<p>I asked my ap chem teacher to write me a recommendation by the end of this semester(in about 2 weeks), but I have the impression she has completely forgotten to write it for some reason.This teacher is extremely indolent with her stuff and something like this would be expected from her ( she forgot to grade our mid-terms and only returened them 2 months after we took it!). So, would it be rude for me to ask her if she has been working on my letter? Also, would it matter if I did so by email, or is it better to personally approach the teacher in this case. This rec is very important because I was the best students she has ever had and was also very prestative throughout the year. </p>
<p>If possible, approach her in person after class or better yet, after school. Instead of asking her if she remembers it, just say something like "Mrs Whoever, I had given you my recommendation for ____ a few weeks ago, and I just wanted to thank you again for doing it for me and remind you that I need it completed by the end of the semester."</p>
<p>Then a few days before you need it, if she hasn't given it to you, do the same thing again. "Hi, Mrs. Whoever, I just wanted to see how my recommendation was coming along and remind you that I need it completed before the end of the semester."</p>
<p>If it's easier to do in an email, that's fine, but it's always better to approach a teacher in person, IMO.</p>
<p>PS- I hope she doesn't tell the college admissions counselors you were "prestative", seeing as it isn't a word. ;-)</p>
<p>Yeah, we wouldn't want that...wow, they must removed that word from the english language last year!
I meant I was very painstaking and always strove to do college quality work, in addition to being a major assistant for her.
I mentioned sending an email because this is how this techar works. She likes everything to be communicated by email. She even preferred us to say what date we prefer for the final by email instead of just telling her at the moment for god's sake.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the suggestions, it really helped.
More suggestions are also welcome.</p>
<p>At my school, we pretty much just ask for a rec and the teacher hands it directly to the students, so the guidance office is not at all involved, excepet for providing these forms where you list your activities.</p>
<p>I think asking in person in a non-nagging way (I like the 'thankyou' idea) is generally best but there are some people who prefer email because it can be a better reminder - they don't need to write it down and don't lose it. In fact, I routinely ask colleagues to send me emails since that way I have it online until I delete it and don't forget to respond to it as easily as I do a hallway conversation.</p>
<p>I also suggest not counting completely on one particular person for the recommendation. I suggest requesting it from at least one more source than you need in case one of the sources fails to respond. In the case of one of my daughters, she actually received a recommendation from one of her teachers that was so horribly written (spelling, grammar, etc.) that we just threw it away. We would have been embarrassed for a college to receive it (this was from a HS history teacher who was very critical of written papers in his class!). Luckily she had recommendations from other teachers so we weren't counting on it.</p>
<p>How about, gee Mr./ Mrs. Smith, I know that you are really busy but I need to know if you've had a chance to write that letter for me. If they hesitate then you must be willing to say " is there a reason you would prefer to pass on writing one for me". You certainly would rather know up front if they are willing to put in the extra effort for you.</p>
<p>Yeah, Lets see what happens, I am most likely going to send her an email since she prefers this method of communication anyways and as ucsd dad said,it is a better reminder. I asked for the letter personally so I don't think it would be awkward of my part. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the letter was lacking because this teacher is very messy. When I asked her for the letter, I think she actually said, " Recommendation? For what?"- not a good sign. But then again I think I was the first to request her a recommendation and I really excelled in this class. Just in case, I am also asking my gc tomorrow and already asked another teacher.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have a good plan. If this teacher is messy and disorganized I would find someone else. BTW my daughters got their best letters from not surprisingly their English teachers. A letter one of the received from her math teacher was not sendable. The grammar and spelling were deplorable and would have been embarrasing to send.</p>
<p>I agree, sending poorly written letter may definitely hinder you.
Thank you guys for the help. This teacher is very disorganized, but a letter from her is important since my intended major will be chemistry.</p>
<p>Depending on where you're going, they'll likely determine your admission regardless of the major selected which would mean that it's not that important to have the chem teacher write the rec even if you intend to be a chem major. Again, this can vary depending on the college.</p>
<p>I am wondering, as recommendation letters are to be handed over to the student all sealed, how some of you know that these were poorly written, full of errors, and unsendable?</p>
<p>The end of the semester is a very busy time for teachers. They are flooded with essential work that must be done-- preparing and grading finals, providing final grades, meeting with panicky students who are flunking.</p>
<p>My advice would be to ask the teacher if she has time to do the recommendation before semester's end or if it would be possible for her to meet with you after the semester to give you the recommendation.</p>
<p>If I were the teacher, the last thing I'd want to be dealing with at semester's end would be being reminded to write now a recommendation that really wasn't due until the fall. In addition, I'd also like to see how a junior did on finals before writing the recommendation.</p>
<p>Mark, if this letter of recommendation is for a Summer program, isn't it too late already? If the letter is for your college applications next Fall, then you don't really need it now, so other than an e-mail reminder to her, wouldn't you be better off if she took her time after school ended? Can you tell us what this letter is for?</p>
<p>It is for college, I can suggest her to write over the summer,of course. But really, how long can it possibly take. If she says time is a problem, I guess I can give extra time during the summer, but when I asked, she said she could do it, so I don't think I will be pushing to hard.</p>
<p>If it is for college, mark, why are you focused on having it by the end of the semester?</p>
<p>At our hs, it is the practice to ask teachers for recs at the ends of junior year for precisely the reason that they will have the whole summer to work on them and do a good job.</p>
<p>Unless you have a specific reason, I think pushing for a completed rec in the next weeks/days is a mistake. Giving her the summer is not giving her "extra" time imo. If you haven't already given the teacher your resume and list of schools you think you will apply to, I would do that. This will serve as an adequate reminder at this time.</p>
<p>Rather, I would request recs from other teachers. At the beginning of fall term, I would check in with each of these teachers (if your GC doesn't do this for you), update each teacher on the schools you will be applying to, let them know your deadlines.</p>
<p>End of Junior year is the time to make requests to specific teachers, kind of preparing them, and getting their agreement to write your recs. I have never heard of any student collecting the letters 5 months ahead of time.
In any case, don't you give your teachers stamped and addressed envelopes so they can mail the letters to the colleges directly in October?</p>