Seen some of my friends get recommendation letters from professors during the last years at degree college and seen them complain. During the last 3 months, I was fortunate to experience the process and unfortunate to have an experience worse than that of my friends. And frankly, I do not know why...
Experience: Out of the three recos I needed, one went extremely smooth, effortlessly. Hats off to the prof! The remaining two made and continue to make me beg and plead and cry. Why? One, the two didn't seem to have the time to submit them, because they were "extremely busy". That, I can never believe. Second, The account does not seem to open or there is some problem with the email account. Well, when did you realise that? Now? Or was I the lucky one to enlighten you about it? Three, "I was busy and now I am on a vacation". Aaargh!! I have met people at my workplace who are genuinely extremely busy, and generally tend to forget your request in the rush of things. But twice, maybe thrice reminding them does the thing. I think the reminder count in my case must have gone upto 12-15 considering missed calls, messages and e-mails. It starts frustrating you especially when it blends positively with the frustration at workplace sometimes. and you start to think...are you so insignificant that people do not care about your plans...so insignificant that the professor forgets for a moment that you have asked and confirmed from him for a reco...and asks you, " How can you assume that I will give a reco?" All this, as it appears to me, stems only from the "i m busy" phenomenon. So how much time does it take to fill up recos? If the prof has a draft ready, probably 10 min. for each. In fact I was a lucky witness to a record breaking feat of 7 recos within half an hour. I mean, are you really that busy then, that it took so many days? The most frustrating thing of all, is that you stay up late at night for completing applications much in advance, balancing work and these guys just keep dallying. So inconsiderate! All your hard work goes in vain.
After the count of 15 reminders, I personally visited the college twice, first in vain and in the second I nailed it for one prof, thanks to the "informer". One still remains, I continue, messaging and calling with no response from the other end with personal visits in the past all in vain. Wish me luck!
Some lessons learnt*:
1. Be good to professors at college. Be in his good lists. Do projects under him proactively when in college. If you take a break from college for work, be in touch with him. I probably did only 30% of this and hence I am to blame. Remember, if you need a reco, you need to have reco-gnition..
2. Be in touch with juniors who can update you on the prof's availability.
3. Be extremely calm with the prof, even if he swears at you. Do not forget, you need him. He does not.
4. The best thing is to take up a job at the college, if you are open to it. Then, you can remind him at your will.
Now I go back to waiting for the last one...
*: Lessons apply more for people who have studied from my college. Though they are general in nature, there may be some changes and modifications here and there....
Experience: Out of the three recos I needed, one went extremely smooth, effortlessly. Hats off to the prof! The remaining two made and continue to make me beg and plead and cry. Why? One, the two didn't seem to have the time to submit them, because they were "extremely busy". That, I can never believe. Second, The account does not seem to open or there is some problem with the email account. Well, when did you realise that? Now? Or was I the lucky one to enlighten you about it? Three, "I was busy and now I am on a vacation". Aaargh!! I have met people at my workplace who are genuinely extremely busy, and generally tend to forget your request in the rush of things. But twice, maybe thrice reminding them does the thing. I think the reminder count in my case must have gone upto 12-15 considering missed calls, messages and e-mails. It starts frustrating you especially when it blends positively with the frustration at workplace sometimes. and you start to think...are you so insignificant that people do not care about your plans...so insignificant that the professor forgets for a moment that you have asked and confirmed from him for a reco...and asks you, " How can you assume that I will give a reco?" All this, as it appears to me, stems only from the "i m busy" phenomenon. So how much time does it take to fill up recos? If the prof has a draft ready, probably 10 min. for each. In fact I was a lucky witness to a record breaking feat of 7 recos within half an hour. I mean, are you really that busy then, that it took so many days? The most frustrating thing of all, is that you stay up late at night for completing applications much in advance, balancing work and these guys just keep dallying. So inconsiderate! All your hard work goes in vain.
After the count of 15 reminders, I personally visited the college twice, first in vain and in the second I nailed it for one prof, thanks to the "informer". One still remains, I continue, messaging and calling with no response from the other end with personal visits in the past all in vain. Wish me luck!
Some lessons learnt*:
1. Be good to professors at college. Be in his good lists. Do projects under him proactively when in college. If you take a break from college for work, be in touch with him. I probably did only 30% of this and hence I am to blame. Remember, if you need a reco, you need to have reco-gnition..
2. Be in touch with juniors who can update you on the prof's availability.
3. Be extremely calm with the prof, even if he swears at you. Do not forget, you need him. He does not.
4. The best thing is to take up a job at the college, if you are open to it. Then, you can remind him at your will.
Now I go back to waiting for the last one...
*: Lessons apply more for people who have studied from my college. Though they are general in nature, there may be some changes and modifications here and there....
