*~*~*~*Official Letters of Recommendation Questions Thread 2011-2012*~*~*~*

[mauberley]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Would you guys recommend sending the letters to the schools after your AMCAS has been verified or right when you send it in for verification?

Does it really make a difference with regard to when you get your secondaries?

All my letters are in but I am still deciding on which letters to send where so I would like to decide that later.

Another question that's sort of off topic is how does the secondary process work? You submit your AMCAS and it gets verified but how do you get access to the secondaries? Do the schools just email you after you assign them via AMCAS? But to assign schools, don't you need to send letters to the schools?

LOR timing doesn't matter with respect to receiving invitations to complete secondaries. It only matters with respect to completion of your secondaries.

And yes, schools will email you with invitations to complete secondaries. While you designate schools to receive your letters, marking schools to apply to is a separate designation.

 

[lzane1243]

I have two profs who have yet to write recommendations. After several emails, I still have nothing. Since I am out of town for a research project this summer, do you think it would be in poor taste to send a Thank You + a small amazon gift card over email? I want to be complete as early as possible, with my very average stats.

 

[Darkskies]

Hi,
I was wondering how I should input my LOR information into AMCAS. I have my LORs saved on Interfolio. I have a committee letter(that does not have letters submitted by professors) as well as individual LORs. When asked whether a given individual letter from a professor is from a school or not, should I select No? The reason I am confused is because the individual letter was written by a professor, obviously, so would that count as a school? I'm sure it doesn't but when filling out the contact information in creating the letter entry, what should I put for the address? Should I just enter the University's address for all three of them since I don't know their home addresses? Thanks!

 

[mauberley]

Hi,
I was wondering how I should input my LOR information into AMCAS. I have my LORs saved on Interfolio. I have a committee letter(that does not have letters submitted by professors) as well as individual LORs. When asked whether a given individual letter from a professor is from a school or not, should I select No? The reason I am confused is because the individual letter was written by a professor, obviously, so would that count as a school? I'm sure it doesn't but when filling out the contact information in creating the letter entry, what should I put for the address? Should I just enter the University's address for all three of them since I don't know their home addresses? Thanks!

Your professors are writing in their capacity as faculty members of your school, so you should select Yes.

You should also list the contact information as being their mailing addresses at the university. If you contact someone in their respective departments (or even look them up in your university's directory), they ought to be able to tell you what the mailing addresses are.

 

[mauberley]

I have two profs who have yet to write recommendations. After several emails, I still have nothing. Since I am out of town for a research project this summer, do you think it would be in poor taste to send a Thank You + a small amazon gift card over email? I want to be complete as early as possible, with my very average stats.

I feel like this has a slim chance of working, if any. Your best bet would be to have someone follow up with your professors in person.

 

[pfaction]

Hey, mauberely...I have a small update.

So it turns out my school takes all the professors letters and makes them into one giant overall letter....one page.

I have 5 professor's LORs, including hopefully an MD/PhD. I am going to be contributing to her paper. And her LOR is just going to get s---'ed and combined into maybe half a paragraph on the ONE SHEET GENERAL LOR. What the F? So now what do I do? I'll literally have only 3 LOR: 1 from the MD I'll be shadowing, 1 from my job (pharmacy), and the general....(5 in 1)

I'll have to re-read this thread from where I last posted and see what the F is up.

And I dunno if I spoke to you...but I may get published from that MD/PhD! As a pharm student she gave me a decently sized chunk of an experiment to contribute to 🙂

 

[mauberley]

Hey, mauberely...I have a small update.

So it turns out my school takes all the professors letters and makes them into one giant overall letter....one page.

I have 5 professor's LORs, including hopefully an MD/PhD. I am going to be contributing to her paper. And her LOR is just going to get s---'ed and combined into maybe half a paragraph on the ONE SHEET GENERAL LOR. What the F? So now what do I do? I'll literally have only 3 LOR: 1 from the MD I'll be shadowing, 1 from my job (pharmacy), and the general....(5 in 1)

I'll have to re-read this thread from where I last posted and see what the F is up.

And I dunno if I spoke to you...but I may get published from that MD/PhD! As a pharm student she gave me a decently sized chunk of an experiment to contribute to 🙂

😎 Congrats!

Kinda sucks about the composite letter, but what can you do. It's my understanding that most med schools prefer committee/composite letters and it looks sketchy if your university has such a thing but you don't use it. Try not to sweat it too much.

 

[lzane1243]

I feel like this has a slim chance of working, if any. Your best bet would be to have someone follow up with your professors in person.

Thanks for your reply! Would a phone call be acceptable? I'm 800 miles away from school at the moment...

 

[HINKLO]

I do not have a premedical advisory committee packet letter from my undergrad. My reasoning is that I had no intention of going pre-med until my third year of undergrad, and when I went to the committee at that point, I was more or less shot down. For schools that say they require packet letters or a written response as to why I don't have one, is my late foray into pre-med and the negative reception an acceptable reason as to why I don't have a packet?

Also, would it be acceptable to upload a written response (by me) onto the letter service to send to schools via the primary to fulfill their "excuse?" Or should that be sent by an alternate route directly to their admissions office?

Edit: Lastly, I listed an institutional action, where I won an appeal to get the charge reduced. I have a letter from the person who worked with me in the conduct office--would it be prudent to upload that letter to AMCAS and send it out to schools?

 

[Cinclus]

I may have a bizarre professor LOR in my collection of eight. I haven't seen the letter, but I've been told by some people who have seen this prof's LORs that they're really, really weird (the same may be said of the writer). I know this prof very well, I have known him for years, and I have taken multiple classes with him. I don't believe he would write anything bad about me, as he thinks extremely highly of me, both academically and as a person, and he actually offered to write me the letter (I didn't ask for one, but would've felt bad saying no after the offer). Whatever may be written may be written very strangely, however -- and I don't mean grammatically; the grammar's probably perfect.

So the question is, should I be concerned about a possibly really weird letter that I doubt actually says anything negative about me? Could its weirdness reflect negatively on me? I'm getting paranoid about it. My pre-health office hasn't submitted my letters to VirtualEvals yet, but the letter is already in my file, and I don't know if I can request to have it removed. Am I freaking out too much? lol I'm not worried about any of the other letters; I know for a fact that they're all VERY strong and not weird.

 

[mauberley]

Thanks for your reply! Would a phone call be acceptable? I'm 800 miles away from school at the moment...

Certainly it's acceptable, but whether it will be effective...well, the only way to find out is to do it. 🙂

I do not have a premedical advisory committee packet letter from my undergrad. My reasoning is that I had no intention of going pre-med until my third year of undergrad, and when I went to the committee at that point, I was more or less shot down. For schools that say they require packet letters or a written response as to why I don't have one, is my late foray into pre-med and the negative reception an acceptable reason as to why I don't have a packet?

I would say it is, but I do not have experience with this, so take my opinion for what it is.

Also, would it be acceptable to upload a written response (by me) onto the letter service to send to schools via the primary to fulfill their "excuse?" Or should that be sent by an alternate route directly to their admissions office?

The one time I had to send a written justification for not providing the letters required of the school, I sent it attached to my secondary application (they didn't do things electronically). Contact the school(s) in question to see how you should handle it. My guess is that whatever they tell you, it probably won't involve using a LOE entry in AMCAS.

I may have a bizarre professor LOR in my collection of eight. I haven't seen the letter, but I've been told by some people who have seen this prof's LORs that they're really, really weird (the same may be said of the writer). I know this prof very well, I have known him for years, and I have taken multiple classes with him. I don't believe he would write anything bad about me, as he thinks extremely highly of me, both academically and as a person, and he actually offered to write me the letter (I didn't ask for one, but would've felt bad saying no after the offer). Whatever may be written may be written very strangely, however -- and I don't mean grammatically; the grammar's probably perfect.

So the question is, should I be concerned about a possibly really weird letter that I doubt actually says anything negative about me? Could its weirdness reflect negatively on me? I'm getting paranoid about it. My pre-health office hasn't submitted my letters to VirtualEvals yet, but the letter is already in my file, and I don't know if I can request to have it removed. Am I freaking out too much? lol

Yes. 🙂

 

[libraryismyhome]

I know a dean in my school's COM. I took one graduate course taught by him last year, and he suggested that I should be getting a LOR from him. So I asked him in April, and he was talking to me for 20 minutes about how much hes going to embellish it, so that it would look great. So I sent him my resume and personal statement.

During early May, since he was not responding to my emails, I personally visited him. He was talking to me again for another 20 mintues about how muc hes going to write me a good one. I sent him every material he requested including personal statement, resume, grades I made, and the list of schools I plan to apply. Since he told me to visit him 2 weeks later, I so I did and it was late May, but he was absent from office.

Then I found him next day, and he was telling me that hes going to conference. But I stopped him and scheduled an appointment. But then he wasn't there at his office, so I waited for 30 minutes. He seemed pretty pissed up, and we talked for about 20 minutes about my recommendation.

After realizing that I pissed him up, I decided to not to bother him. During early June, I saw him at the gym, and he immediately told me that hes working on my LOR. But I am not sure whether hes just saying that to not to talk to me or he is really working on it. Regardless, I sent him my completed personal statement and the interfolio email, so he could submit it electronically.

So, I don't know what to do with this guy. If hes writing me one, with my PI's, I would have some advantage at my school's COM. But I cannot face the consequence of delaying my app. Do you think hes going to write one for me?

And I need your help on choosing the best candidate instead of him.

Other candidates are:

(1) chem prof whom I never took a course with, but he knows me well through church

(2) another faculty at my PI's lab, who did most experiments with me

(3) orgo prof whom I took orgo back in 2007, and he would barely remember me.

 

[Cinclus]

So, I don't know what to do with this guy. If hes writing me one, with my PI's, I would have some advantage at my school's COM. But I cannot face the consequence of delaying my app. Do you think hes going to write one for me?

And I need your help on choosing the best candidate instead of him.

Other candidates are:

(1) chem prof whom I never took a course with, but he knows me well through church

(2) another faculty at my PI's lab, who did most experiments with me

(3) orgo prof whom I took orgo back in 2007, and he would barely remember me.

It's possible that he'll still write it. I had a few profs who kept me waiting a while, but they eventually came through. If you want an alternative, I'd suggest the faculty member with whom you performed your experiments.

 

[ycf06]

I have 5 letters:
2 from professors that taught my field research course where i spent a semester on a tropical island.
2 from upper division bioengineering professors
1 from humanities instructor
1 from my PI

(i decided to not get a letter from the doctor that I am currently shadowing because I've only been doing it for 1 month and I heard that letters from doctors don't add much to your application)

will it be an issue that I only have letters from professors? they come from a wide range of disciplines and my letters from my semester abroad should speak to my capabilities outside of academia (cultural interactions, teamwork, ect).

Also, I have two letters from the same course (the field research course) One is from a prof that went in to the field with me and did hands on work with me, another is from the director professor of the course who I also worked with to developed my project there. Will it be looked down upon to use both letters because they are from the same class, even though they should be different letters?

thanks

 

[Smiths11]

I have a question about getting a committee letter vs. not doing so. I know the general consensus is that if you have a committee, you should use it.

But my committee charges us $300 just to open a file to send out a letter, and then $50 per school that you sent your letters too (committee letter + LOR's). That means that if I apply to 15 schools, I will have to pay 50*15 + 300 = $1,050 to send out my letters! I already have 5 letters of recommendation. Is it still worth it to spend $1,050 on a committee letter? Will it look horrible if I don't use it, especially since I have 5 individual letters anyway (2 science, 2 non-science, 1 doctor). Or should I just cough up the money to do so? P.S. I am a post-bac student if that makes any difference.

Thanks

 

[Smiths11]

I have a question about getting a committee letter vs. not doing so. I know the general consensus is that if you have a committee, you should use it.

But my committee charges us $300 just to open a file to send out a letter, and then $50 per school that you sent your letters to (committee letter + LOR's). That means that if I apply to 15 schools, I will have to pay 50*15 + 300 = $1,050 to send out my letters! Is it still worth it to spend $1,050 on a committee letter? Will it look horrible if I don't use it, especially since I have 5 individual letters anyway (2 science, 2 non-science, 1 doctor). Or should I just cough up the money to do so? P.S. I am a post-bac student if that makes any difference.

Thanks

 

[Smiths11]

I have a question about getting a committee letter vs. not doing so. I know the general consensus is that if you have a committee, you should use it.

But my committee charges us $300 just to open a file to send out a letter, and then $50 per school that you sent your letters to (committee letter + LOR's). That means that if I apply to 15 schools, I will have to pay 50*15 + 300 = $1,050 to send out my letters! Is it still worth it to spend $1,050 on a committee letter? Will it look horrible if I don't use it, especially since I have 5 individual letters anyway (2 science, 2 non-science, 1 doctor). Or should I just cough up the money to do so? P.S. I am a post-bac student if that makes any difference.

Thanks

Bump.

 

[mauberley]

I have a question about getting a committee letter vs. not doing so. I know the general consensus is that if you have a committee, you should use it.

But my committee charges us $300 just to open a file to send out a letter, and then $50 per school that you sent your letters to (committee letter + LOR's). That means that if I apply to 15 schools, I will have to pay 50*15 + 300 = $1,050 to send out my letters! Is it still worth it to spend $1,050 on a committee letter? Will it look horrible if I don't use it, especially since I have 5 individual letters anyway (2 science, 2 non-science, 1 doctor). Or should I just cough up the money to do so? P.S. I am a post-bac student if that makes any difference.

Thanks

I would think that sending your committee letter to AMCAS would incur only $50. Check with your school, but I presume that's a delivery charge only.

I can't comment on how adcoms would interpret a choice of individual letters versus a committee letter in your situation.

 

[Smiths11]

I would think that sending your committee letter to AMCAS would incur only $50. Check with your school, but I presume that's a delivery charge only.

I can't comment on how adcoms would interpret a choice of individual letters versus a committee letter in your situation.

Thanks for your response.

Yes, that would make sense, but my school refuses to do that. If we want a committee letter, then we have to pay $50 per school that the committee letter will go to (plus the $300 fee to open the file).

I know some people have said that if we have the option for a committee letter, we should definitely use it. But really what the committee letter is, is a compilation of all the other letters, and comments about my transcript, so they aren't really adding any new information. So essentially, I am paying $1,000 for them to summarize my information into a single letter and say some positive things about me.

 

[mauberley]

Thanks for your response.

Yes, that would make sense, but my school refuses to do that. If we want a committee letter, then we have to pay $50 per school that the committee letter will go to (plus the $300 fee to open the file).

I know some people have said that if we have the option for a committee letter, we should definitely use it. But really what the committee letter is, is a compilation of all the other letters, and comments about my transcript, so they aren't really adding any new information. So essentially, I am paying $1,000 for them to summarize my information into a single letter and say some positive things about me.

In that case, I'd say "nuts to that."

 

[hello0]

I am probably being neurotic and worrying about things I can't control, but I'm a little worried about one of my science letter writers...I had him for 2 semesters, got A's in both, went to office hours, etc...However, during the first semester I had an hour long convo with him about the possibility of me converting over to the PhD route instead of MD and he was all excited (obviously since he's a PhD chem prof and seemed to not like pre-meds)...this was during a period of vascillation for me as an undergrad but now my heart is set on MD and I'm getting a letter from him...I don't think he'd write anything bad, but I dunno...he seemed receptive when I asked him to write one for med school, and I heard he turned down other students, so is it generally assumed that profs will say no if they can't write you a favorable letter?

 

[Smiths11]

In that case, I'd say "nuts to that."

Haha, I'm seriously thinking about that. What does everyone else think? Is it worth spending $1,000 just to get a committee letter?

 

[Smiths11]

Haha, I'm seriously thinking about that. What does everyone else think? Is it worth spending $1,000 just to get a committee letter?

Bump 🙂

 

[sector9]

Haha, I'm seriously thinking about that. What does everyone else think? Is it worth spending $1,000 just to get a committee letter?

There are a lot more opinions in this thread
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=802747
Unfortunately, I think you do need to get the committee letter for most schools or have a dang good reason not to

 

[HopefulOncoDoc]

Hey guys,

So I'm anticipating 6 LORs; 2 science, 1 non-science, 1 clinical, 1 research and community service. However, I'm a bit worried as to whether or not I'll receive the non-science LOR. My non-science professor hasn't been very responsive although he did agree to write me a LOR. I gave him everything; stamped addressed envelope and I even typed out the LOR for him per his request. At this point, I just want to make sure I have a backup plan and in the event that he doesn't send it, am I practically screwed from applying this cycle because I don't have a non-science LOR? Thanks a lot everyone.

 

[HINKLO]

As long as you have a VERY GOOD reason to not have a committee letter, it doesn't seem to make a large difference. Having talking with many, many admissions offices about this, even if it is listed as required, almost all of them are understanding about extenuating circumstances.

That said, if you have the opportunity, get the committee letter, but if you're going to go broke doing it then I would highly reconsider. Send a quick email to the admissions committee concisely explaining your dilemma and see what they say.

Having vs. not having a committee letter is unlikely to be the decisive factor in whether or not you have a successful application cycle.

Edit: HopefulOncoDoc -- not having a non-science prof could certainly hurt you at some schools. First and foremost you should try getting that letter. OP suggested dropping off a gift card or a thank you note (or both) to sway them...perhaps make them feel a touch guilty. In the event you still can't get it, look up the letter requirements of the schools you're applying to and talk to the admissions offices of those schools and ask if that will be an auto-disqual for your app.

 

[deleted404486]

Hi

I had a question. What if you can not get a hold of a letter of rec from a science professor. I am gone be able to get one from work, research, non-science, and clinical/volunteer. However I never took time to get to know a science professor because I was too busy at work. I worked average of 20-25 hrs a week while doing school + research + volunteer. If I have already graduated what is the best way to obtain a letter of rec from a science professor now?

 

[549]

I submitted AMCAS before my LOR had come in, but I had still created an entry for an LOR, which I attached to each of my schools. When my letter came in just now, I accidentally added it on AMCAS as a new letter, instead of matching it to the existing one. Now I'm having to individually attach the new entry to each of my 17 schools, and I have to resubmit each time, clicking all those boxes, entering my password, etc.

Is there a more efficient way to do this??

 

[sexycani]

i've already assigned 5 letters to my schools and might want to add a 6th...but the 6th might not be sent out until july....so does that mean that the schools wont consider my app "complete" and won't review me until they have my 6th letter which i assign?

 

[flatearth22]

some schools review even if letters aren't submitted. others don't.

btw 6 is overkill...anything beyond 4 is pushing it IMO

 

[raltima07]

Do all six add something differently?

 

[NickNaylor]

Agreed... what could a sixth letter possibly add that the other five didn't cover?

 

[libraryismyhome]

Agreed... what could a sixth letter possibly add that the other five didn't cover?

What about the circumstance when one cannot get a strong LOR from a non-science faculty for not taking non-science courses with small number of students and not being able to interact much with faculty, so one had to get another LOR from a non-science "instructor" in order to substantiate one's non-science LOR?

 

[Sammich117]

i've already assigned 5 letters to my schools and might want to add a 6th...but the 6th might not be sent out until july....so does that mean that the schools wont consider my app "complete" and won't review me until they have my 6th letter which i assign?

some schools review even if letters aren't submitted. others don't.

btw 6 is overkill...anything beyond 4 is pushing it IMO

Do all six add something differently?

Agreed... what could a sixth letter possibly add that the other five didn't cover?

What about the circumstance when one cannot get a strong LOR from a non-science faculty for not taking non-science courses with small number of students and not being able to interact much with faculty, so one had to get another LOR from a non-science "instructor" in order to substantiate one's non-science LOR?

Merging with LOR questions thread

 

[Sammich117]

I submitted AMCAS before my LOR had come in, but I had still created an entry for an LOR, which I attached to each of my schools. When my letter came in just now, I accidentally added it on AMCAS as a new letter, instead of matching it to the existing one. Now I'm having to individually attach the new entry to each of my 17 schools, and I have to resubmit each time, clicking all those boxes, entering my password, etc.

Is there a more efficient way to do this??

Merging with LOR Question thread

 

[paelie]

I figured out yesterday that this is possible, but only if the letter writer already submitted the letter. It sounds like they did not yet submit the letter, so I'm not sure.

After they receive the letter, it's possible to delete the letter entry and then re-match the already-received letter to a newly edited entry. This retains the letter code.

Thanks, Schizotypy. I emailed AMCAS and they confirmed that it was not possible to edit the entry w/o deleting it and redoing it (thereby changing the Letter ID). I read the part in the manual where they talk about matching "other letter received", but this seems to apply only when the nos. don't match, whereas mine will. For the part where you wrote "After they receive the letter...", does this apply only if the entire application hasn't been submitted yet? Where did you get the info. that it was possible to delete the letter entry and re-match the received letter?

 

[Darkskies]

Hi,
I have a recommendation letter from a physician that is signed but with no official letterhead. It has the physician's phone number, address, and the name of the Hospital. The rest of the LORs from the Health Committee and professors have both the letterhead and the signature. My question is are there any US MD schools that require or even look at a physician letter of recommendation?

For Osteopathic schools, will the fact that the physician LOR does not have a letterhead be a problem? I appreciate all replies greatly! Thanks!

 

[Ost3oclast]

Hey guys,

I need some advice about this reference letter I am having a hard time getting. I have 3 letters already done. (science prof, MD, and work supervisor). However, this last letter from my advisor (also non-science professor) I haven't received yet.

I've known the guy for almost 5 years. We have a really good student/teacher relationship. He has been my advisor since the beginning and is also the head of my department (movement science). I asked him back in April if he would write me a letter and he said it would be "no problem at all." I have no reason to believe his letter would be negative in the least. However, he still hasn't written it and sent it to Interfolio.

I have reminded him nicely through email twice. Both times with no reply (maybe because it is summer?). He is a pretty forgetful guy but I know for a fact he has seen the emails (I got read receipts for the emails I sent). Now I don't apply until next cycle but I still would like to have the letters ASAP because I graduate in December.

I guess my question would be.....what do I do next? Remind him again through email? Call? Wait until the beginning of the fall semester? I really don't want to seem pushy but at the same time, I don't want him to completely forget about my request..........

 

[flatearth22]

Hey guys,

I need some advice about this reference letter I am having a hard time getting. I have 3 letters already done. (science prof, MD, and work supervisor). However, this last letter from my advisor (also non-science professor) I haven't received yet.

I've known the guy for almost 5 years. We have a really good student/teacher relationship. He has been my advisor since the beginning and is also the head of my department (movement science). I asked him back in April if he would write me a letter and he said it would be "no problem at all." I have no reason to believe his letter would be negative in the least. However, he still hasn't written it and sent it to Interfolio.

I have reminded him nicely through email twice. Both times with no reply (maybe because it is summer?). He is a pretty forgetful guy but I know for a fact he has seen the emails (I got read receipts for the emails I sent). Now I don't apply until next cycle but I still would like to have the letters ASAP because I graduate in December.

I guess my question would be.....what do I do next? Remind him again through email? Call? Wait until the beginning of the fall semester? I really don't want to seem pushy but at the same time, I don't want him to completely forget about my request..........

Ask him in the fall when classes resume? You wouldn't want to keep on pestering him in the summer such that he would write a not-so-stellar letter.

Plus you won't even need this letter for at least 14 months!

 

[Astarael]

Wow. If you're not applying this cycle, you need to chill out. Remind him once every other month. You'll get it eventually.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Leave him alone for a little while and send him an email about four months before you need the letter. Ask if he can still write the letter, and see if he wants to set up a meeting. Offer your PS, resume, list of EC's, etc. I think the problem is that you've given him too much time. Profs have a lot else on their minds, and if he knows you really don't need it for another year, he probably feels no need to start it anytime soon.

If you want it earlier than that, I would send him an email saying specifically when you want it and why you want it early.

 

[Narmerguy]

Honestly? Ask someone else. That doesn't mean don't accept his letter if he ends up writing it, but constantly reminding him means you never know if the letter will be rushed, not as great as it could be, or any host of things. Make sure you have a backup, so just get another professor to write you as well and you can decide which one to send.

I would probably wait until the end of summer, right before the fall to remind him though. When you remind him, gently slip in that this request dates back to April.

 

[kg062007]

Here is the situation. I took English 101 & 102 in 2006 my first year of college. I got to know the teacher really well, got A's in both classes. I emailed her recently and she said she still remembers me. So How do I go about asking for an LOR? Wouldn't it seem shady after 5 years to contact her for an LOR? What are somethings I should specifically put in the E-mail???

 

[raltima07]

Honestly? Ask someone else. That doesn't mean don't accept his letter if he ends up writing it, but constantly reminding him means you never know if the letter will be rushed, not as great as it could be, or any host of things. Make sure you have a backup, so just get another professor to write you as well and you can decide which one to send.

I would probably wait until the end of summer, right before the fall to remind him though. When you remind him, gently slip in that this request dates back to April.

Yea, I would be ready to switch to someone else for peace of mind. I have asked a teacher 1.5 years ago, and still no letter. Alas....what can you do?

 

[raltima07]

Ask to meet her in person - then pop the question

 

[kg062007]

I can't meet her in person, She is a professor somewhere else now.

 

[flatearth22]

I can't meet her in person, She is a professor somewhere else now.

Skype

 

[WhizoMD]

A couple questions:
will my letter entries be marked as received as soon as my school uploads them? Or will it take a little while like it does with transcripts?

Also, when I change designations and resubmit my application, is it verified (processed) instantly?

thanks 🙂

 

[kg062007]

Bump; please help me out here people

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Bump; please help me out here people

Easy there, Skip, no need to bump after your thread doesn't get a reply for 35 minutes!

I can see you're worried, though, so here's my take. How recently did you email her? A few months ago? If she remembered you a few months ago, she's not likely to have forgotten you since then if you had her as a professor five years ago. I would send her an email saying that you're glad you've stayed in touch, and you were wondering if she thought she might be able to write you a strong letter of recommendation. Offer to send her your resume, PS, and activities since you were in her class. Say that you'll understand if she thinks it's just been too long for her to be a good reference, but that you'd appreciate her time if she is able to write one.