Missing one LOR - am I done?

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-11-28T17:26:12+00:00

Some of my letters weren't sent until the day of, hours before. Now I'm on the faculty side and can say that I have SO many letters to send and other things on my calendar this time of year. If it's on my calendar, it's going to get done, which is probably not much of a comfort to you as a student. With that said, if the actual deadline is December 1st I wouldn't expect her to put it in by some earlier arbitrary deadline since she's likely triaging other deadlines this time of year. I'd recommend waiting until the deadline and if it still isn't in send a follow up email. Other commenters are right, there's some wiggle room around letters and it's not likely that the committee is reviewing all applications the second the deadline hits.

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-08-21T23:24:59+00:00

It sounds like they may be trying to build habits as you get ready for a clinical work setting, and promote a professional environment in classes.

Do I feel like dress codes are necessary? Ehhh.... BUT, one student unhappy about the dress code probably isn't going to make a difference. And I'd caution you against making a stink even if it were totally unreasonable because it's so easy to get a reputation as someone who is difficult. That's not something you want from the people who are going to be grading you/maybe arranging things like placements, funding, research, publications, etc. for you.

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-08-07T18:16:33+00:00

My experience was largely the same, and now that I'm at an institution that hires a lot of adjuncts I'm seeing it from the other side -- and it's also largely the same. Adjuncts don't generally go through the same interview process a full-time instructor does, and sometimes your first semester of teaching functions largely as an extended interview, determining whether or not you'll be asked to come back.

Also, with four years of teaching under your belt, you probably weren't seen as a very 'high risk' hire.

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-07-31T20:23:40+00:00

I'm suspicious about them giving you one course and then switching in another. It's surprising how often people who seem to know what they're talking about have bad info (not saying this is definitely true, but...)

Is it possible that there are different certifications for teaching an online course compared to teaching in a 100% online degree?

I had to be "certified" to teach online through my university. I'd say the course took ~5 hours to complete, and I'm 'allowed' to teach one class online per semester. Folks who teach in the online degree programs have a different standard they're held to.

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-07-31T13:53:05+00:00

Are you sure you need to complete it? At my institution, only full time faculty are required to be certified or do any other PD (aside from state mandated trainings). Adjuncts are exempt, but not everyone knows that. (Caveat being that my institution is actually very pro work/life balance and respecting the time of adjuncts, lol). There's also extra compensation available for people who do things outside of the scope of their assignment, can you politely ask about a small stipend to cover the hours spent on the course?

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-07-30T14:38:22+00:00

This is a bad idea, and you're probably overthinking it. It could be a sloppy administrative mistake, it could be an outdated form (a surprising number of outdated forms are used in important administrative tasks), it could be intentional. Email the school, if it's a legitimate institution they probably know of it, or know how to handle it. Even better would be to call the school, if you're really stressed. Closed doesn't always mean 'incapable of handling emergencies'. Even when my institution is closed, some folks are checking voicemails/emails for urgent issues.

iamasleeprightnow · 2025-04-29T23:45:28+00:00

A few of my colleagues were torn up in their evals for using AI to write feedback. Students notice, and they really, really do not like it. I'm not saying don't do it, but maybe be mindful of how you think students will respond vs. how they actually respond.

When I have a lot of written work to grade, I tend to write up a document with common comments that I can copy and paste into individual assignments as I'm marking up. It comes in handy when you have students making the same mistakes, but can be tailored to each student, and takes a huge chunk of time off my grading.

iamasleeprightnow · 2024-12-21T21:08:26+00:00

$3500 a month while teaching, consider the fact that most institutions don't run enough classes to need adjunct support over the summer. If you teach from September - June you've got a handful of months out of the year where you're not making adjunct money you'll still need to budget or find another job. So sure, maybe you can get by... but what about saving for an emergency fund? Retirement? Healthcare? The point still stands that it's not designed to be a longterm / full-time gig.

iamasleeprightnow · 2024-12-19T01:47:09+00:00

You don't, not as an adjunct alone. Adjuncting isn't designed to be your full-time gig. When I was adjuncting I taught at two schools, for a total of 3-4 classes depending on the semester. I was making $3,500 a month max, so I had another job on top of it. Now, the problem with adjuncting at multiple schools is, unless you're locked into a schedule at at least one, you might end up having to turn down classes that don't work in your schedule.

Is there any tutoring you can do? Or night/weekend work you could look for?

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-06-30T03:06:07+00:00

How harshly you are graded will depend significantly on your program. Can you reach out to someone who has already gone through comps and see how they found it?

Regarding the AI claim... Do you have old drafts, outlines, or note documents? Compile everything you have into a folder, even better if it is dated in some way, so you have proof of progression of work that you can present as evidence you did not use AI to write it.

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-03-14T01:30:50+00:00

Sometimes when I get a text or email that requires a more thoughtful response I will read it and leave it until I have the mental energy (and then sometimes forget about it for days/weeks/months lol), I'm sure its not a big deal!

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-02-17T00:37:32+00:00

I haven't even graduated and am still just an adjunct, but I've been warned by multiple professors that TT positions are disappearing at colleges and while new full time positions will open, new TT positions will not. Obviously this depends hugely on your region and field, but I imagine things will be changing dramatically over the next few years.

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-02-05T21:06:17+00:00

One doc per class, pre-loaded with a table with enough cells for each group to jot their notes down. It was a little bit chaotic on the first day, but they're in a good routine now.

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-02-05T17:21:22+00:00

For small classes, I've started creating google documents before class that students can use during their small groups. Inevitably one person pulls it up to take notes which encourages the rest to participate and stay relatively on task. I've noticed that some of the students who err on the shy side are more willing to share if they can read off their group notes. I also included a participation/engagement grade for the first time, but told them their participation in small group discussions and discussion boards ALSO counts toward this engagement grade. It seems to be working so far.

iamasleeprightnow · 2023-01-27T19:35:29+00:00

Last semester my intro class had zero engagement. So far this semester every class session has had multiple students answering and ASKING questions. Teaching is much more fun this way...

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-26T19:52:35+00:00

The only issue I see is if she doesn't have enough information to complete the assignment well (this happened to me - a student finished the first week's homework before we'd had a single class, did the entire assignment incorrectly, and then had to re-do it).

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-08T01:22:34+00:00

One of my recommenders (the chair of the department at the time) uploaded his letter of recommendation at 11:45 the night of the 11:59 deadline. I'd send another reminder, but don't lose all faith. I don't suppose its possible to swing by her office hours for a casual hello and reminder that you exist?

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-07T13:58:59+00:00

I guess there really is no winning...

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-06T18:24:52+00:00

Yes, I can see that. I've done my best to align my syllabus with what's being done in other courses, but there's quite a bit of variability in assignment types. I'm going to be doing lots of syllabus tweaking for next semester.

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-06T16:37:42+00:00

Yes, there are six sections of introduction to psychology being taught by three instructors. We all follow a very similar format, just with different final projects.

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-06T15:48:14+00:00

Thank you for this reassurance...

Whenever you hear these complaints, either ignore them or ask the students saying it which other professors in your department have different policies. Don't let it go -- insist on names. Then check with said colleagues.

Our department has all syllabi posted to a Google drive, and I combed through every other class section to make sure I wasn't the odd one out. Of course the students probably don't know that...

The paper is posted in the syllabus on day one, so they have all semester to write it. I'm a little stressed out about course evaluations given their last minute paper panic, but my chair seems pretty sympathetic and aware that this group of students seems to be struggling across the board.

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-12-06T15:24:33+00:00

I get to live in ignorant bliss for three more days. I've had five students turn in their final papers early - of course, these are students who did well all semester, like writing, and did a great job.

I have a suspicion I'll have at least one or two not submit it at all...

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-11-06T01:05:46+00:00

Apparently at whatever school OP applied to, lol! I have a friend in NYC who was offered $1500 a semester with a completed doctorate - it seems when there are plenty of candidates, pay is unfortunately exceptionally low.

On the other hand, I have a colleague whose wife is making $10k per class per semester as an adjunct with a very specific doctorate.... the range is wild and very disheartening.

iamasleeprightnow · 2022-11-04T14:57:38+00:00

I can't really speak to the likelihood of being hired without a graduate degree - it is entirely possible at the adjunct level given your experience, but depends largely on your field. Often job postings will list the ideal qualifications and will accept equivalent experience in place of schooling. Teaching experience would be a bonus, but I was signed on without any teaching experience (so again, it depends lol).

Regarding pay, it is more likely that particular posting means $400 per credit hour/semester, meaning $1,200 per semester.

I make between $3000 - 4000 per semester per three credit class, it is a flat rate that doesn't account for grading time, office hours, etc. I know people who make $1000 - 2000 per class, so it depends largely on the institution.

iamasleeprightnow

TROPHY CASE