College references

Teapot30

Hi just looking for advice on a situation. Im applying to two postgrad courses, one of them the application closes on the 28th and im still waiting to get my reference from a previous college tutor.
I contacted her to ask would she mind giving me a reference, she replied that it would be no problem and asked me to send her some info on what ive been up to since graduating to help her with the reference, so I did and ive heard nothing back. The reference can be sent a few days after the application but im worried she's not going to have it done.

How should I approach this if I dont hear from her in the next couple of days? It could cost me a place on the course.. Should I contact her to ask about it?

heathledgerlove

Email her so at least you have proof that you are chasing the issue, shows willing!

retro:electro

Are you sure she hasn't sent it herself? Usually for postgrads the referees forward them on themselves and you never get to see what they've said.

Teapot30

anna080 wrote: »

Are you sure she hasn't sent it herself? Usually for postgrads the referees forward them on themselves and you never get to see what they've said.

No I didnt give her the address or tell her what college im applying to, she didnt ask. The application gives me the option to upload the reference or send it via post. Ive never had to ask for an academic reference before so I dont know how it works

retro:electro

Teapot30 wrote: »

No I didnt give her the address or tell her what college im applying to, she didnt ask. The application gives me the option to upload the reference or send it via post. Ive never had to ask for an academic reference before so I dont know how it works

Ah I see. Ya you can upload them yourself, I did the same thing. It can be confusing alright. Maybe e mail her again to remind her of the looming closing date and has she managed to complete it yet. Are you applying through PAC? If you've the application completed and are just waiting to upload the documents then you're grand for time as uploading them only takes a few minutes. You're right about being able to attach references for a week or so after the closing date so you've time yet so don't be panicking.

Teapot30

anna080 wrote: »

Ah I see. Ya you can upload them yourself, I did the same thing. It can be confusing alright. Maybe e mail her again to remind her of the looming closing date and has she managed to complete it yet. Are you applying through PAC? If you've the application completed and are just waiting to upload the documents then you're grand for time as uploading them only takes a few minutes. You're right about being able to attach references for a week or so after the closing date so you've time yet so don't be panicking.

Yeah it's through PAC, thanks, if she doesnt respond by Monday i'll email her again.

Tokyo

Teapot30 wrote: »

How should I approach this if I dont hear from her in the next couple of days? It could cost me a place on the course.. Should I contact her to ask about it?

Don't wait for the next couple of days to pass - enough time has already passed to be concerning to you, so a follow up email right now is perfectly appropriate for this situation. It may have slipped her mind, or she may not appreciate the urgency by which you need it.

woodchuck

A lot of the time time you just provide an employer with the contact details of the referee and the employer will contact your referee directly themselves. So she could be waiting for them to contact her. Is it possible something got lost in translation? She might not be aware that you're actually waiting for her to send you the reference directly.

retro:electro

woodchuck wrote: »

A lot of the time time you just provide an employer with the contact details of the referee and the employer will contact your referee directly themselves. So she could be waiting for them to contact her. Is it possible something got lost in translation? She might not be aware that you're actually waiting for her to send you the reference directly.

Usually there's a specific PAC form that the referee has to fill out

woodchuck

anna080 wrote: »

Usually there's a specific PAC form that the referee has to fill out

I'm not familiar with PAC, but the OP made out that she would upload or post the reference herself. Unless the OP specifically outlined to the referee that she needs to send the reference directly to the OP, I would think it's a case of crossed wires.

OP I'd get back in touch reiterating the deadline and make sure you're clear that you need her to send it to YOU so you can upload/send (if my understanding of the system is correct).

retro:electro

woodchuck wrote: »

I'm not familiar with PAC, but the OP made out that she would upload or post the reference herself. Unless the OP specifically outlined to the referee that she needs to send the reference directly to the OP, I would think it's a case of crossed wires.

OP I'd get back in touch reiterating the deadline and make sure you're clear that you need her to send it to YOU so you can upload/send (if my understanding of the system is correct).

Ya you have a point. I was thinking more along the lines of myself when I asked for references I had to forward on a specific form for them to fill out but perhaps the op's course doesn't require this and just a generic reference will do.

Don't leave it hanging over the weekend op, her e mail inbox will be loaded will mails on a Monday, whereas if you do it now or tomorrow she is more than likely to get back to you before the weekend.

Teapot30

I didnt see a specific reference form but I took your advice and emailed her Thursday night so I think that cleared everything up. Im going to send my application at the day before closing date to give her enough time to write and post the reference, she's been aware of it now for a week and has a further 5 days to get it posted so hopefully that'll be enough time for her. I'll email again tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help. x