. She had been my supervisor but was no longer at the same center and would not respond to my emails.
What I did: Contacted my advisor (and one of my LORs). She spoke with other faculty members and another professor offered to write letters for me within a week (such a lovely, lovely gesture). He was initially going to be my third recommender but I (unwisely) decided to go with my former supervisor, thinking she could write more about my clinical abilities.
Long story short, I sent my applications with only 2 LORs, and enclosed in my cover letter that my 3rd letter was on its way and would be sent directly to the program. For programs which I knew the letter would arrive after the deadline, I called and let the Graduate secretary know and they were all alright with this. One program said that I had to have all my stuff together, despite my phone call (plea) and for this program, my department chair sent an email explaining the situation... this worked.
I got interviews at most places and think that the LOR situation turned out not to be as big a problem as I thought it would be. I was really concerned about the message I was sending to programs by not having a complete application packet and was really frustrated as I had planned things and was indeed prepared for everything, well except my LOR dissapearing. Sadly (and unfortunately for people like us), these things happen fairly often and I am pretty sure schools are aware of this and will not penalize you for your LORs lack of courtesy/ awareness/ etc.
All the best with everything
What I did: Contacted my advisor (and one of my LORs). She spoke with other faculty members and another professor offered to write letters for me within a week (such a lovely, lovely gesture). He was initially going to be my third recommender but I (unwisely) decided to go with my former supervisor, thinking she could write more about my clinical abilities.
Long story short, I sent my applications with only 2 LORs, and enclosed in my cover letter that my 3rd letter was on its way and would be sent directly to the program. For programs which I knew the letter would arrive after the deadline, I called and let the Graduate secretary know and they were all alright with this. One program said that I had to have all my stuff together, despite my phone call (plea) and for this program, my department chair sent an email explaining the situation... this worked.
I got interviews at most places and think that the LOR situation turned out not to be as big a problem as I thought it would be. I was really concerned about the message I was sending to programs by not having a complete application packet and was really frustrated as I had planned things and was indeed prepared for everything, well except my LOR dissapearing. Sadly (and unfortunately for people like us), these things happen fairly often and I am pretty sure schools are aware of this and will not penalize you for your LORs lack of courtesy/ awareness/ etc.
All the best with everything
I would definitely do whatever you can to keep pestering (obviously in as nice a way as possible). I've been sending regular reminder emails to my recommenders -- and since I also have one who's been impossible to get ahold of, I've been calling him until he gets back to me. You may feel like you're being a little annoying, but sometimes that's the only way to get through to people. And when it comes down to it, this is your future.
It's too late to do this for the December 1 deadline, but one thing that's made me feel a little better is that the deadlines I've given my recommenders are all a week before they're actually due. That way they have a few days of leeway to send their materials before I really start panicking.
It's too late to do this for the December 1 deadline, but one thing that's made me feel a little better is that the deadlines I've given my recommenders are all a week before they're actually due. That way they have a few days of leeway to send their materials before I really start panicking.
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I was also in a similar boat. I asked for my letter writers to get everything to me by October 30th since my first deadline was November 20th. I even asked 4 people just in case, but the fourth is not an academic. I emailed the third prof approximately two weeks before the deadline and did not hear, then followed up with a phone call to her office a week before the deadline. At this point, I had three letters submitted since I had a backup but preferred to have the 3 academic letters. I resent the email request for her to upload her letter online a few days before the deadline. She finally emailed me back on Friday (November 20th) saying that she had been completely knocked out by H1N1 and then submitted my letter over the weekend. This particular program said they'd accept LORs through December 1st.
Now I just need her and/or my fourth letter writer to send me the hard copy letters for programs that want everything submitted all at once.
Keep trying-its worth it! Good luck!
Now I just need her and/or my fourth letter writer to send me the hard copy letters for programs that want everything submitted all at once.
Keep trying-its worth it! Good luck!
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I'm going through this RIGHT NOW! I have not heard back from my 3rd recommender and have been emailing him a few times in the past week, and still NOTHING. I have everything ready to go for my first batch of schools which have the Dec 1st deadline! I'm just waiting on this one person!
I was hoping to get everything out by today at the latest but now I have to take on this extra unnecessary STRESS and possibly have to fork over even more money to send them out w/ overnight shipping! 😡😡😡
&^!%^%$@!#^@!%&^%!@
I was hoping to get everything out by today at the latest but now I have to take on this extra unnecessary STRESS and possibly have to fork over even more money to send them out w/ overnight shipping! 😡😡😡
&^!%^%$@!#^@!%&^%!@
I'm in the same boat. I'm not sure what to do...
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I'm having the same problem as well. Worse because I am at the other end of the world, and getting my stuff to US definitely takes time (and money).
Just emailed my 3rd recommender again, letting him know I really really need the letters this week. Hope he replies soon.
Just emailed my 3rd recommender again, letting him know I really really need the letters this week. Hope he replies soon.
D
deleted176373
I think I addressed this elsewhere... ALWAYS have more than 3 letter writers... never allow ANYONE to be in the position to sabotage your chances at getting in to all your schools... This is precisely why you send 4 letters to each institution UNLESS the specifically tell you not to.
Mark
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So I have 7 schools with a Dec 1 deadline- 3 of the letters were sent in my mail, and 4 were supposed to be uploaded online. 3 of the profs I have writing letters were totally on top of it, and have been submitted. But one (who I wrote my honors thesis with, and should be one of my strongest letters) has not only been MIA, but totally uncooperative. I'll spare you all the whole story, but basically, it's Nov 27, and his letters still haven't been uploaded. It's a holiday, I know, and he's a "family man" and probably not even checking e-mail this weekend. He doesn't even respond to my e-mails during the week when he's in his office, let alone during a holiday weekend. Dec 1 is Tuesday, so I'll call his office on Monday, but still. Arrgghhhhhh!!
If he has been "totalyy uncooperative" are you sure it would be a good letter?
I had something very similar happen to me when I applied to grad school... One of my letter writers never got around to writing my letter, so I missed all of my deadlines. I found one graduate school with a later deadline found a third letter writer quickly, and the rest is history.
Looking back on it, I would have DEFINITELY been more assertive with her. So I would recomment that you ramp up your assertveness with this guy. I would even consider politely calling his house and talking to him. Unless he hates you or something, odds are he just forgot. If that is the case, you need to call him tonight so he will have time to draft a decent letter. If you wait till Monday, he may not have time to write a good letter.
I had something very similar happen to me when I applied to grad school... One of my letter writers never got around to writing my letter, so I missed all of my deadlines. I found one graduate school with a later deadline found a third letter writer quickly, and the rest is history.
Looking back on it, I would have DEFINITELY been more assertive with her. So I would recomment that you ramp up your assertveness with this guy. I would even consider politely calling his house and talking to him. Unless he hates you or something, odds are he just forgot. If that is the case, you need to call him tonight so he will have time to draft a decent letter. If you wait till Monday, he may not have time to write a good letter.
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He already wrote the letter- I picked up hard copies from him last week for the schools that don't have the online system.
And I already have 3 letters- I went with 4 to be safe- but his should be one of the strongest, so I was looking forward to the schools having it.
And I already have 3 letters- I went with 4 to be safe- but his should be one of the strongest, so I was looking forward to the schools having it.
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I'm in a very similar boat. I just e-mailed my 3rd prof today reminding him that some of my deadlines are December 1. I would be very upset if I got screwed over because of one letter writer.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've put in over $80 for this first application, and am waiting on ONE letter. I think I'm going to actually have to drive to the school and hand deliver it---if I am so fortunate to get it on Tuesday. Aaagh!!
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Add me to the list of unfortunate souls in this situation as well! I have my 11 applications completely finished with the exception of 4 letters... one letter writer has yet to do any of her online recs (3 schools), and one letter writer has completed all but one. Contacting both of them - but the first one in particular - has been quite a challenge. These schools all have December 1st deadlines (of course). Even more frustrating since these are people who I have genuinely great relationships with and who have been incredibly supportive of my grad school quest... gah. Will be contacting them both first thing in the morning... desperately hoping this doesn't lead to a total waste of money and lost chances at three schools!
I already sent the 2 without any letters due Dec 1. I added a letter in those saying that the letters were on their way. That was Thursday, didn't want to wait any longer (express mailing these would have been expensive).
I was able to see 2/3 recommenders on friday, who gave me their letters + forms. i express mailed those, because they were pretty light. Waiting for 3rd recommender to get back to me but I might have to find her.
I was able to see 2/3 recommenders on friday, who gave me their letters + forms. i express mailed those, because they were pretty light. Waiting for 3rd recommender to get back to me but I might have to find her.
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For my master's degree applications, I told the letter writers that the application was due two weeks before the due date, to prevent any last minute scramble. Don't know why I didn't do it for the doctoral apps. It would have saved me some time and a headache 🙂
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I wish I had done that, but I'm not sure it would have helped with my third recommender. I told her in every communication that I would like to have my apps all done and submitted before Thanksgiving so that I would have time to make sure that schools receive everything. She plans on getting my paper recs to me sometime next week, which gives me very little time for my 12/15 deadlines. I will overnight them, I suppose, but I'm just incredibly annoyed that she committed to an earlier deadline and is now flaking off. I know that I am certainly not entitled to a letter from her, but I worked my ass off for her for years. ARGH.
I will certainly remember this when someone (someday) asks me to write a letter on his/her behalf!
that stuff happens, its pretty common too!
i had one of my profs submit his online recommendation on the afternoon of the deadline, but then again i kind of trusted him to do it.
As for the paper recommendations, I told my profs the date I want them by, then I reminded them a week ahead and picked it up from them. all 3 of my profs wrote them and sealed them right in front of me.
i had one of my profs submit his online recommendation on the afternoon of the deadline, but then again i kind of trusted him to do it.
As for the paper recommendations, I told my profs the date I want them by, then I reminded them a week ahead and picked it up from them. all 3 of my profs wrote them and sealed them right in front of me.
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Have any of you called your schools to see what their policies are for accepting late letters?
My 3rd writer didn't submit his until last Friday (12/04). He knew about this months in advance but just didn't care if they were there by the deadline. I called all of the Dec. 1 schools on my list to see what they would say about a late letter. Almost all of them said that it would be weeks before the faculty actually saw the completed apps, and my letters would be accepted and processed b/c I had already submitted and paid on time. I think only one or two schools said they HAD to be in by last Friday, but that was unusual.
So in summary, the schools know that despite all of our hard work, we simply can't control the faculty writing our letters. If it will relieve your anxiety, call the schools to see how they handle this. Even if they are strict about it, you might be able to sweet-talk them into accepting a late letter. 🙂
My 3rd writer didn't submit his until last Friday (12/04). He knew about this months in advance but just didn't care if they were there by the deadline. I called all of the Dec. 1 schools on my list to see what they would say about a late letter. Almost all of them said that it would be weeks before the faculty actually saw the completed apps, and my letters would be accepted and processed b/c I had already submitted and paid on time. I think only one or two schools said they HAD to be in by last Friday, but that was unusual.
So in summary, the schools know that despite all of our hard work, we simply can't control the faculty writing our letters. If it will relieve your anxiety, call the schools to see how they handle this. Even if they are strict about it, you might be able to sweet-talk them into accepting a late letter. 🙂
I may have mentioned this in another thread, but I don't see it here--my 3rd recommender went on Thanksgiving vacation and forgot to do my letters beforehand (I had 8 apps due on the 1st). I was panicking, but every single school I called said it was no problem, they were fine with it as long as my stuff (SOP, transcripts, etc.) was in on time. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
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