<p>At some point, applications that are incomplete because of late letters cannot be considered. I think a month past the “official” deadline is about at that point, if not already past it.</p>
<p>And I have to wonder: yes, professors are busy people, but how do you take a letter seriously from someone who does not turn in the LOR within a reasonable amount of time beyond the formal deadline? One of my recommenders is so busy her schedule fills up months in advance, yet she still got my letters submitted within a month of my request.</p>