So I have a question about, I guess, academic etiquette. Basically, last month, I started applying for a few Japanese universities. I live in Japan and would like to increase my Japanese ability, so I want to do a 1 year program at a Japanese university.
I asked a former professor in my discipline, my academic adviser and a wonderful man who has helped me out beyond the call of duty many times in the past, for a recommendation letter for 2 of these universities. I asked him a month or so in advance, but due to a few misdirected emails and some email filter issues on his side, the letters were late in coming and I had to ask him to send them as soon as possible, which I feel really badly about.
A few days ago I get a letter from Japanese university–lets call it K–who are insanely picky about my application and ask for various pieces of information to complete my application, including what I was doing from 9/95 to 8/95–keep in mind, I was ELEVEN YEARS OLD at the time–and say that my recommendation letter from the professor needs more information. I gave my professor the letter from K University at the time, so he should have had all the information he needed. I emailed the school and told them that I had no idea what was in his confidential recommendation letter so they would have to give me more information about what they wanted from him.
I got an email today saying the letter was only one line and it didn’t provide enough information. This may be true–perhaps my professor actually hates me and wrote a short letter expressing that (although I have gotten other jobs with his recommendations…) Also keep in mind these people are basically incompetent–they have mailed me numerous times asking for the same information–apparently two different people are in contact with me but not each other. It is almost impossible to get anything through their heads. At this point I am seriously wondering if I would even want to attend a university this incompetent–one of the most prominent universities in Japan, mind you. :rolleyes:
Anyways, I know this is too long, but what should I do? Email my professor and demand he write another letter? He got the info so he obviously knew what they wanted but (apparently?) didn`t fulfill it. I feel really badly about bothering him again, since he helped me so much and is a very busy guy.
Or should I just let it go and see if I manage to get in anyways? Even if he does write a letter it is going to take ages to get here, since I dont want to ask him to send the letter to Japan–that would be quite costly–I have him send it to my parents who send it to me and I send it to Keio–which takes a ridiculously long time. It cost me almost $50 to send the first version! I am so pissed off right now.
Any ideas? 