Opinion on chasing down professor?

[PlatypusMD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I've been trying to meet up with a professor I had last year to get a letter of recommendation, but he has been non-responsive to my emails and phone call over the past 3 weeks. I'm getting worried since I was hoping to have all my LoRs submitted in the next two weeks. I know he has been busy, but to be totally quiet for 3 weeks is a bit frustrating. Is this a reasonable, well-worded email to send?


Hi _____,

I've been trying to get in contact with you for some time now by email and phone, but haven't had any luck reaching you. I'm still wondering if you'll be able to write me a strong letter of recommendation for medical school. If not, please tell me so that I know to look elsewhere in a timely manner.

Thank you,
My name here

 

[NickNaylor]

Sounds a bit pissy to be honest. If you sent that to me, I wouldn't be too enthused about writing you a letter.

 

[PlatypusMD]

I was worried about that. How do I phrase a sense of urgency and needing a response without sounding a bit pissy haha? To be honest, I really wanted this professor's letter of recommendation too. I did really well in his class, went to office hours, and made a good impression. He was the one that brought up the idea of writing me a letter last year, yet now I can't seem to get his attention. I'm confused ?_?

 

[NickNaylor]

The only thing I can recommend is to try and meet with him face to face. Go to the department's office if you have to and see if you can leave a message for him or find out what his office hours are. I think at this point that's your best chance at getting a positive response.

 

[PlatypusMD]

Thanks for the advice 🙂 He doesn't actually teach over the summer, so I thought it'd be a bit awkward to just drop by his lab. In any case, I'll probably try calling one more time today before sending a better-worded email.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Did he already agree to write you a letter of rec when you had him as a professor? I couldn't tell from your first post. If he never agreed to it, I'd stop bothering him because clearly he either doesn't want to or doesn't have the time. If he has agreed to it, I don't think it would be awkward to drop by his lab and ask about it. Just be friendly and courteous. He probably has a lot of other things on his mind and hasn't yet gotten around to writing you back.

 

[RookTookIt]

Are you sure he's even around? Maybe vacationing for part of the summer?

If he is around and did previously agree to do it, I would chase him down for sure. Hopefully after you are able to talk with him everything will be clear. If he seems really lukewarm about it (or annoyed) then I wouldn't end up using the letter. But who knows? Maybe he'll be super apologetic and eager to still write it. It's worth a shot. And, personally, I would go to his lab. It doesn't have to be awkward. If you're both around sometimes these things can be done more easily face to face.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Did he already agree to write you a letter of rec when you had him as a professor? I couldn't tell from your first post. If he never agreed to it, I'd stop bothering him because clearly he either doesn't want to or doesn't have the time.

I agree with this. If you'd talked to him about it before thats one thing.

However, if he has never actually told you "yes I will write you a letter" I think he is passive aggressively blowing you off. I would find a new letter writer.