Professor Not Responding to Emails

[TurkDorian]

Hey guys,

I had a quick question. I asked one of my professors for a reference letter before the end of this previous school year and they said yes. All of our communication was in person and I didn't really send any emails. I emailed this professor reminding them that the letter would be do soon but I haven't gotten a response. I went to their office but no one was there.

Does any know what I should do?

I had a backup LoR writer but they left the country for the summer and won't be able to submit their letter, so this professor who I'm trying to contact is my only hope for a complete set of letters.

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[doctorgirldaisy]

Call them!

 

[lmn]

Unfortunately you committed the big mistake of not really keeping on top of your letter writer and waiting until the last minute, at this point try to do whatever you can to get in contact with them and get that letter or else begin a scramble to get a letter from someone as a replacement.

 

[Donald Kimball]

Hey guys,

I had a quick question. I asked one of my professors for a reference letter before the end of this previous school year and they said yes. All of our communication was in person and I didn't really send any emails. I emailed this professor reminding them that the letter would be do soon but I haven't gotten a response. I went to their office but no one was there.

Does any know what I should do?

I had a backup LoR writer but they left the country for the summer and won't be able to submit their letter, so this professor who I'm trying to contact is my only hope for a complete set of letters.

Professors get an enormous amount of emails every day, and I've had this problem happen to me.

Try to get in touch with other professors in the building/lab who work with or know your target professor. Something like "I'm trying to get in touch with Dr. X, would you mind letting him know?"

Ask other professors and/or the department administration for his office hours and class hours. Try to catch him.

Camp out by his office.

 

[WillburCobb]

I had the exact same issue with a letter writer. I just had to keep making numerous trips to his office to try and catch him. Every e-mail I sent he just deleted.

 

[Kochanie]

Whenever a professor ignores me, I show up at their office.

 

[Aerus]

I had the exact same issue with a letter writer. I just had to keep making numerous trips to his office to try and catch him. Every e-mail I sent he just deleted.

Ignoring or looking over an email is one thing but DELETING? If the professor put in that much effort in a single email, are you sure that's a letter you want?

 

[WillburCobb]

Ignoring or looking over an email is one thing but DELETING? If the professor put in that much effort in a single email, are you sure that's a letter you want?

It was my strongest letter actually, and he's a really nice guy. He just expects people to ask for LORs in person which is why he ignores those e-mails. He'd forgotten about my letter, and me asking in person, and thought the e-mails I had sent him were simply me just asking for a LOR, not reminding him. When I finally caught-up with him and he figured out the situation he got really red and apologized profusely. After that, he sent me a draft of the letter to read within a few hours.

 

[jm192]

I'd just keep going to the office until I caught him.

If school is out, and he doesn't have summer obligations--maybe he's on vacation or something. See if someone in the dept has an idea of what the situation is and/or how to get in touch with him.

Also, start thinking about another letter writer.

 

[Mornhavon]

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[MaybeDr]

What I always do if I can't figure when their going to be in their office is A. show up at the end of one of their classes or B. Google what grad students their involved with and go to their lab or their section and ask them when their usually around.

 

[Gauss44]

I know you said you went to his office once. I would keep trying and keep going until I caught him in person, and maybe leave a voice message too. Nothing wrong with being persistent, especially if you are also pleasant and concise.

 

[TurkDorian]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll keep going to their office!

The idea of contacting grad students is pretty smart too! I might try that