Reference letter writer not responding ...

[abcdior]

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So I asked one of my former prof (took a class with him, done a research project, he wrote me a letter before already) for a LOR via email at end of July.

That day he replied "XXX, I would be happy to do this for you, send me the details and let me know the deadline. XXX"

After a month past since I sent him the Interfolio request, the letter was not submitted so I email him to follow up: no response

I emailed him again yesterday and still, no response

why is this happening?

should I go down there in person and request the letter or would that agitate him and result in a negative LOR?

I really am not sure what to do at this point 😡

 

[NeuroLAX]

Did you end up giving him a deadline? Do what you gotta do, just be respectful and diplomatic about it.

 

[abcdior]

yes I gave him a date intially, after the date past I emailed him. But he did not reply...

 

[NeuroLAX]

Then you need to go talk with him. Today if you still can.

 

[MedPR]

So I asked one of my former prof (took a class with him, done a research project, he wrote me a letter before already) for a LOR via email at end of July.

That day he replied "XXX, I would be happy to do this for you, send me the details and let me know the deadline. XXX"

After a month past since I sent him the Interfolio request, the letter was not submitted so I email him to follow up: no response

I emailed him again yesterday and still, no response

why is this happening?

should I go down there in person and request the letter or would that agitate him and result in a negative LOR?

I really am not sure what to do at this point 😡

It's happening because school is in session and he has more important things to so than write you a lor.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[Mattinthehat250]

So I asked one of my former prof (took a class with him, done a research project, he wrote me a letter before already) for a LOR via email at end of July.

That day he replied "XXX, I would be happy to do this for you, send me the details and let me know the deadline. XXX"

After a month past since I sent him the Interfolio request, the letter was not submitted so I email him to follow up: no response

I emailed him again yesterday and still, no response

why is this happening?

should I go down there in person and request the letter or would that agitate him and result in a negative LOR?

I really am not sure what to do at this point 😡

I had literally almost the exact same situation with my professor. I definitely think this has more to do with the professor being busy with other things than anything else. Definitely go talk in person if possible.

 

[michow87]

yes I gave him a date intially, after the date past I emailed him. But he did not reply...

Same thin has happened to me. More likely than not, your professor has a lot of work he needs to do and has put your letter on the back burner. What I did was I went to his office hours (even after I was out of school) and mentioned the letter. He said that he'd been busy, but he was glad that I was proactive in going to meet with him. One week later, I had a new letter in my letter file!

Be proactive and respectful

 

[Barley426]

This happened to me, I took it as a sign that writing me the letter wasn't that high on his priority list, which may have meant he wouldn't make it that memorable of a LOR.

I had enough letters already, from faculty that put me at the top of the priority pile, so I figured I would just delete him from AMCAS (prior to submitting) and consider adding him back on if he ever responded (not so far).

If you have already submitted, and he was listed on there you should pursue it a bit more. Perhaps stop by his office and talk with him about it. If he says he'll do it, then gauge his reaction to the situation, and go from there.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Go to him in person and tell him to write a reminder in front of you. You may have to do this a few times before they realize you are serious about getting that letter.

 

[Akali]

Like it's been stated several times already, you obviously need to go talk to him in person.

It's much easier for people to forget about you or ignore you if you're just e-mailing them instead of talking to them in person.

 

[Mosonik]

You shouldn't take it personal when this happens. 99% of us have all experienced this and my best letter actually came from a person that I had to send an interfolio request to 5-6 times over a few months times. Be persistent but polite, they are busy, just keep at them😉

 

[DrMeows]

This happened to me, expect it was with a MSUCOM Evaluation form (which to me is more annoying than a LOR). He told me in June last year he would be happy to, August still responded after I sent everything, and after emailing and trying to contact him a few times through DECEMBER he just stopped answering me (come to find out 6 months later there was some type of legal issue going on....NOT good lol) but long story short he never ever answered me again. Talk to him in person or find another person to write you a letter if you need it.