Letter of Rec. not sent, should I rescind?

[Cygnus_A]

Fortunately I asked for four letters of recommendation for my PhD applications. One of the four has not sent any letters in and has not responded to my emails asking about them.

Since all of the schools that I applied to require a minimum of two or three, I don't believe my applications are in peril. I'm just wondering if I should rescind the letter requests for this professor. Do you think it would reduce my chances of admission if I were to not rescind the letter (so I would just have an unreceived fourth letter)? Or would it be better to remove the recommender from the list?

 

[myranaira]

I feel like it would be better to remove the person from the list. I feel like the schools wouldn't have a record of the fact that you put someone's name in, but then changed/deleted it. Those sorts of changes can happen for any reason.

 

[Choppy]

I find it odd that the schools have specified that they would like more than three reference letters. Three is commonly what is required. There are no bonus points for additional letters.

Is it possible that these schools actually only require three and this professor saw that you already had three references?

 

[Cygnus_A]

I find it odd that the schools have specified that they would like more than three reference letters. Three is commonly what is required. There are no bonus points for additional letters.

Is it possible that these schools actually only require three and this professor saw that you already had three references?

Correct. There is a minimum of three for most of them, but they all allow more to be sent (as a backup or extra letter). In my case, I added four, and one of the four has not been sent (post-deadline). I'm just wondering if it's bad to have an unsent (but unneeded) fourth letter. I'm thinking that maybe I should remove/rescind the four letter that has not been sent.

 

[Matrix0]

Dear [Applicant],

I understand your concern regarding the missing letter of recommendation from one of your professors. It is always important to have all required documents submitted for your PhD applications. However, I would advise against rescinding the letter request at this point.

Even though the schools you have applied to require a minimum of two or three letters, having a fourth letter can still add value to your application. Admissions committees often look for a diverse range of perspectives and having an additional recommendation can strengthen your profile.

I suggest reaching out to the professor again and explaining the urgency of the situation. If they still do not respond or submit the letter, you can mention this in your application and explain that you have made multiple attempts to obtain the letter. This shows that you have taken the necessary steps and it is not a reflection on your application.

It would not be beneficial to remove the recommender from the list as it may raise questions about why the letter was removed. If possible, try to find an alternative recommender who can provide a similar level of insight and support for your application.

I wish you the best of luck with your PhD applications and hope that this issue gets resolved soon.

Best regards,