Difficulty reaching professor for letter of recommendation?

[spider367]

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So I am trying to get in touch with a semi retired professor who only teaches classes in the summer at my university. I had a class with him last summer and he was nice enough to write me a LOR. I didn't get accepted last cycle so I emailed him about a month ago and have yet to hear anything. I've checked the course registration and he is scheduled to be teaching the second summer session, but that doesn't begin until the last week of June. I was wondering if I should contact his wife via email who is a full time professor at the same university and much more likely to answer an email. I just don't want to seem like I'm harrassing him but if he doesn't still have my LOR, I really need to move on to another professor. Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Dusk]

if you respectfully ask, i see nothing wrong with that. go get your letter!👍

 

[dantemac]

I would try to visit him in person before you contact his wife. Does he have an office? Or, you can show up at the end of the summer class he teaches and try to talk to him.

 

[spider367]

I would try to visit him in person before you contact his wife. Does he have an office? Or, you can show up at the end of the summer class he teaches and try to talk to him.

The only thing that makes me nervous about this is that he doesn't get an office until he begins teaching, which will be the last week of June. If he doesn't have a copy of my letter still, I'm gonna have to ask another professor whom I don't really know and haven't seen since the final exam at the end of April.

 

[Doc Smile]

So I am trying to get in touch with a semi retired professor who only teaches classes in the summer at my university. I had a class with him last summer and he was nice enough to write me a LOR. I didn't get accepted last cycle so I emailed him about a month ago and have yet to hear anything. I've checked the course registration and he is scheduled to be teaching the second summer session, but that doesn't begin until the last week of June. I was wondering if I should contact his wife via email who is a full time professor at the same university and much more likely to answer an email. I just don't want to seem like I'm harrassing him but if he doesn't still have my LOR, I really need to move on to another professor. Thoughts? Thanks!

Email his wife and respectively ask her if she knows when his classes are he is teaching this summer because you want to ask him to write you a LOR (or edit). That way you aren't harassing or going around his back. Most likely, she will bring it up to him in convo and your all set.

 

[THRILLOFDAFILL]

why dont you ask other professors for now, and at the same time keep contacting this guy. that way you may have a backup just in case he is unreachable.

 

[dantemac]

If you do e-mail his wife, make it very general. In two or three sentences just say you need to speak to him. Don't mention a LOR or anything. That is business with him. I feel like, with dental school apps on the line, it is within reason to just contact her and ask her to have him get back to you.

 

[spider367]

I received an email from the prof this morning saying that he has the letter and would be happy to resubmit it. How perfect is the timing on that!?

 

[MAdental]

My prof asked me if i needed a LOR for dental school and i said yes. He told me he will write me one 🙂 pretty chill prof i must say

 

[dentalWorks]

So I am trying to get in touch with a semi retired professor who only teaches classes in the summer at my university. I had a class with him last summer and he was nice enough to write me a LOR. I didn't get accepted last cycle so I emailed him about a month ago and have yet to hear anything. I've checked the course registration and he is scheduled to be teaching the second summer session, but that doesn't begin until the last week of June. I was wondering if I should contact his wife via email who is a full time professor at the same university and much more likely to answer an email. I just don't want to seem like I'm harrassing him but if he doesn't still have my LOR, I really need to move on to another professor. Thoughts? Thanks!

situations like this is why I resorted to using interfolio

2 things you need to do RIGHT away (right away = yesterday)
1) go talk to his wife in person (not email).... and
2) start working on a back-up plan (another professor)