<p>I want to ask....how bad is it if your recommendation comes in late for grad school in the field of mechanical engineering? I am doing an app that is due in early Jan (1/02) but my prof will not be back from break/vacation til the 3rd, so the rec will most likely be sent in late. Will the admissions committee hold it against me?</p>
<p>It's not going to be held against you -- how ridiculous and petty would that be? -- as long as the rec does get in eventually. </p>
<p>Every year, at every program, rec writers flake and don't get recs in on time. The professors doing the admissions understand, because they have probably done it themselves.</p>
<p>Just make sure the recommendation gets in relatively close to the deadline so your application can be considered.</p>
<p>mollie is precisely correct. The LOR is the one element of your application that gets cut some slack in terms of deadlines.</p>