About a week ago, I asked my research professor, who I had worked under for a summer, for a letter of recommendation. He agreed to do it and asked me for a draft letter as well as a CV.
I sent the information to him at 12AM on Tuesday, and I just saw that it was submitted on the same day (Tuesday) and he didn’t even email me back saying that he had submitted it after I gave him the CV and draft letter.
Should I be concerned that he did not put in any effort given that he did everything so quickly? Should I ask to see the letter? I think he did like me, but I had some off-days in his lab, so I’m really ambivalent right now because I’m applying to Ivies and anything negative will hurt.
Don’t ask to see it. It looks like you don’t trust the person to write you a strong letter of recommendation, and they might take offense.
The general rule with recommendations is that you sign FERPA, and waive your rights to see it. If a teacher or other adult writing for you offers to let you read it, that is fine (for example, one of the people who wrote for me had me proofread it). But don’t ask.
That wasn’t quick, just normal for a busy professional. I would have something like that done within an hour of receiving, many are efficient and quick writers (and want to keep the to do list clear). I am sure he is the same. Besides, you gave him a draft of the letter so he had a great place to start, which makes it easy for him to do. You should send him a thank you for writing it.