Teachers LOR and deadlines

ihs76 · 10-24-2009, 04:08 PM

Finally, 9 days before EA deadline, 1 teacher has finished DS's LOR. The GC seems to have just started on hers on the common app 2 days ago after assuring us she was going to do it in mid September. Teacher #2 hasn't started anything as far as we can tell, even after at least a couple of gentle "is there anything else you need" contacts from DS. Requests and forms were all provided before mid September and he needs one for Common App as well as a separate one for a specific school.

I am so pathetically grateful to the one who has done his. Is it OK to give a small token of our appreciation like a Barnes and Noble gift card or something along with a note from DS?

And any suggestions on how long to wait to contact teacher #2 again? DS last spoke to her about 2 weeks ago and she said she would get it done soon. She is not teaching this year but is in town and may be having some medical issues. She did say more than once that she would be happy to write for DS.

Should we have teacher #3 ready to do a quick one if #2 doesn't come through? We specifically need a humanities teacher and we could probably get his language teacher (has had for 4 years) to do one for him.

marite · 10-24-2009, 04:37 PM

Teachers know that the deadline is mainly for students, and that they have a little leeway in sending out their LORs. Is the rec going to be sent directly by the teacher or put together with the rest of the app sent out by the GC? In the latter case, maybe the GC can help out. But if your S last contacted Teacher 2, he certainly could send out a gentle reminder or phone if it is okay with the teacher. If Teacher 2 indeed has some medical issues, it is better to know and line up another teacher. Could a social studies teacher fill in instead of a language teacher?
Don't give a present to Teacher 2. A simple thank you will do. When you S has acceptances, he can do another round of thank you notes, perhaps with a very small token.

paying3tuitions · 10-24-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Teachers know that the deadline is mainly for students, and that they have a little leeway in sending out their LORs

Absolutely. There will be a time in the college admissions office when they will organize every file. Late LOR's are the least of their worries and they do not hold that lateness against a student. The student's own papers, over which s/he has control, that's another matter completely. Those deadlines are essential to follow.

Therefore, I'd stay with the teacher who will write the best LOR, even if it's a bit post-EA deadline. Don't walk away from someone who is "happy to write" for your DS because it is 9 days before deadline.

A gentle inquiry about her health and wishing her well could frame the reminder. That gives her opportunity to bow out in time if she's really too sick to write.