Giving your recommender false due dates

Question

Has anyone tried giving their recommender a due date that is earlier than the actual deadline to ensure they do it on time? Will it backfire if they find out the actual date and know you lied??

krussell · Answer

Most schools send an email to references with instructions on how to complete the process. I'm sure the due date would be included there.

I personally would feel offended if someone did that to me and it might burn a bridge with your references.

psycat · Answer

You can just tell them that the server might freeze or it'll take forever when he/she tries to upload the recommendation closer to the due date, because of the massive application the server receives. Give them a certain date a bit ahead of the deadline saying that it's safe to upload the letter by then.

I'm not sure if you'll get a good reference letter when your recommender finds out that you lied.

I'm not sure if you'll get a good reference letter when your recommender finds out that you lied.

UPGRAYEDD · Answer

Try to be as honest as you can. Just explain that you are worried about gathering all of your materials on time and say that you would like it by XX date but if you are very busy the actual deadline is XX....something like that.

deechi · Answer

Can you not just say that you'd like to have everything in by a certain date?

perseverance · Answer

I just told my recommenders that I'd like to have my application in by a certain date (usually a week before the deadline). I explained that I don't want there to be any last minute problems. They were fine with that. You shouldn't have a problem doing that if you're honest with them.

shaselai · Answer

i am having frustrating time with my recs. One is so lazy and he doesnt seem to care if i had a deadline - i mean duke has been on his list for 1months+ yet and he hasnt even touched yet although he kept saying "i will get to it" everytime i ask him down the hall.. My new rec shes great - when she says shes working on it she gets it done the next couple of days. Same with my other rec but he's been on vacation so i need to touch up with him again... I wouldnt lie about dates - they get notices and lying wont do you any good. Just tell them the deadlines and what other schools are within that range so they know the "deadline" isnt just that school. My recs understand the number of schools i need to apply so they try to do it quickly..

liquidmetal · Answer

i gave mine early dates and they knew they actual dates were much later and were fine with it.

they also preferred this since they had to only keep track of the one date for each round, instead of having to remember each schools individual due date

thisguy310 · Answer

I told my recommenders that I'd like it in x date because sometimes it takes a while to sync up the recommender with the applicant or the system freezes.

So for a Nov 3. deadline I said Nov. 1.

Good luck!

Giving your recommender false due dates

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