Waiting on LOR's

[samkell]

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Hey guys,

I have submitted secondaries to 6 out of the 8 schools that I applied to. Now they all say that they need at least one if not all of my LOR's before reviewing my application, probably because I applied so late in the cycle. Does anyone have any advice on contacting recommenders to speed up the process? I don't want to seem pushy and have that reflected in the letters. Thanks for any advice.

 

[supersash]

i too am in the process of getting two new letters. one was super quick, the other i have yet to hear back from. i am going to stop in her office after one week has passed and drop off a note if i cant catch her in person. then in another week, i'll shoot off anohter email.

LOR's can be the worst part of this process. try to casually drop by if you can, i think thats the easiest way, and harder for the person to avoid you, since its in person!

hope this helps!

 

[Chunkeroni]

By far the hardest part of my application process!!! I think that one person I asked in november still hasn't written one...I gave up on her weeks ago though. Definitely keep asking in a non-pushy way...like calling or emailing just to check or ask if they need addresses or anything like that. You can't stop asking otherwise some people will never do it or they just keep forgetting. Don't feel like you are being pushy either, it must be done and just tell yourself that. Good luck!! I know how hard it can be to get those darn things!

 

[mastamark]

Hey guys,

This is scaring me a little. I plan on applying this summer. I have already been promised LORs from my physics and organic professors, and one from the dean. Do you think it is wise to just have them write the letter in the next couple of months and have it on file with interfolio? How recent does a letter have to be towards applying?

 

[MJB]

Speaking from experience, I'd get those things ready as soon as possible...one took nearly 4 months for me to get.

 

[noshie]

I got my letters written 6 months in advance. I also told my writers a sooner date that they were due. Did you guys give them due dates? That is the most important part of getting your letters in on time. I would also highly recommend not just asking but also writing a formal letter to them, you can find a great great great one on the "microsoft templates" web page under graduate school letters. It is all ready, just fill in the blanks and change a few sentences. When you write a formal letter then they will read it and remember the due date. And I think it was good to give them an envelope already stamped and addressed. It worked wonderfully for me. I had 6 letters from crazy places, school, old job, volunteer work, docs. They all got in months before they were due. It was awesome.