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Okay, so I'm pretty much ready to apply to a lot of schools, but only have one of four LORs into CAS. I requested LORs from no less than three professors and one advisor back in the middle of July and explicitly told them that I planned on applying (i.e. that they needed to be done) by early September. I have been trying unsuccessfully for about three weeks now to get in touch with them, but none of them are answering emails.

This is driving me up the wall, mostly because it's the one thing I can't control. What can I do?

(Oh, and calling them won't work because their offices don't have phones - their numbers just go straight to the department receptionist).

Hmmm. That is frustrating. Have they already written the letters and they just haven't been submitted yet? Or have you not heard anything from them since you contacted them a while ago?

Have not heard anything since I personally handed them the necessary materials back in July. I was actually in contact with one of them through email for a bit the month after, and have been in contact even more recently with another, but the third I have not heard from in two months.

How far are you located from their offices? At this point, if hounding them with e-mails isn't working, it would probably be worth it to physically track them down. Sorry I can't be of much more help - that's a tough situation.

This totally blows. Professors should really behave better. As though this process isn't stressful enough without them jerking you around.

Hmmm...I would be worried if its been 3 legitimate full weeks and they haven't even responded with a short - sorry I haven't gotten back to you. We can chat next week - or something. When you asked them, did they seem enthusiastic about doing them? You def need to hound, but I also worry that if one is having to hound too much, it might be that the profs are trying to give you a soft "no." What was your read on them?

Is there someone else you can ask? You can pile these babies up and even never use them, but it might be worth soliciting a safety right now to just have on file if this continues.

The good news is that most schools aren't going to be looking at RD files for a little bit still.

RaleighStClair wrote:How far are you located from their offices? At this point, if hounding them with e-mails isn't working, it would probably be worth it to physically track them down. Sorry I can't be of much more help - that's a tough situation.

lol. About 6,000 miles.

MumofCad wrote:This totally blows. Professors should really behave better. As though this process isn't stressful enough without them jerking you around.

Hmmm...I would be worried if its been 3 legitimate full weeks and they haven't even responded with a short - sorry I haven't gotten back to you. We can chat next week - or something. When you asked them, did they seem enthusiastic about doing them? You def need to hound, but I also worry that if one is having to hound too much, it might be that the profs are trying to give you a soft "no." What was your read on them?

Is there someone else you can ask? You can pile these babies up and even never use them, but it might be worth soliciting a safety right now to just have on file if this continues.

The good news is that most schools aren't going to be looking at RD files for a little bit still.

Good points. One of them will probably write me a very generic, average LOR (at best). He could very easily be be giving me a soft "no." The other two, though, seemed pretty enthusiastic about it. One of them I have a very close relationship with and I'm sure she's probably just been busy. The other one may be busy too, but I'm almost positive he'll write me a very good LOR - if he ever gets to it.

Call.

Real Madrid wrote:

RaleighStClair wrote:How far are you located from their offices? At this point, if hounding them with e-mails isn't working, it would probably be worth it to physically track them down. Sorry I can't be of much more help - that's a tough situation.

lol. About 6,000 miles.

Call. It's easy to skim over an email, but harder to dick over someone you're speaking with.

Call and have the receptionist pass you on to their voicemails/offices. Also, try sending a follow-up packet with all your info and LOR request to their offices, including in it that you requested the LORs from them on such and such a date (nicely, of course).

Threaten

imjustjoking22 wrote:Also, try sending a follow-up packet with all your info and LOR request to their offices, including in it that you requested the LORs from them on such and such a date (nicely, of course).

I found this helped me out last year. Also, perhaps it would help to explain if you're applying ED/EA and give the deadline.

..

imjustjoking22 wrote:Call and have the receptionist pass you on to their voicemails/offices. Also, try sending a follow-up packet with all your info and LOR request to their offices, including in it that you requested the LORs from them on such and such a date (nicely, of course).

Good point. I can leave messages on their respective voicemails, but seeing as I'm in a foreign country it's gonna be pretty hard to actually get them on the phone when I don't have a return number to call (only have Skype). This is so frustrating.

Real Madrid wrote:

imjustjoking22 wrote:Call and have the receptionist pass you on to their voicemails/offices. Also, try sending a follow-up packet with all your info and LOR request to their offices, including in it that you requested the LORs from them on such and such a date (nicely, of course).

Good point. I can leave messages on their respective voicemails, but seeing as I'm in a foreign country it's gonna be pretty hard to actually get them on the phone when I don't have a return number to call (only have Skype). This is so frustrating.

Explain that in the VM, emphasize your (actual) deadlines, and ask them to communicate with you via email as quickly as they are able. They don't need to be able to call you back.