LOR not done. How's this idea?

[ajennings]

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Ok, I have a serious dilemma.

I have a LOR from a science prof that I'm still waiting on. It'd probably be my best science letter, but he and/or the letter are MIA.

He said he would send out the letter the week of Oct 20th. It's still not been sent to our school's letter service and I was trying to hold out until I had his letter to avoid spending the money to send out letters twice, instead of once. I can't get ahold of him and it's getting so late in the game that I'm really freaking out.

I did already have an interview at my state school (I used different letters for them and need the additional letter to count as a second 'science' letter).

Would it be appropriate to send out the letters I have and then send a letter to the schools explaining that his letter is unavailable due to extenuating personal circumstances or some crap like that. Then if he ever decides to get his **** together and write a letter I can send that. I was going to ask another prof to write one tomorrow, but it's so dang late.

I've tried the TY route and multiple attempts to contact him.

Any suggestions?

 

[TexasRose]

First, get yourself a voodoo doll... kidding!!!

Seriously, how long have you been waiting for this letter? I would strongly recommend getting another letter ASAP. Tell the other profs that you ask that you're sorry it's last minute, but that another LOR writer is holding up your app and you really need the help.

This happened to me. I asked for a letter in JAN, once a month or so I would send a friendly reminder (he asked me to!) and he still hadn't written it in June! 😡 I needed his letter to get my committee letter and he was on the freakin' committee!!! Jerk😡 Finally i just asked another prof who was very kind and had the letter out in a week, or less. 😍

Anyway, be proactive, get another letter before this guy messes up your application process.

Good luck,
Theresa

 

[evines]

Originally posted by ajennings

Would it be appropriate to send out the letters I have and then send a letter to the schools explaining that his letter is unavailable due to extenuating personal circumstances or some crap like that.

I have a feeling most ADCOMs would not look too fondly on a MIA letter, regardless of circumstances. Let's say the ADCOM has 20 applicants with similar stats, and all 20 but YOU turned in all the required letters. In this case, I don't think a "let me explain" addendum is going to cure all.
My suggestion would be to cut your losses and beg/bribe another prof to write you a letter ASAP.

 

[DrBodacious]

Originally posted by evines
I have a feeling most ADCOMs would not look too fondly on a MIA letter, regardless of circumstances. Let's say the ADCOM has 20 applicants with similar stats, and all 20 but YOU turned in all the required letters. In this case, I don't think a "let me explain" addendum is going to cure all.
My suggestion would be to cut your losses and beg/bribe another prof to write you a letter ASAP.

I don't know about this. I think the deciding factor in comparing 20 applications would fall on essays and interview performance. $hit can happen with LORs that has nothing to do with the student. That being said, try asking some other professors for a letter to get it in there sooner because that may make a difference.

I have a problem with my pre-med advisor. I don't have a pre-med committe or letter service. One school I am applying to requires a letter from an advisor if you don't have a committe. My pre-med advisor is the only one who I have talked to but she says she is behind in her letter writing so she might not be able to make the deadline. Note: I just found out about the letter requirements last week when I received my secondary. Should I try to ask some other advisor who doesn't know me at all just so it gets there sooner. My pre-med advisor's letter is going to be pretty generic anyway because I go to a school with probably 200 pre-meds.

P.S. I just called the med-school and they said that they would begin reviewing my app before my pre-med advisor's letter arrives, once they receive all of my other letters. You could give this a shot with your science letter; however, they might think a science letter is more important.

 

[musiclink213]

Originally posted by DrBodacious
I don't know about this. I think the deciding factor in comparing 20 applications would fall on essays and interview performance. $hit can happen with LORs that has nothing to do with the student. That being said, try asking some other professors for a letter to get it in there sooner because that may make a difference.

I have a problem with my pre-med advisor. I don't have a pre-med committe or letter service. One school I am applying to requires a letter from an advisor if you don't have a committe. My pre-med advisor is the only one who I have talked to but she says she is behind in her letter writing so she might not be able to make the deadline. Note: I just found out about the letter requirements last week when I received my secondary. Should I try to ask some other advisor who doesn't know me at all just so it gets there sooner. My pre-med advisor's letter is going to be pretty generic anyway because I go to a school with probably 200 pre-meds.

P.S. I just called the med-school and they said that they would begin reviewing my app before my pre-med advisor's letter arrives, once they receive all of my other letters. You could give this a shot with your science letter; however, they might think a science letter is more important.

do you have a major advisor? if they just want a letter from an advisor, the major one might work. unless you don't need to see major advisors, my school we need to see both, so the major and pre-med advisors can write letters

 

[DrBodacious]

Originally posted by musiclink213
do you have a major advisor? if they just want a letter from an advisor, the major one might work. unless you don't need to see major advisors, my school we need to see both, so the major and pre-med advisors can write letters

Yea, I guess could ask either my honors college advisor or my biology advisor. They are likely to be just as busy but I will ask them to make sure. I got the extention and they will consider my app complete w/o that LOR so since I've already talked to my pre-med advisor I think I'm going to stick w her unless my one of my other advisors (whom I hardly ever see) say they can crank one out really quick. Thanks for the input.

 

[meanderson]

evinas, I would pretty strongly disagree with this assuming the other letters are good. LOR's are just one small part of the application process, much less significant than GPA/MCAT/EC's, and perhaps the interview.

Furthermore, we are talking about one missing letter out of one small part of an application. I would be a different story if the applicant was unable to get any letters(thuis would raise a red flag)

A more important problem is that some schools won't offer you an interview all they have recieved all of you letters. This could suck. One school has already offered me an interview however(my first choice, MCG) and Im pretty sure one letter from a science prof hasn't been sent yet.

 

[evines]

evinas, I would pretty strongly disagree with this assuming the other letters are good

I don't know about this. I think the deciding factor in comparing 20 applications would fall on essays and interview performance

To quote Charles Barkley, "I could be wrong, but I doubt it." Not trying to be mean, but let's look at the whole picture.
It's almost mid November. There is no excuse not to have all the letters sent in by now, unless a school decided not to give a secondary out until recently (but that would be another sign that the applicant is not the cream of the crop, and thus should toe the line for the sake of an acceptance). Also, and more importantly, this application process is a competition. There are many qualified applicants for every spot in every school in the country, so one better not drop the ball, or many others will be there to pick it up.
Sure there are chances he/she could get an interview/acceptance without this letter, but would you or I want to take that chance? Of course not!! A rushed letter that might be somewhat impersonal would be better than no letter at all. I had problems with some of my recommenders, and I am sure many of you did too. But I (and most others) got the problems resolved early because I was prepared, and because . . .

$hit can happen with LORs that has nothing to do with the student.