PhD/PsyD Advice urgently needed

[Hatusu]

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Okay guys, I'm kind of freaking out. Here's the situation...

My PhD apps for clinical psych programs are due this Sunday, December 1st. I'm applying to 12 schools. One of my letter writers hasn't submitted any of my letters yet... worse, I haven't heard from her since the 11th of November. She was my honors thesis advisor in undergrad and enthusiastic about writing the letter when I asked her in person in October. I sent her materials and links to upload letters at the beginning of November. On the 11th, she emailed me to say that she received the materials I sent and the links to upload, and that she would submit them on the 12th. She still hasn't submitted any and it's the 28th. I'm really starting to get worried that she will not submit them on time. It's a holiday weekend now, so I'm not sure if she will read her work email, and I certainly can't contact her by phone because I only have her office number. I've been sending her weekly reminders but she has not replied, even a single line to say it is on her radar.

Questions:
Am I overreacting?
It is common for professors not to submit letters until the last minute?
Will graduate schools be very strict about the deadlines, or are they understanding?

I really appreciate any advice or thoughts...

 

[StatsNerd]

It IS very common for profs not to submit letters until the last minute. My main letter writer submitted by Nov. 15 letter with like 20 minutes to spare, and I'm pretty sure he'll do the same with my Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 letters. That said, I totally understand the added panic if this professor has not been replying to any of your attempts at contact. I'm lucky in that I can call or text my procrastinating advisor on deadline day and bug him to get my letters in (he actually told me I might have to do this), but I realize not everyone can do this.

Hopefully your prof is just procrastinating and not good with emails and will come through in time, but if not... when is the soonest you could call her office or pay her a visit? Monday? From what I've heard, most schools are fairly lenient with deadlines for letters. Also, Dec. 1 falls on a Sunday this year so applications won't even get looked at until Monday Dec. 2 at the very earliest. If it's Dec. 1 and you still can't get ahold of her, I'd email your schools and tell them you're waiting on one letter, but hoping it will be in within the next couple days.

 

[paramour]

I had a letter writer who waited until the last minute as well. However, I also requested an extra letter as I anticipated that someone would do just this.

 

[mishpug]

Like others have said, this is pretty common. I have heard (annecdotally) that if the rest of your application is complete, programs will still consider you even if one of your recommendations is late. If it is not submitted on Sunday, I would call her first thing on Monday morning to politely let her know the deadline was Sunday and ask her to turn the letters in that day if possible. Sorry you are in this position, hopefully your recommender gets the letter in by the deadline!