How can I get my recommender to submit my letter before the deadline?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for ensuring that a letter of recommendation is submitted by a deadline. Participants share their experiences and advice regarding communication with recommenders, the etiquette of reminders, and the confidentiality of recommendation letters.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their situation where a recommender has not yet submitted a letter despite reminders, raising concerns about an impending deadline.
  • Some participants suggest that politely reminding the recommender is appropriate and necessary, emphasizing that professors often have busy schedules.
  • There is a question about whether recommendation letters should be confidential and whether they should be sent directly by the professor or returned to the applicant.
  • Another participant mentions the etiquette of providing a stamped and addressed envelope if the submission is not electronic, reinforcing the importance of reminders.
  • Some responses emphasize that it is acceptable to follow up with recommenders, as they may forget due to their busy workloads.
  • A humorous suggestion is made for how to phrase a reminder email to the recommender, highlighting the urgency of the situation while maintaining politeness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that reminders are necessary and that professors are often busy, but there is no consensus on the best approach to remind recommenders or the specifics of confidentiality regarding recommendation letters.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the norms surrounding the confidentiality of recommendation letters and the appropriate method of submission, indicating that practices may vary.

Who May Find This Useful

Students seeking letters of recommendation, individuals preparing applications for academic programs, and those interested in understanding the dynamics of communication with academic professionals.

holomorphic
Messages
91
Reaction score
0
So, I asked for recommendations from 1) a professor with whom I do research, 2) a professor whose algebra class I took, and 3) a professor with whom I do research and whose topology class I took.

I notified them all before Thanksgiving, and finished my applications in early December. But one of my recommenders still hasn't finished with the letter. ONE of my schools already accepted me, since they only needed two letters anyway.

About a week ago I reminded the outstanding recommender that one of my applications is due early early January... and he replied that he'd do his letter electronically in a couple of days. But he still hasn't. What should I do? Another week and my dream school application will be considered late.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Politely remind him again.
 
Is the recommendation document supposed to be confidential?

Should the professor send the document directly, or pass it back to me?
 
It is usually good etiquette to provide a stamped and addressed envelope to your referee if the application does not provide an electronic submission option.

And don't be afraid to bother these people. They agreed to write you a letter, so they should be on good enough terms with you. You aren't annoying; sometimes professors are extremely busy and need reminders of deadlines.
 
ych22 said:
Is the recommendation document supposed to be confidential?

Should the professor send the document directly, or pass it back to me?

First of all, when you have a question of your own that is not similar to the original post, you should start your own thread.
 
SpiffyKavu said:
It is usually good etiquette to provide a stamped and addressed envelope to your referee if the application does not provide an electronic submission option.

And don't be afraid to bother these people. They agreed to write you a letter, so they should be on good enough terms with you. You aren't annoying; sometimes professors are extremely busy and need reminders of deadlines.

I'm assuming the first part was a reply to ych22...

I'm not afraid to bother him, but I also don't want to come across as calling him out on being irresponsible. Not that he's even behaving irresponsibly! (Well, maybe--my application might have been looked at already if he'd submitted his letter).
 
Just say

Hello Prof. Procrastinator,

I know you might be busy but I would like to remind you that I need your letter of recommendation within a week. Otherwise, it will be too late and my application would be rendered useless. I deeply apologize if I am rushing you.What's-his-name

Don't let anyone hold back your dreams.
 
SpiffyKavu said:
You aren't annoying; sometimes professors are extremely busy and need reminders of deadlines.

Basically this. It's very easy to reply and say "OK, i'll get right on it." and mean it, but then forget about it completely. These are people that a juggling dozens of emails every day, and have bursting-full diaries. I know people that are so busy they have general policies to specifically not do things on the first ask, and wait for reminders. They won't mind if you just send another reminder, just explain that your deadline is incoming.
 
Fizex said:
Just say
Hello Prof. Procrastinator,
I know you might be busy but I would like to remind you that I need your letter of recommendation within a week. Otherwise, it will be too late and the letter would be rendered useless. I deeply apologize if I am rushing you.


What's-his-name


Don't let anyone hold back your dreams.

That was awesome. Especially the signature.
 

Similar threads

Admissions Graduating a year early anxieties + grad school
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Admissions How Can I Overcome Limited Research Experience for Grad School in Physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Admissions Who should I pick for my third letter of recommendation?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Admissions Can a non-academic write a strong letter of recommendation for grad school?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admissions Curious about my grad school prospects
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Admissions Should I submit 860 PGRE?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Admissions Need advice on how realistic my graduate school prospects are
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Admissions Dropped out for 5 years -- What are my chances at Grad schools?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Looking for physics internships requiring one letter of recommendation
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Admissions Need advice regarding my admissions prospects for graduate school
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K