<p>This is directed towards current grads in Neuro/Biosci who are familiar with the admissions process. My research advisor has a pretty hectic travel schedule this month, and I'm worried about getting his letter in before the deadlines. He's a really well known guy, and I think my whole app pretty much depends on his letter. </p>
<p>His letter will be strong, but he is notorious for delaying things till the last moment. I asked him if he can get the letters in before the deadlines, and he said "..it may be a few days late, but don't worry it shouldn't matter". </p>
<p>I'm worried that the admissions committees will meet right after the deadlines. I can't really push him too much (outsized personality). Any suggestions ?</p>
<p>Let me put it this way: you could take a risk of having your application rejected by default because your materials were submitted late, or you could put a little pressure on your PI (without offending him/her, hopefully) and have everything submitted on time. At worst you will have a few moments of awkward interaction with your PI.</p>
<p>Sounds pretty straight forward to me. Saying that you can’t push him is just an excuse.</p>
<p>Oh and my PI is the same way. He has never gotten mad when I pressured him to submit on time.</p>
He says this because he’s been in this situation before, and he knows it doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Letters of rec are routinely late, because academics in general are unbelievably terrible about deadlines. Programs will be sympathetic, and if there’s a genuine problem, they’ll usually contact the letter-writer themselves to get the letter in. </p>
<p>Many programs with early December deadlines do not meet in committee until the week between Christmas and New Year’s, precisely so that straggling application components have time to come in.</p>