sofiaharley

In early October I set up an appointment to talk to my research professor to talk about grad school. She began the conversation and suggested that after the research project, if I wished to attend grad school, I would be able to get a LOR. I suggested that she take the rec forms I had then to get a head start but she rejected them and said she would not want to write me a LOR now because she has not seen my research work at this point to be able to assess my qualifications for a graduate program. However, I said I would be applying to grad school for fall 2010 and the applications are due Jan/Feb. She said she wanted to wait until more research work was done (quarter ends mid Dec and a paper is due). I asked if she would be able to write me a LOR in such short time (2 weeks) and she said in the past she has written 20 page reports in 24 hours.

I'm not sure if she was doing me a favor by waiting until she could write the best LOR or trying to suggest that I find another reference. She could have taken the LOR forms and just waited until Dec to fill them out so maybe she is trying to tell me something. But she did say "Let's just wait." I'm so confused now. I'm not sure when to reask her, and in what manner. And what if she rejects me again? If I can't get this professor to write me a LOR I don't know who to turn to PLUS asking someone else on such short notice would look irresponsible.

What do you think? Any suggestions, tips, advice will be appreciated.

WORK WITH PROF: During the summer I put in 100 hours of transcribing interviews and wrote a report. This fall I am doing fieldwork in classrooms and putting together a research proposal with 3 other undergrads for the undergraduate research program with plans to publish the research in the undergraduate research journal in 2010.

Side note: I've asked my boss of two years and an academic professor (taking class #3 on quarter system) for LOR and they both said yes, how to I remind them about the LOR and the deadlines?