LOR professor- unanswered email

[vanillabear55]

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so, I live in the northeast and stupidly emailed a professor the day of Hurricane Irene about an LOR, about 2 weeks ago.

I haven't heard back from him since, but we had a class of only 7 people, so he knows me well and I got an A.

I'm hoping that he was busy with hurricane stuff and got distracted..is it inappropriate to email him again? I don't wanna come off as pestering him, especially if he doesn't want to write me a letter.....

whats the best follow up email to send?

 

[TropicalKitty]

Depending on what the text of your previous note was, I would go with something like "Hi Dr. X, I just wanted to check in and see if you had any questions on the submission process" Or something along those lines. Or just flat out say that you were trying to reach him again since you had tried over the hurricane time and figure he had been busy dealing with the insanity.

PS - This is me assuming that you didn't ask for the LOR 2 weeks ago, that you were checking in. If you just asked for the LOR, give him a little time before emailing again.

 

[brandonh4]

I was in your same situation 3 weeks ago. I'd sent the professor numerous update letters and a request for an appointment, he didn't respond to any... I eventually went and crashed a summer class he was teaching. He was receptive and just said that he might've missed the emails.

Short: visit the prof if you can.

 

[vanillabear55]

I was in your same situation 3 weeks ago. I'd sent the professor numerous update letters and a request for an appointment, he didn't respond to any... I eventually went and crashed a summer class he was teaching. He was receptive and just said that he might've missed the emails.

Short: visit the prof if you can.

I was thinking about doing this haha, I'm prob going to shoot him one more email- if I don't get a response I'll try to find out where he is around campus this semester

thanks.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Since we are talking about LOR's, when is he best time to ask for one? Couple months after the class ends? Or couple months before AMCAS opens? Sorry if this is a question already answered at least I didn't start a thread. 😀

 

[gettheleadout]

Since we are talking about LOR's, when is he best time to ask for one? Couple months after the class ends? Or couple months before AMCAS opens? Sorry if this is a question already answered at least I didn't start a thread. 😀

It stands to reason that a letter written with the freshest memories of your performance/interaction in the course would be the best. This is assuming you only know the professor from taking the course and haven't had long-standing ties to him/her.

 

[music2doc]

It stands to reason that a letter written with the freshest memories of your performance/interaction in the course would be the best. This is assuming you only know the professor from taking the course and haven't had long-standing ties to him/her.

This.


However, if you want the best letter possible, you should develop long-standing relationships with 2 science professors and a non-science one. (Research, tutoring, teaching labs, TA'ing, other dept involvement, etc. all come to mind.) If all your letter says is "Vanilla was a nice person and the top student in my molecular biology class" your letter will pale in comparison to the one from that professor that says "I have observed Music's ability to teach and lead through his work under my supervision. His ability to explain concepts to students with weak science backgrounds is outstanding and his command of biology and chemistry is superior. Further, his achievement as the top molecular biology student last spring only confirms what I already knew about his intellectual abilities. Finally, I have observed his work as a leader among leaders at our University as he resurrected XYZ program and has become the de facto resource person for the faculty and staff in this area...."

You see the difference? One is a nice platitude about the applicant being "nice" along with a positive statement that the adcom already knew (i.e., that you did well and got an "A" in the class). The other gives concrete examples and speaks to the person's character. (The latter is a paraphrase of one of my LORs.) You don't want the former. It's sort of, well, useless to the adcom.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Ok, I got ya. The thing is I knew this professor for only 6 weeks since it was a summer class. It's my Gen Chem II class. I did really well and Me and my professor have a great rapport. She is also my race. I'm usually the person that she always calls on to explain a concept on the board when she doesn't feel like redoing a problem too.

 

[music2doc]

Ok, I got ya. The thing is I knew this professor for only 6 weeks since it was a summer class. It's my Gen Chem II class. I did really well and Me and my professor have a great rapport. She is also my race. I'm usually the person that she always calls on to explain a concept on the board when she doesn't feel like redoing a problem too.

So find a way to continue working w/ her. (And the fact that she is the same race is irrelevant. Sure, it might have helped you build some rapport but still...kinda irrelevant.)

 

[gettheleadout]

Ok, I got ya. The thing is I knew this professor for only 6 weeks since it was a summer class. It's my Gen Chem II class. I did really well and Me and my professor have a great rapport. She is also my race. I'm usually the person that she always calls on to explain a concept on the board when she doesn't feel like redoing a problem too.

Is there a reason you consider this significant?

 

[ShockDoctrine]

At my school tons of important emails go straight to the spam box. Email him again without being too forceful and just politely ask if he got it or not.

What's the worst that could happen? If he says no, he says no. If he gets mad then you probably didn't want a recommendation anyways!

 

[Morsetlis]

Is there a reason you consider this significant?

I guess people are typically nicer to people of their own race?

 

[Stumpyman]

Is there a reason you consider this significant?

Both of them are part Caucasian/Indian/Chinese/Phillipino/African/Russian/Native American/Bigfoot?

 

[centrigeugle]

Are you asking him to write it in the first place? Good god, man, go into the office and talk face-to-face.

 

[vanillabear55]

Are you asking him to write it in the first place? Good god, man, go into the office and talk face-to-face.

No, I asked him over the summer- don't live on campus.

He's also an adjunct I believe, dont think he has a permanent office.

 

[kpcrew]

Like that other guy said, just check in with him. Send a reminder since professors are busy people and it's very easy to read a message, plan to reply later and then forget to do it.

 

[vanillabear55]

no answer to second email....I'm feeling it was intentional at this point...kind of don't even want the letter anymore...

 

[Sesom]

I would send him another email. Sometimes people intend to reply to someone and forget. Emails get forgotten in the archives all of the time.

 

[vanillabear55]

I would send him another email. Sometimes people intend to reply to someone and forget. Emails get forgotten in the archives all of the time.

I don't know, I sent him one ~3 weeks ago originally, and again 2 days ago. I feel like if I send a third, its me not taking an obvious hint.

 

[CodeBlu]

no answer to second email....I'm feeling it was intentional at this point...kind of don't even want the letter anymore...

Find another letter 🙂

 

[EsseQuamVideri]

Find another letter 🙂

Sometimes, necessary. I emailed a research prof that I worked with for 2 years multiple times and got no response. This was shortly after I graduated and left the country, but still...