<p>My math teacher still hasn't mailed in his recommendations for me. I gave them to him before Thanksgiving break. I have reminded him a couple of times since then. What can I do!? My applications are due on January 31 or February 1. How do I approach him to get his act together? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Go to your school counsellor or whoever is in charge of the placement process at your school–or if there isn’t anyone, whoever is in change of the middle school and POLITELY ask them for their assistance, explaining your problem. They should be understanding–and more than likely you are not the only one of his/her students with the same dilemma.</p>
<p>Now, if you can’t get anywhere then call your boarding schools’ admission offices and speak to the AO who interviewed you. Again POLITELY explain the situation and ask her/him what should you do if the teacher is just negligent in her/his duties. </p>
<p>Obviously, the worst outcome if for the teacher to get angry (it is very unprofessional to do so, but not getting recommendation done on time speaks volumes about professionalism in ant case…) and take it out on you in the recommendation–so you have to tread lightly here.</p>
<p>Thank you for your response. The issue is I go to a large high school, were there is no one that is helping me with leaving for a different school. Would you still recommend that I go to my counselor.</p>
<p>While your deadline is Jan 31/Feb 1, some schools are more forgiving if a recommendation comes in late. While it is getting later in January, there still is time. I would talk to your guidance counselor. If they have mixed grade students, then they probably deal with the college process, which is quite similar to this process. And if this math teacher teaches juniors or seniors, then is probably writing recs for college too.</p>
<p>We had a slow recommender as well. I finally emailed that teacher and explained that:</p>
<ol>
<li>My daughter could not be assessed for entry without that form. I stressed that without it, her application could not be considered complete. I said it would be a shame if her application could not be reviewed before all the spots were given away. :-)</li>
<li>I also made it clear that this one recommendation was the ONLY THING missing. The form was mailed the very next day. Coincidence? I think not… LOL</li>
</ol>
<p>Of course I included the language of: “we very much appreciate… know you are busy, blah blah blah” as well…</p>
<p>My husband parked himself at the school the day before the deadline and said he wasn’t leaving without them. I’m not kidding. Luckily the math teacher got them in early. The school, however, didn’t want her to transfer and dug in their feet until they noticed he was digging in his as well. Got to do what you got to do. Give them a Fedex envelope if you have an account, or give them a prepaid envelope with a tracking number so you can know it is in the mail.</p>
<p>Suggest giving him another form (probably lost it), and a stamped addressed envelope, and explaining that you appreciate his offer in November to write the letter, and if he cannot do it for some reason can your parent ask the principal to do it to help him/her out, since it is due in a few days and required by the school you are applying to.</p>