Help! Teacher still hasn't written recommendation

[yellowfellow123]

Hi guys, i'm usually a lurker on SDN, but I'm in a situation right now and I don't know what to do.

I recently just graduated in May and before I left I asked one of my science professors via email if he/she could write me a letter of recommendation. He/she was enthusiastically willing to, but hasn't responded to any of my follow up emails. I've written him/her 4 emails (all 2-3 weeks apart) about meeting up, and if he/she could still write me one, but still no response. What do I do? I've already submitted 17 applications and I already put him/her down as my letter of rec for all my schools. He/she is one of the two science professors I will be using for my application and I don't have any other science teachers to ask. However, I am currently in the NIH post bac program. Maybe a rec from there will count as a science rec?

Any advice? Thank you so much. Freaking out atm

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[studentdocftw]

LOL. Story of my life. I graduated from school as well, and was no longer on campus when I applied. My professor was similarly unresponsive, didn't reply to 5-6 emails. I ended up being that weirdo that looked up his class schedule, and showed up at the end of the period. This is the worst case scenario as I'm sure he was weirded out by the fact that I knew his class schedule. Nonetheless, he got my letter in a week later and I am going to medical school. Do what you have to do to get that letter in!

 

[anonymoose1640]

First off, take a deep breath. Try not to panic. 🙂

Have some patience. Make sure your letter writer has everything they might need to be able to write you a good letter (CV, resume, any materials from their class you think are important, etc.). Email the professor's assistant if they have one (they're usually more responsive to emails). Call the professor at their office line. Continue to email the professor, but now do so on a weekly basis. Stress the importance of completing the LOR before August. If all else fails, try and find them in person. Good luck!! 🙂

 

[yungspleen]

This happened to me and I had to go to my professor's office like 3 times this summer to remind them. Not sure if that's feasible for you. My professor was just straight up ignoring my emails, so I installed the Bananatag plugin on google chrome (which will notify you if your email is opened), and saw she never opened my first two emails, but had opened the 3rd one and didn't respond. So I had to go talk to her in person at that point. Hope your situation doesn't get that bad, but I'd recommend installing that extension to make sure he's even checking his emails. The things premeds have to do 🙄

 

[alpha-GTP]

Getting some of my letters was kind of a PITA. Although everyone was enthusiastic about writing the letters, rounding them up was like a part time job. A couple of people were pretty prompt and turned in the LORs in a few days time after the request went out. A couple of them needed a gentle nudge, and I had to basically stalk two others for about a month to get them completed. Some times it is not enough to send emails, and you have to show up multiple times in person. I made sure to have a backup in case one letter fell through. If you feel like you have to beg excessively in order to get the letter, then it might not be worth it. It's hard enough getting into medical school without having a pissed off letter writer giving a mediocre LOR and jeopardizing your chances.

 

[yellowfellow123]

🙁 thank you guys. we'll see what happens. I emailed his/her graduate student to see what's up with the professor, so hopefully that'll help

 

[yungspleen]

Are you close to the campus? Does your professor teach summer courses/have office hours?

 

[yellowfellow123]

Are you close to the campus? Does your professor teach summer courses/have office hours?

No :c i'm about an 8 hours drive from the school. I'm going to send my sister, who is at the school taking classes, to "ambush him" at his office. it's my last resort D:

 

[yungspleen]

No :c i'm about an 8 hours drive from the school. I'm going to send my sister, who is at the school taking classes, to "ambush him" at his office. it's my last resort D:

Does he have a phone number you could call?