Is it a bad sign that the letter of recommendation still isn't done?

[V781]

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This professor actually offered to write me a letter - she brought it up herself. I then sent her a link through Interfolio through which she could upload it and set the deadline for a month from that date.

The letter has not been uploaded yet and today is the day of the deadline.

Yes, I understand that professors are busy and were off celebrating the holiday. I'm not complaining; I'm merely curious. Does it mean she's taking time to perfect it? Or perhaps is having difficulty writing it and putting it off?

 

[jarednogeek]

Kind of harsh to give them a deadline of 1 month over the holidays/finals/new semester. Should’ve given them longer.

 

[candbgirl]

Well it’s a very bad sign if it doesn’t get uploaded. Do you need this particular letter? If not don’t worry.

 

[Fennel608]

This professor actually offered to write me a letter - she brought it up herself. I then sent her a link through Interfolio through which she could upload it and set the deadline for a month from that date.

The letter has not been uploaded yet and today is the day of the deadline.

Yes, I understand that professors are busy and were off celebrating the holiday. I'm not complaining; I'm merely curious. Does it mean she's taking time to perfect it? Or perhaps is having difficulty writing it and putting it off?

It’s not a bad sign. I administratively support mds/dos/professors and I can tell you that even if they are incredibly excited to write a letter, it still gets put on the back burner because they have things that are more pressing, especially around the holidays. They probably haven’t started the letter realistically. Send them an email and remind them to write it, they will probably appreciate it. In the future, six weeks to two months is a better timeline in my experience.

 

[907914]

This professor actually offered to write me a letter - she brought it up herself. I then sent her a link through Interfolio through which she could upload it and set the deadline for a month from that date.

The letter has not been uploaded yet and today is the day of the deadline.

Yes, I understand that professors are busy and were off celebrating the holiday. I'm not complaining; I'm merely curious. Does it mean she's taking time to perfect it? Or perhaps is having difficulty writing it and putting it off?

They may have just forgotten or the email went to the spam. I would resend the link and email them personally to check for it.

 

[DoctorSnow]

n=1 but I gave my letter writers 3-4 months for a deadline around April to ensure I had a month for any possible emergencies that came up (letter writer in hospital or something). I also made sure to throw in casual reminders which they appreciated because they are busy people that might have 4 courses to teach/grade and 10+ letters to write. Just throw her a casual reminder and give her more than a month, especially if you are applying this cycle and don't need it until May.

 

[V781]

Kind of harsh to give them a deadline of 1 month over the holidays/finals/new semester. Should’ve given them longer.

I figured that any time beyond a month she would begin to forget the specifics. I was only a student of hers for three months. People in this forum recommended I get a med school LOR from her regardless because she was offering.

I don't need the letter for a while actually.

 

[jarednogeek]

Most letters you get you’ll only be a student for 3 months. That’s a prof you take a class from. Wait for her but prepare a back up. I had a prof tell me so many times he’d write a letter for me and eventually never followed through. Always have a backup plan.