Letters of Recommendation

sladealdison

Hello everyone,
I am currently asking professors for LORs, and am a little worried. My classes are all online, and I'm worried that the professors may not take LORs as seriously as they would if we were in a traditional classroom setting. So far, I've asked two professors, and they both said they would be glad to do it, but one hasn't responded to my follow-up email from a few days ago, and I'm worried that she may have just forgotten about me or changed her mind. Any advice on how to stay in touch with these professors via email without bothering them?

dah9

I think one of your best options would be to follow-up with them with something friendly while still emphasizing the importance of the LOR. I understand that it may be difficult to foster a relationship with your professors through online classes but I am sure that they still have your best interest in mind. With the academic year beginning to wind up in many states, professors tend to be a bit busier as they are preparing their kids (if they have any) and themselves to return to school/work, respectively.

I would attempt to send a simple follow-up today saying something along the lines of, "Good morning/afternoon Professor/Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms. _____, I understand that the school year beginning is riddled with moments of high stress and I just wanted to ensure that my email did not get lost in the abyss of ___ ____ __-."

Then, wait about a week or so (depending on when your LOR deadline is) and send another follow-up email, this time being a bit more pressing. "Good morning/afternoon......
I just wanted to follow up and check on the status of the LOR. If you are no longer willing to complete it or foresee there being a logistics/time issue, please let me know so that I may seek a LOR from another professor. ___________________ <- this is where you emphasize how important it is to you and that you do not mind asking another professor for help because you need this to be the best possible and as soon as possible.

If the professor that you are trying to get a LOR for is world-renowned or great in their field or you just REALLY like them, it may be best to attempt to schedule an office hours in person and make the trip out there.

Hope this helps!