Timing Question: Should I send letters now or wait for the last (strongest)one??

[neopentanol]

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I have four letters available to send as a packet from my pre-med advisory committee to schools. Two science profs, a music prof, and a primary care physician. I have another letter on the way that should be done in two to three weeks, and it will be the shining star of my letter collection. Should I send off what I have now and stop waiting, or wait and include the last letter? I don't know what to do! help!

 

[nick_carraway]

I waited an extra week for my beautiful letter. There was no way to know how long my boss would take to write it since he has so many other commitments. Although I had 5 letters already, I really wanted a clinical LOR who happens to be my employer and I heard that he was great at writing letters so I waited.

Work with his schedule but tell him that he has 2.5 weeks--not the typical month you would normally give. Be clear that his letter is delaying your application process and remind him about it every few days. If he can, he'll get it to you faster. That approach with my former PI got me a two day turnaround on a letter that I needed to schedule my committee interview.

So I guess that was a long-winded way to say, wait but try to speed him up.