called, emailed profs. re: LOR, no response. wtf?

[javandane]

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so i emailed two profs. last friday re: LOR. i didn't hear anything from them, so i left voicemails on their office phones this past tuesday. still nothing. i'm very concerned. i've been out of school for two years, so i'm not sure how that will impact their feelings toward writing a letter on my behalf. however, one of the profs. already wrote me a letter for law school admission two years ago, so i would think he'd be willing to write another one (or just change the initial letter). i know both of these profs. have classes this summer, and called the dept. to confirm they are there for the summer. should i wait to contact them again? is their failure to return my email/calls a sign they're not willing to write a letter? i would think they'd have the courtesy to tell me they're not comfortable with writing a letter if that were the case. any thoughts on how i should proceed?

 

[elephunt]

Is there any way that you can find out from the department when these profs will be in their offices, and try to call then? I know profs can be really busy and not necessarily in their offices all the time...but it still sucks that neither of them have had the courtesy to call/email you back, even to tell you no.

 

[BklynWill]

Sounds like they're either too busy or unmotivated to write your letters ASAP. Before you follow-up again, consider how soon you need the letters written, and how much you're willing to pressure the authors.
I'm pretty sure they're aware of their agreement but if they haven't seen you in two years, it's easy for them to procrastinate. Maybe you should reinforce your relationships with these professors.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

When you do speak to them in person, also ask if you can borrow some of their time, sit down with them, and discuss your application. Also, give them a transcript, any specific work you did for that class (if that applies), and a CV.

I agree...I'm applying for residency now and it's definitely anxiety-provoking when you ask for a letter and they don't get back to you immediately.

 

[Medikit]

Some professors are really busy, try to arrange a meeting in person.

 

[joy77]

Java- a similar thing happened to me. I finally just stopped by the prof's office and said I was there to make an appointment to discuss the possibility of getting a letter of rec. She never said whether she had gotten my e-mail or not but did not seem surprised to see me (suggesting that she did get the e-mail but just never responded). Nonetheless, she seemed eager to write the letter when approached in person, so I'm thinking that she is just bad about answering e-mails. I was getting worried there for a while, though. They really should not torture us like that!

But maybe it's not even possible for you to stop by his/her office...is the school in another city?

 

[Tippy007]

is their failure to return my email/calls a sign they're not willing to write a letter?

I would give them a couple of more days. If you hear nothing still, then yes, their failure is a sign of low interest. I would look elsewhere. Of course they should get back to you, but some professors are too wrapped up in their own work/lives to care.

 

[rhino305]

Yes, I would definitely try for the personal meeting. Find the office hours and go by there one day to set up a lunch meeting or something of the sort. If they're far away, write a letter to them. This way it is almost guaranteed that they will read it. Good luck. 👍

 

[ShyRem]

Are you sure they're there? It is summer... I know one of the profs I contacted is going on vacation next week, and the other is out for the whole month. Not all professors stick around all summer long.

 

[Naima19]

I understand your stress and the best advice I can give, besides what has already been said is that you should start looking for other professors to write your recommendation.

I had one of my professors promise to write a letter of recommendation and then disappeared for a month! I am sure some schools received that recommendation. I had to scramble to find another professor to write a recommendation.

So take it from me. Though most schools will ask for a recommendation from a premedical committee or at least 3 recommendation from science professors, it never hurts to have 4 or 5 recommendations.

Also make sure you give you professors 1 deadline to mail in the recommendation to your schools. To help them out, give them adressed envelopes with stamps.

 

[bkmonkey]

Java-

This sucks that you're having problems getting your lors, but people should take this as a lesson. Get your letters as soon as possible. Send off your transcript requests as soon as possible. Professors are notorious for being difficult to get a hold of (especially in the summertime). When I was trying to track down professors, one was on sabbatical in Austria and the another was doing research in Peru. For people who have not yet applied, make sure to get to know your professors early on. That way when you come asking for a letter 2 years after taking their class, they will remember who you are. The sooner you have all your ducks in a row, the sooner you will get interviews and acceptances. DON'T PROCRASTINATE!!!

 

[acl3623]

i'd call their dept. again and find out if they have office hours too...most profs are required to keep some kind of office time. i feel your pain though...give them another couple of days.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Welcome to my world. Mine hasn't written my letter (after agreeing to do it after meeting me no less) and it has been.... 3 months.

 

[javandane]

i appreciate everyone's responses. the bitch of it is that i've already got 4 very strong LOR: 2 from grad. profs, 1 from my PI, and 1 from a doc i work with. i thought these would be sufficient, but the director of admissions at my state school said that i needed undergrad letters to complete the app. what really pisses me off is that he made it seem that the letters were basically meaningless--said something like, "we really just need you to fulfill the requirement--content is unimportant". makes sense to me. adcom: "ask someone who barely knows you from the crack in their ass to write a testament to your ability to succeed in medicine. we see these as more important than letters from faculty members at our own medical college who know you very well and who believe strongly that your character and intellectual fitness make a strong foundation for a medical career." i feel like i'm being made to stand between two mirrors with a hoop in front of me, and looking into the mirror the damn hoops seem infinite, and i've gotta keep jumping through them.

alright, i suppose i'm finished feeling sorry for myself.

 

[bkmonkey]

Javadane-

Are you sending individual letters or a committee letter? I know that with committee letters, you can get around individual letter requirements (ie two science, one humanity, etc.).

 

[javandane]

Javadane-

Are you sending individual letters or a committee letter? I know that with committee letters, you can get around individual letter requirements (ie two science, one humanity, etc.).

individual letters. no premed comittee at my undergrad. university.

 

[bkmonkey]

argggghhhh...that sucks, sorry!

 

[Rpre19]

I am a college lecturer & have been asked to write several rec letters. A couple of times, I just had so much to do that I just couldnt get back to the student right away. I would say it would be worthwhile to visit the prof in person, especially since we are talking about the summer months, when prof are trying to either relax a bit or catch up on things. & remember, if you are asking for LOR's chances are others are too right now, so make your presence known--without being obnoxious, of course. Good Luck! (BTW, just to let you know writing LORs is so annoying!) 😉

 

[Rpre19]

Oh yeah, & DEFINITELY give the deadline as earlier than it really is!