A polite way to continue reminding Prof for rec letter?

[Longcatislong]

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I asked this prof, let's call him Dr. Professor, way back in August if he would write me a strong letter of recommendation. He agreed. At that time, I told Dr. Professor that I was eager to get my application materials collected early and was using Interfolio to do so. That being said, I have him a somewhat arbitrary but fair "deadline" of December 20th to write the letter. He seemed ok with this.

Well, it's now mid-january and still no letter. Also, I've learned that he's leaving the United States at the end of february and going back to live in his home country...I'm getting worried. It's not that I haven't bugged him to remind him -- I have. I've emailed him about once a month with friendly little emails asking how he was doing and if he needed any other supporting materials for my letter that I would be happy to provide. Last email Dr. Professor sent me was in late December, telling me after grading he would "put the finishing touches" on my letter. Again, I have yet to receive a letter from him 🙁 I'm applying in June and this is starting to make me really nervous.

Should I continue to bug hum? What other emails can I send besides the ones I already have that essentially say " Oh hi! Here are the supporting materials you request again. Please let me know if there's anything I else I provide you with. I respect your time. thanks!" ?

**note: I have to email him because I live far away from the city he's in. It's not very practical to drive. Also he hasn't been on campus this past semester and therefor has not held office hours.

 

[aggiegirl12809]

I was in a situation like that. He took weeks and weeks. I finally called him and said that the application service will void my application if they didn't receive his letter and that I would have to wait a whole year to apply again. He sent the letter that same evening.

Good luck! You also still have a lot of time to ask someone else if this professor is not cooperating

 

[SES0112]

Honestly this has happened to me and the professor ended up never submitting the letter even after constant contact. Find someone else fast!

 

[doc toothache]

Time to look elsewhere, especially since he is leaving the country.

 

[Longcatislong]

Honestly this has happened to me and the professor ended up never submitting the letter even after constant contact. Find someone else fast!

I'm getting in touch with a bunch of other professors, just in case. However, Dr. Professor does still have some time left. I'm considering emailing him again sometime this week. I just don't know what else I can say in my email. Should I be blunt about it? I don't want to sound rude.

 

[HopefulDMD88]

I'm getting in touch with a bunch of other professors, just in case. However, Dr. Professor does still have some time left. I'm considering emailing him again sometime this week. I just don't know what else I can say in my email. Should I be blunt about it? I don't want to sound rude.

Good Afternoon Professor,

In regards to my dental school application, it is imperative that I get my letter submitted by the end of next week (give him a firm, close deadline; 1-2 weeks). I understand that you have a busy schedule, and if you don't believe you will be able to provide me with a recommendation by this time, please let me know so I may begin to find another writer. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Regards,
[blank]

At the end of that deadline, response or not, start emailing other professors. I'd even begin contacting them now to get the ball rolling.

This happened to me when I first applied and I ended up missing the cycle. Don't wait forever like I did.

 

[NDPitch]

This happened to me. I never got the letter and scrambled to find another professor at the last minute. It worked out for me in the end but I'd move on fast!

 

[fellforit]

Good Afternoon Professor,

In regards to my dental school application, it is imperative that I get my letter submitted by the end of next week (give him a firm, close deadline; 1-2 weeks). I understand that you have a busy schedule, and if you don't believe you will be able to provide me with a recommendation by this time, please let me know so I may begin to find another writer. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Regards,
[blank]

At the end of that deadline, response or not, start emailing other professors. I'd even begin contacting them now to get the ball rolling.

This happened to me when I first applied and I ended up missing the cycle. Don't wait forever like I did.

I had a prof who ignored my emails for two months until I gave him a second deadline. I'd originally asked to have the letter by the end of May; come the end of July, I sent him another email asking for the letter (I was emailing him once every few days at that point) and giving him a new deadline about a week away. For whatever reason that was the magic ticket that got the letter submitted. I think once he missed the first deadline he kept figuring a few more days wouldn't hurt... And that turned into two months.

Good luck! If that doesn't work, definitely do contact other potential letter writers. It sucks, but that's the game.

 

[pointynose]

I was in a similar situation. With the application deadline approaching, I told my professor that I needed it in a couple days. I told her I knew she was busy so if it was easier, I could just write it for her and then she could just sign it and turn it in. This seemed to work and I got the letter the next day.

 

[doc toothache]

An interesting concept: favors with deadlines.