Dazed and Confused

[JakeMUSC]

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Ok. So I ask 3 science professors, my dentist whom I shadowed, and my research mentor with whom I worked with @MUSC (the university Im applying to for dental), to write me a letter of recomm on Aug.23rd. All of them answer cheerfully the would like to write one for me.

The first proffesor that responded to me, Dr.Clabo, in his own words, " I would be glad to write you a letter of recommendation. Come by my office with your cv/etc an Ill take care of it. Looking forward to seeing you!"
I was like sweet, I had the highest grade in his class 99, Organic Chemistry 2 (my second time taking, first was a C, different prof).

I deliver my stuff to everyone else. One week passes, and my dentist calls me letting me know everything was sent in.
4 weeks pass and my 2 science profs and research mentor say that my stuff was sent in.

So I call Dr.Clabo, at the end of the 4th week, and ask him, "Hello, Dr.Clabo, how are you? yada yada yada, have you been able to take care of my letter yet?" Dr. Clabo," Yes, its taken care of" Me, "Thank you very much for your time and help"

Wait another week, AASDAS, MUSC, & Tennessee aint got it. Wait a couple more days, still aint got it.
Im freaking out, and call Dr. Clabo, and ask him, " Dr.Clabo, I think my schools have lost your LOR, can you tell me when you sent it, so they could narrow down their search?"

Dr.Clabo, " Umm...I couldnt tell you when I sent it (in a I forgot tone). I could send it again."

Me, " Yes sir. Can we make an appointment so I can come by and give you the addresses again?"

Dr. Clabo, " Iam free all day today, just come by my office" Me, "OK"

I give it to him, and since that day, it has been 8 days, and still no sign of the letter.

Why is he doing this to me? I understand if I was a c or b guy and he didnt want to write one for me, then just say, Im sorry, I cant do it.
Instead, he strings me along for over 5 weeks saying he would be glad to do it, and now Im f***ing screwed!

What should I do, 1) get on my knees and beg him to write it 2) Go to the Chem Dept Chair and complain 3) Go to the college Administration and complain 4) go crazy?!?!?!?!

Oh and by the way, this is the last thing my schools are waiting on, secondaries, everything is done.

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Ok. So I ask 3 science professors, my dentist whom I shadowed, and my research mentor with whom I worked with @MUSC (the university Im applying to for dental), to write me a letter of recomm on Aug.23rd. All of them answer cheerfully the would like to write one for me.

The first proffesor that responded to me, Dr.Clabo, in his own words, " I would be glad to write you a letter of recommendation. Come by my office with your cv/etc an Ill take care of it. Looking forward to seeing you!"
I was like sweet, I had the highest grade in his class 99, Organic Chemistry 2 (my second time taking, first was a C, different prof).

I deliver my stuff to everyone else. One week passes, and my dentist calls me letting me know everything was sent in.
4 weeks pass and my 2 science profs and research mentor say that my stuff was sent in.

So I call Dr.Clabo, at the end of the 4th week, and ask him, "Hello, Dr.Clabo, how are you? yada yada yada, have you been able to take care of my letter yet?" Dr. Clabo," Yes, its taken care of" Me, "Thank you very much for your time and help"

Wait another week, AASDAS, MUSC, & Tennessee aint got it. Wait a couple more days, still aint got it.
Im freaking out, and call Dr. Clabo, and ask him, " Dr.Clabo, I think my schools have lost your LOR, can you tell me when you sent it, so they could narrow down their search?"

Dr.Clabo, " Umm...I couldnt tell you when I sent it (in a I forgot tone). I could send it again."

Me, " Yes sir. Can we make an appointment so I can come by and give you the addresses again?"

Dr. Clabo, " Iam free all day today, just come by my office" Me, "OK"

I give it to him, and since that day, it has been 8 days, and still no sign of the letter.

Why is he doing this to me? I understand if I was a c or b guy and he didnt want to write one for me, then just say, Im sorry, I cant do it.
Instead, he strings me along for over 5 weeks saying he would be glad to do it, and now Im f***ing screwed!

What should I do, 1) get on my knees and beg him to write it 2) Go to the Chem Dept Chair and complain 3) Go to the college Administration and complain 4) go crazy?!?!?!?!

Oh and by the way, this is the last thing my schools are waiting on, secondaries, everything is done.

Are you required to have that many recommendations? If not, I would just tell the schools to forget that professor's letter. If you must have it, I would go to his office. Watch him write it and then I would mail the letter myself (as a favor to the professor to not take anymore of his time of course). Hey right, slack a**. Also, you might can find another professor to write a letter for you and forget the other guy altogether. Good luck!

 

[Hoffa24]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about all of the trouble that you are having. The one piece of advice that I could offer would be to talk with your professor's administrative assistant. That was the trick for me, it is amazing how much power they often have over the professors that they work for. They have experience working with the professors and are usually eager to help.

 

[superman]

Ok. So I ask 3 science professors, my dentist whom I shadowed, and my research mentor with whom I worked with @MUSC (the university Im applying to for dental), to write me a letter of recomm on Aug.23rd. All of them answer cheerfully the would like to write one for me.

The first proffesor that responded to me, Dr.Clabo, in his own words, " I would be glad to write you a letter of recommendation. Come by my office with your cv/etc an Ill take care of it. Looking forward to seeing you!"
I was like sweet, I had the highest grade in his class 99, Organic Chemistry 2 (my second time taking, first was a C, different prof).

I deliver my stuff to everyone else. One week passes, and my dentist calls me letting me know everything was sent in.
4 weeks pass and my 2 science profs and research mentor say that my stuff was sent in.

So I call Dr.Clabo, at the end of the 4th week, and ask him, "Hello, Dr.Clabo, how are you? yada yada yada, have you been able to take care of my letter yet?" Dr. Clabo," Yes, its taken care of" Me, "Thank you very much for your time and help"

Wait another week, AASDAS, MUSC, & Tennessee aint got it. Wait a couple more days, still aint got it.
Im freaking out, and call Dr. Clabo, and ask him, " Dr.Clabo, I think my schools have lost your LOR, can you tell me when you sent it, so they could narrow down their search?"

Dr.Clabo, " Umm...I couldnt tell you when I sent it (in a I forgot tone). I could send it again."

Me, " Yes sir. Can we make an appointment so I can come by and give you the addresses again?"

Dr. Clabo, " Iam free all day today, just come by my office" Me, "OK"

I give it to him, and since that day, it has been 8 days, and still no sign of the letter.

Why is he doing this to me? I understand if I was a c or b guy and he didnt want to write one for me, then just say, Im sorry, I cant do it.
Instead, he strings me along for over 5 weeks saying he would be glad to do it, and now Im f***ing screwed!

What should I do, 1) get on my knees and beg him to write it 2) Go to the Chem Dept Chair and complain 3) Go to the college Administration and complain 4) go crazy?!?!?!?!

Oh and by the way, this is the last thing my schools are waiting on, secondaries, everything is done.

JakeMUSC,
I feel ya- you ain't alone. I went through almost an exact experience-- the rec. letter was the last thing required to complete my app., and my prof behaved the same way your prof did. He assured me that he would gladly write me a letter but it took him 3 months to write the letter. I contacted him once a week in the beginning then twice a week, and after 3 months of no rec. letter I thought that I was going to go crazy! Even worse, I found out from his secretary that he switched universities!! I then had to look up his info at the new university he was working for and contacted him there. The prof told me that he had been really busy and that he actually wrote the letter and sent it out... but supposedly it got lost. He said he'd send it again but told me that the letter was in his computer at his old office, and that there was a possibility that the comp might have been formatted by the department to make ready for the new prof that was going to use it. He said that he was really busy settling in with the new university and that if he couldn't find the rec. letter he wrote for me on his old comp that he'd have to write a generic letter for me. I was upset because I did not wait and stress for 3 months to get a generic letter! (but of course, I kept my cool and didn't lose my temper in front of the prof). Thankfully, though, he found the letter intact on his old computer and he sent it out and d-schools finally received the rec. letter. Hm, so what to do in your situation? Maybe you can call him or visit him again and really tell him about the urgency of the matter-- that his rec. letter is the final piece that would complete your dental application, that dental schools are eagerly waiting for his letter, and that every day that goes by decreases your chances of getting accepted into dental school (just to let him know how urgent this whole mess is). Also, maybe YOU can pick it up from him and send it yourself. Maybe then he'll hurry up. BUT, make sure you don't lose your temper and don't complain to the dept. or complain to the college admin-- that may turn him off and change his mind about writing a letter for you. Plus, his writing a rec. letter for you is a matter between you and the prof, and it is a personal request. I know it's a tough predicament you are experiencing, but just try to keep your cool and I'm sure he'll write the letter soon... I hope everything works out for you and good luck with your apps. 👍

 

[JakeMUSC]

JakeMUSC,
I feel ya- you ain't alone. I went through almost an exact experience-- the rec. letter was the last thing required to complete my app., and my prof behaved the same way your prof did. He assured me that he would gladly write me a letter but it took him 3 months to write the letter. I contacted him once a week in the beginning then twice a week, and after 3 months of no rec. letter I thought that I was going to go crazy! Even worse, I found out from his secretary that he switched universities!! I then had to look up his info at the new university he was working for and contacted him there. The prof told me that he had been really busy and that he actually wrote the letter and sent it out... but supposedly it got lost. He said he'd send it again but told me that the letter was in his computer at his old office, and that there was a possibility that the comp might have been formatted by the department to make ready for the new prof that was going to use it. He said that he was really busy settling in with the new university and that if he couldn't find the rec. letter he wrote for me on his old comp that he'd have to write a generic letter for me. I was upset because I did not wait and stress for 3 months to get a generic letter! (but of course, I kept my cool and didn't lose my temper in front of the prof). Thankfully, though, he found the letter intact on his old computer and he sent it out and d-schools finally received the rec. letter. Hm, so what to do in your situation? Maybe you can call him or visit him again and really tell him about the urgency of the matter-- that his rec. letter is the final piece that would complete your dental application, that dental schools are eagerly waiting for his letter, and that every day that goes by decreases your chances of getting accepted into dental school (just to let him know how urgent this whole mess is). Also, maybe YOU can pick it up from him and send it yourself. Maybe then he'll hurry up. BUT, make sure you don't lose your temper and don't complain to the dept. or complain to the college admin-- that may turn him off and change his mind about writing a letter for you. Plus, his writing a rec. letter for you is a matter between you and the prof, and it is a personal request. I know it's a tough predicament you are experiencing, but just try to keep your cool and I'm sure he'll write the letter soon... I hope everything works out for you and good luck with your apps. 👍

I feel so akward when I speak to him since this whole thing. we used to be buds before this whole thing. Do u think I could email him and say all the stuff u recommended? I emailed him when I asked him to recommend me.

Oh and MUSC does require 3 science profs.

 

[superman]

I feel so akward when I speak to him since this whole thing. we used to be buds before this whole thing. Do u think I could email him and say all the stuff u recommended? I emailed him when I asked him to recommend me.

Oh and MUSC does require 3 science profs.

Yeah, maybe you can e-mail him... but if he has office hours maybe you can stop by his office and talk to him in person. Just visit him and politely yet emphatically reiterate to him about how urgent your situation is. So yea, IMO i think speaking to him in person would have a bigger impact than you just writing another e-mail. Good luck.

 

[Trookie]

Also, maybe YOU can pick it up from him and send it yourself. Maybe then he'll hurry up.

This is exactly what I did. I simply said, "I can stop by to pick up the letter in about a week. That way you won't have to deal with the hassle of mailing it out yourself. Does that sound okay?" That way you're politely setting/suggesting a deadline.

All of my professors finished my letter within a week or two. But if they didn't, I would just act incredibly disappointed and say, "Oh... it's just that I was hoping to mail out my application tomorrow. And that letter was the last piece. 🙁 It's alright though... I guess a little more time wouldn't hurt. Thank you again. 🙁 🙁 🙁" Don't forget the puppy dog eyes. Couldn't hurt. Might help.

 

[superman]

This is exactly what I did. I simply said, "I can stop by to pick up the letter in about a week. That way you won't have to deal with the hassle of mailing it out yourself. Does that sound okay?" That way you're politely setting/suggesting a deadline.

All of my professors finished my letter within a week or two. But if they didn't, I would just act incredibly disappointed and say, "Oh... it's just that I was hoping to mail out my application tomorrow. And that letter was the last piece. 🙁 It's alright though... I guess a little more time wouldn't hurt. Thank you again. 🙁 🙁 🙁" Don't forget the puppy dog eyes. Couldn't hurt. Might help.

"act incredibly disappointed... puppy dog eyes" haha, wow you're a pro! excellent advice! 👍

 

[JakeMUSC]

"act incredibly disappointed... puppy dog eyes" haha, wow you're a pro! excellent advice! 👍

LOL. I cant puppy dog my eyes, and Im guessing your a girl. 🙂

GOnna do something about it here soon.