How to remind professors about LOR without hurting their feelings?

[BingDent]

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I asked 5 professors to write me a recommendation letter a month ago, yesterday when I checked my portfolio, there were not a single one been sent by them!!!😡

Anybody share this experience?
How do you remind/pressure them to write it?

I think most professors see this as extra work that they don't get paid for, so I guess thatz the reason they just keep pulling it off!

 

[LetMeIn]

Thats why i asked my profs to give me the letter in a sealed and signed envelope, which i then mail out all together in a much larger envelope to AADSAS. If you've left them the responsibility of submitting it directly themselves... they tend to take their own sweet time to do it.

If you need to remind them, pay them a visit, and ask if they had any concerns, comments or questions that you can help them with to write an LOR for you. Dont forget the usual niceties first, how they are doing? give them a status report on where you are in YOUR application process? and then mention the letters.

I also hope you made sure you either know these prof's really well.. OR they were enthusiastic about writing you a letter to help you out. When i was getting my LOR's done... even the slightest hesitation 'oh im kinnda busy, but ok' meant that I would NOT use them as a reference. They had to be interested in my career pursuits, ie atleast ask me what school im applying to, why i want to do dentistry, etc... they have to show they care.

Best of luck!

Vic

 

[w3chen99]

When requesting LORs, you should provide a resume/some information about yourself/transcript, a deadline to which they need to send them out, and a stamped envelope to AADSAS.

 

[BingDent]

Sadly, none of them seem to be enthused when I ask them. They're all like "Sure, I'll write it for you...."

As of now, I think I need them to write them an email to check on their progress. Do you guys think it's a good idea to attach my application's personal statement, just to help them write a better recommendation?

Thanks

 

[xc1999]

Yes, definitely send them your personal statment!! Send them anything that will enable them to know you more as a person. Your personal statement is probably one of the best things for this. It'll probably make it easier on them since they can actually write something aboutyou.

Good luck!

 

[DesiDentist]

usually when you ask a prof for a recommendation you want to make this "ordeal" as easy as possible. By that I mean:

- talk to them about your motivations and what is the purpose of the letter
-give them, in a neatly organized fashion, your resume, admissions essay, pieces of work you did in their class (tests), your grade in the class,
- a stamped envelope with the address of destination clearly labeled
-and a note illustrating when this has to be in

Usually, you should give a prof between 3-4 weeks to write a rec. I asked six people and my English prof wrote me one in 2 days whereas my mentor (dentist) took 4.5 months. 😱

Honestly, THIS IS THE HARDEST PART of the entire application:
Not the DAT, not the AADSAS application, NOT the interviews but getting LORs


DesiDentist

 

[BingDent]

I agree, Desidentist. This part of application is the part where you have the least control of. I will sent my LOR and act like "I thought this might help you", so it sounds casual.
I have new question, how many LOR are you allowed to submit to aadas?

 

[LetMeIn]

They say 3 on their website (first 3?)... but i sent in 4 and all my schools recieved them... 2 LOR's from Chemistry Profs, 1 from a Dentist i volunteered for, 1 from my Supervisor at work.

Most schools dont need more than 4... send your best references... quality is better than quantity.

Whoever said giving your Autobiographical Essay to your references is absolutely right. You should have given them a copy when you asked for a letter. If they havent completed your letters, its not too late now even...

 

[unagi07]

If your professors are not sending your LORs promptly, you could send them a thank you card with some chocolates before they have sent the LORs. They will feel guilty about not sending the LOR and will probably write and send the LOR more quickly. Kinda sneaky but a counselor suggested this if the professor is taking forever to send the LOR. Good luck!

 

[BingDent]

LOL, thatz a great idea Unagi.
Hope they'll be at their office to pick up my gifts, but I doubt it coz at this point of semester, they're somewhere in Hawaii or Cancun enjoying the summer...sigh

 

[eight143]

Do everything Desidentist had to say, but I also did something different that helped out a lot. Make sure you tell them when it needs to be mailed. You might say something like "Due to the nature of the application process, I would appreciate it very much if you can turn my LOR by (date)". Give them 3-4 weeks. Then, when that date arrives, assume they made you one and give them a thank you note. I can almost guarantee you that if they haven't done it yet (or maybe forgotten to), it will be out in a couple of days....Someone might say this is manipulation, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Good luck man! After all, this is your career your putting their hands into.

 

[BingDent]

LOL, thanks Eight.