LOR - best way to REMIND professors to send them?

[crazyhands]

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I'm sure this has come up before, so I did a search and couldnt find want I wanted.

What is the best, most polite way to remind a professor to send in my LOR? I just had an interview at a school and they reminded me that one LOR is not in yet.

If someone has like a template for this sort of thing that would be nice.

Thanks!

 

[UKFrog]

Just send an email. Be concise, polite, and respectful.

 

[BambiMD]

Just send an email. Be concise, polite, and respectful.

I second this. I had a professor who agreed to write an LOR the first week of June; he didn't end up submitting it until Labor Day.

After what I deemed an appropriate amount of time (a month and a half), I emailed him to check in. He gave me his time frame of estimated completion of the LOR. Once that had passed, I emailed him once more before he finally submitted.

Polite emails are best--just don't send too many of them.

 

[Doc WV]

I second this. I had a professor who agreed to write an LOR the first week of June; he didn't end up submitting it until Labor Day.

After what I deemed an appropriate amount of time (a month and a half), I emailed him to check in. He gave me his time frame of estimated completion of the LOR. Once that had passed, I emailed him once more before he finally submitted.

Polite emails are best--just don't send too many of them.

Isn't that one of the most frustrating parts of getting a LOR. I had a prof agree in early June to write me one and I asked he if could turn it in by mid-July.

Nothing in July, asked him 1st week of August and he said he just sent it in... nothing the next week when I called admissions.... happened the same way 3-4 more times.

Well.... I had my interview on Oct. 8th. No LOR by then, and to my knowledge still no written LOR. He was called though, maybe he gave an oral recommendation. I was accepted nonetheless, but sheash.

Talk about being let down.

 

[deleted212936]

HELP!!!
One of my recommenders seems to forget about me. I told her that I needed the letter by May 1 but until now she hasn't submitted it yet !!!

 

[Quix]

It happens - many of us have a lot on our plates. Polite reminders are okay; deadline hounds aren't.

 

[DoctorDeMan]

Best way is to say "thank you for agreeing to write me a LOR, I will be submitting/have already submitted my application for the class of ____. I will keep you updated along the way blah blah blah" ... that reminds them without being too pushy "I'm a crazy premed and I'm freaking out why haven't you submitted it yet?!?!"

 

[savant]

One of my letter writers took awhile. In the end, sent him e-mails saying 'I feel that my time shadowing you was valuable' or 'I feel your letter will help me in my application' -- stuff like that. If it's getting late, use pathos!

Of course, he ended up not writing the letter, so maybe my advice isn't that good 🙁

 

[Appless]

I just sent an email basically saying that I was just checking up on the statues of my letter and then I thanked her again for writing the letter and wished her well...i think as long as you are polite and not like "WHERES MY ****ING LOR OMG I NEED TO APPPLY NOWWWWWWW" you are probably ok😉. I got a response back that she actually did forget she said she was sorry and would make sure it was done this weekend.

 

[Raryn]

When I asked my professors for LOR, I gave them a copy of my personal statement. Every 2-3 weeks, I would stop by to chat and drop by a new draft for their consideration. Helped to remind them, and it didn't piss anyone off.

 

[redlight]

When I asked my professors for LOR, I gave them a copy of my personal statement. Every 2-3 weeks, I would stop by to chat and drop by a new draft for their consideration. Helped to remind them, and it didn't piss anyone off.

yea i think this is a sound idea.
do it in person.. come in to update them on wherever you are in the process (PS, secondaries, interviews, decisions, w/e) every 3-4 weeks (or sooner if its convenient and not awkward). thank them again for their support.

then pony-up a thank you card or box of chocolates or something that will serve as a visible reminder to them to uphold their promise not to screw you over!

 

[nick_carraway]

When I asked my professors for LOR, I gave them a copy of my personal statement. Every 2-3 weeks, I would stop by to chat and drop by a new draft for their consideration. Helped to remind them, and it didn't piss anyone off.

I like this idea too. Kinda brilliant.

My method is to give them a thank you card when my deadline hits. The card usually says something along the lines of thanks for sending it. If you haven't sent it, please send it soon.

 

[JonathanMD]

I agree with a lot of the above posts. You should also think about asking for extra letters. If the schools are asking for 3, go around and ask 6 professors/professionals.

I still followed up on one of mine that was lagging, but I wasn't pulling my hair out due to uncertainty.

 

[nick_carraway]

For all you worry bugs out there, here's my trick:

Give writers a self-addressed postcard and tell them to mail it with their letter. When you get the postcard, you'll know that they mailed the letter. If you never get your postcard, start pestering.

 

[deleted212936]

My professor is delaying again. I emailed her (saying I'd need the letter by June 15) and she said she'd have it for me no later than last Wednesday. Now should I remind her again?

 

[stayclassy]

I'm in the same boat, but my professor wont even respond to my emails. I just want to write the letter for him and drop it off to his office for him LOL

 

[BBender716]

I have a great "excuse" for reminding and re-reminding professors. "Hello Professor X, I know you are still in the process of writing a letter of recommendation for me. I was just making sure you had all the necessary materials in order to make it easier. I can provide additional information and am more than happy to stop by for an update. Blah blah blah thank you for your help and your recommendation is very much appreciated, blah blah"

Key is, make it seem like you want to do whatever you can to make it easier on them and by offering an update interview it most often makes professors say "oh man, no no no, I'll take care of it, I have everything I need. No I'm sure. Yes, thank you, ok ok ok." lol

It's a great, polite, way of reminding them and being helpful while reassuring them that you are serious and that it matters very much to you.

 

[nick_carraway]

My professor is delaying again. I emailed her (saying I'd need the letter by June 15) and she said she'd have it for me no later than last Wednesday. Now should I remind her again?

Well how did you end up reminding her the last time?

 

[deleted212936]

Well how did you end up reminding her the last time?

When I asked for LoR, I told her I needed it by May 1st but didn't get it until the 2nd week of May, so I reminded her.

 

[OpalOnyx]

I'm sure this has come up before, so I did a search and couldnt find want I wanted.

What is the best, most polite way to remind a professor to send in my LOR? I just had an interview at a school and they reminded me that one LOR is not in yet.

If someone has like a template for this sort of thing that would be nice.

Thanks!

Ultimately - no matter how many reminders you send, it's up to the person on the other end to carry through with the recommendations or not.

Always make sure you've asked 1-2 additional people in case someone doesn't pull through. Emergencies come up and whatever it is maybe entirely beyond your recommender's control.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Ultimately - no matter how many reminders you send, it's up to the person on the other end to carry through with the recommendations or not.

Always make sure you've asked 1-2 additional people in case someone doesn't pull through. Emergencies come up and whatever it is maybe entirely beyond your recommender's control.

haha I definitely didn't answer the OP's question in my last post.

I usually say something like "hi Dr. So and So, This is just a friendly reminder that my recommendation for X is due on ____. Thanks for recommending me. Let me know if you have any questions."

 

[Alvarez13]

Can you send out your AMCAS primary without LORs? I'm still waiting on 3 of mine and not sure they'll be in by June 2nd.

 

[Bryson17]

Can you send out your AMCAS primary without LORs? I'm still waiting on 3 of mine and not sure they'll be in by June 2nd.

Yes, schools don't look for letters of rec until they start to evaluate your secondary. It'd be good to send your recs with your secondary. You won't be considered 'complete' at schools unless they have your recs.

 

[link2swim06]

You guys are ahead of me, i just started getting letters

 

[deleted212936]

Now I wonder if I should drop this LoR because the writer has been late twice (I haven't reminded her the second time) but that's the only research letter for me ... what do you guys think I should do?