1

I already sent one 5 days ago and she said she was working on it. However the deadline is really close now (30/11). Should I send a second reminder now?

Improve this question
6
  • If it is online submission, you can wait a few more days.
    – Buffy
    Nov 24, 2020 at 22:31
  • what if there is technical problem? Shouldnt I account for that?
    – FARRAF
    Nov 24, 2020 at 22:34
  • 1
    If there is a technical problem, the faculty member will handle it. I would not want a student reminding me a second time unless it was the day before the deadline.
    – Dawn
    Nov 24, 2020 at 23:01
  • Does the deadline apply for recommendations too or is it just the deadline to get YOUR application in? If your recommender has to get it by the 30th, I'd wait a few more days (ideally towards the end of the week) to send another follow-up. Remember that this is the Thanksgiving holiday, and given the pandemic scenario the whole week is an off week, not just for students, but also faculty.
    – Daveguy
    Nov 24, 2020 at 23:28
  • What's your relation to the letter writer? This might be relevant.
    – user151413
    Dec 27, 2020 at 22:04

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

If this is for an application for a US graduate program, the due dates for the main application are stricter than for recommendations. The admission or review committee likely won't meet until next year. I had an advisor that had a habit of submitting these things a few days after they were supposed to be submitted and it was never a problem. Since they acknowledged your reminder email, I suggest you leave them alone. If you arrive at the due date with no submission, then you can send another polite reminder if you feel like its necessary.

Improve this answer
1

Professors forget things too, but you've already reminded them, you don't want to remind them again unless you have an indicator it's been forgotten. But, it seems you don't want to remind, you just want to know when it is sent.

You could send them a message asking for confirmation when it has been sent. This is common in office settings when multiple people are involved. For example:

"Dear Professor So-N-So: I am very anxious about this application, I have forgotten to ask if you would be able to let me know when it is completed. Having that confirmation would be a great relief to me. Thank you for your time, Me".

Improve this answer
-1

If the person is someone who would get offended by being asked for a status update, you probably don't want them writing a letter of recommendation for you in the first place.

Improve this answer
3
  • So in this case, you should just let noone submit a letter? Or chose an advisor based on interviews where you ask all profs if they would be offended in such a situation?
    – user111388
    Nov 27, 2020 at 15:08
  • I disagree with this. Your advice might lead to the user missing out on an extremely valuable letter of reference.
    – Nik
    Dec 27, 2020 at 23:50
  • Some people will gladly give someone a reference that is bad instead of not giving a reference at all. So valuable depends upon the outcome doesn't it?
    – Sr. Data Scientist
    Dec 29, 2020 at 0:27

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .