Evaluator Not Writing Letter

[annakara10]

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Hey guys!

Long time lurker and I just needed some advice from someone who may have been in the same situation. I asked one of my evaluators to write a letter back in early May. Unfortunately, she still hasn't written it so my application is on hold. I submitted my application mid-June and it has been verified and otherwise complete since July. I keep reminding her but she just won't get to it (admittedly she is probably busy). But seeing everyone getting interviews to schools I have applied to is stressing me out!!

Does anyone have any advice for how to deal with this situation?

Thanks!

 

[arkenstone]

Depends on your relationship to this person. If she hasn't been getting back to you, you may just need to remind her in a polite way. If she's a professor, figure out what she's doing this summer and when she might be at school... and stop by her office. Even if you brought cookies or something---which I know would feel stupid---it would still work.

My slowest evaluator was my dentist evaluation, but we were cool enough that I just emailed him a picture of Indiana Jones cracking a whip, and he finished it that weekend.

 

[annakara10]

Depends on your relationship to this person. If she hasn't been getting back to you, you may just need to remind her in a polite way. If she's a professor, figure out what she's doing this summer and when she might be at school... and stop by her office. Even if you brought cookies or something---which I know would feel stupid---it would still work.

My slowest evaluator was my dentist evaluation, but we were cool enough that I just emailed him a picture of Indiana Jones cracking a whip, and he finished it that weekend.

Yeah, it's a prof. I have gone to her office twice now and emailed a couple times but still nothing. I also don't want to be annoying so I'm like stuck. I like the cookies idea though! 😛

 

[doc toothache]

Time to move on to your next candidate on the list.

 

[Cello]

Apply a little more pressure and see if that works. If it does not, then do what doc says above and move on.

I had a professor who promised to write my letter. She also told me that she is a procrastinator and very busy, so I should remind her constantly to write my letter.

I did just that, but she soon stopped responding. So, I dug up her personal email address and sent her a more urgent email stating that I needed her letter because it was holding up my application.

She submitted the letter within a few hours and emailed me the next day to apologize.

 

[pulltheleverkronk]

Apply a little more pressure and see if that works. If it does not, then do what doc says above and move on.

I had a professor who promised to write my letter. She also told me that she is a procrastinator and very busy, so I should remind her constantly to write my letter.

I did just that, but she soon stopped responding. So, I dug up her personal email address and sent her a more urgent email stating that I needed her letter because it was holding up my application.

She submitted the letter within a few hours and emailed me the next day to apologize.

I had this same thing happen to me- but I ended up getting ditched because the professor "didn't want any distractions" as he recovered from a surgery. The email I got literally said "sent from iPad" at the bottom. It could be worse. I had another professor step in who knows me well, so it's all good... but remember, it could be worse haha. I asked for mine back in May and didn't hear anything for two months apart from the two times I called his office. He wanted constant reminders too. That's usually a warning sign that the person writing the letter isn't very responsible. If they say that, find a way to get out of it if you can. You'll be likely to regret it

 

[pulltheleverkronk]

I should clarify that he had a full two months to do the letter in the summertime before he had his surgery... so that was rather obnoxious. Oh well. I totally understand people being busy, though- that's probably where your professor is at right now. Try to politely communicate that your application is in flux. I would disagree with doc toothache just this once (gasp!) and keep pursuing the same professor. Just be persistent and explain that schools aren't able to look at your application until she submits her letter. That may make it more "real" for her. If nothing happens after a week or two, be prepared to move on... but it's your call timing-wise, really.

 

[annakara10]

Thanks for the advice guys!