What to do about recommendation letter

So three weeks this Friday, I informed a person (S.B.) who I've had professional connections with through my university that I'd be applying to a postgraduate program in England for this fall entry. I asked if she'd write a letter a recommendation for me and she said no problem. I also gave her one week to complete the letter, which I thought was an adequate amount of time. A week and a half passed and she told me that she was extremely busy with work but that she'd get the letter out this week <--that was last week now. I haven't been in contact with her because I don't like being pushy with people, but she's missed her deadline twice and now I'm tempted to just contact one of my old professors and ask if they'd write a letter of recommendation. Good idea, or should I still wait it out? I realize that waiting for the letter is holding up the process of me getting accepted into the course or not... but also I wasn't really close with any of my professors during my undergrad program and I'd feel a bit awkward asking one of them (this is precisely why they tell you not to be afraid to suck up to your professors a bit- they're the ones who will be writing your letters of recommendation!). There are two profs in mind that I could ask, though. S.B. is both a professional and academic reference who I definitely got to know better than my profs, which is why I chose her to write (one of) the letters.

An admissions tutor from one of the programs I'm applying to has been in contact with me a few times, asking me some general questions, telling me they'd happily consider my application, etc. Even he asked about my missing reference letter, and I had to explain the situation to him. What to do...

Tell her that the admissions people are asking for the reference and that they have now given you a deadline to have all of your supporting docs in. I think for all of the places I applied to, your application is withdrawn if they don't recieve what they ask for in a month (obviously not final transcripts if you're still working on finishing your bachelors). Just in case though ask your other professors to write you recommendations. They don't penalize you for sending more than two in.

I think for all of the places I applied to, your application is withdrawn if they don't recieve what they ask for in a month

Good to know, it'll be two weeks tomorrow since I've applied. I'll get in contact with my profs and see if one of them will write the letter. Even though I didn't get to know my profs too well, my undergrad grades were mediocre so it may be beneficial for admissions to hear from an instructor whose classes I did well in.

Don't be afraid to be a little pushy. You need it and she said she would do it. The worst that would happen is that she'll say she can't do it anymore, and at least then you wouldn't be wasting your time sitting around and wondering when she'll do it. Good luck! 

Thanks. Well, I e-mailed one of my old profs around 7:30 this morning, it's 4 now and haven't heard anything back yet... just hoping that this slight struggle to get my second letter of recommendation in isn't some kind of bad sign that I'm not going to get accepted onto the course! And yes, I realize that I'm an irrational nutter. 

Personally, I think that only giving one week's notice in the first place was not enough time.   Considering how professors normally have their entire semesters planned out, the timing of all this seems like it will have been very close to the university's spring break...and from my undergrad days, I know I almost always had a TON of work to do just before...meaning that the professors had a BIGGER TON of work to Grade(!) just before break as well.  So I'd personally try to be understanding of the obligations SB had to his/her students.

It sounds like that's what you've tried to do so far, so kudos to you. But I'd probably check in just to see how things are coming along and if SB's still able to complete it in time for the deadline.  I'd also start getting back in touch with other professors and any other potential university staff to see if they'd be able to help out. 

For example, in my application, I needed 2 recommendations.  For the first, I used my former research advisor/biochemistry professor, who I had worked with over the course of 2 years. For the second, I used a professor who I had never even had as a teacher;he was both the Honors Program Adviser as well as the Study Abroad coordinator for my department.  I took advantage of both opportunities, and figured he might be a good fit despite not ever having taught me anything on a particular syllabus.  (He did teach me a thing or two about taking advantage of life though!).    Good luck!

Well, my first recommendation letter was from my current employer who I've worked for  since 2008. And the second, S.B., wasn't one of my professors but she's a speech-language pathologist I observed a few times while completing my clinical observation hours at university. We developed a pretty good relationship during that time and since I got to know her better than any of my former professors, I chose her to write the letter. She's employed by an elementary school, not the university, and she did explain to me that she was very busy with progress reports, evaluations, etc. I thought a week was plenty of time but looking back, maybe I should have made it two weeks or more... then again, this was my first time requesting recommendation letters so it's all a learning process.

The admissions tutor (at Sheffield) I've been in contact with hasn't given me a deadline yet, he just basically told me that in order for my application to be considered they have to receive the second letter of recommendation, which is obviously understandable. He told me that he's read my application with interest. City Uni London doesn't even look at any of the application materials until everything is received, or so an automated e-mail message from them told me. So far, I'm impressed with Sheffield more so than City. It was nice to hear from a person who had interest in me rather than some automated e-mail. I wasn't expecting to hear from anyone I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Just got in contact with one of my old profs... and it left me feeling kinda dejected. She said she'd write my letter, telling them what a hard worker I am, how I always showed up for class, etc. (I received B grades in her both classes, for the record). But she also mentioned that she'd have to tell them that my "course grades were generally lower than those suggesting good potential for success in graduate coursework and clinic." I had ONE very difficult semester where I got two D+s, a D, a B, and an A. Basically, I had too much on my plate and by the time I recognized the problem, it was too late. I learned from it though, and my grades improved the next semesters. The rest of my grades are As and Bs.

She did ask me for some factors that could mitigate it though and she'd make note of that in the letter. I know it's only right to be honest, but I thought letters of recommendation were about pointing out a person's good attributes and not the bad ones     I didn't even make mention of my poor semester in my personal statement... I'd hate for admissions to put together my transcript and recommendation letter and then have big doubts about admitting me.

I would ask a different professor for a letter. Maybe a class where you got an 'A'?

I'm not sure why she would make mention of my poor grades when my grades in her classes were both good?? It was really, really disheartening to hear back from her like that. I really need to get this second letter in soon, but I'd hate to be rejected on account of a bad letter. Stress. I did contact another prof of mine yesterday who I haven't heard back from yet. The other has a reputation as a "nicer and easier" prof and I received good grades in both her classes as well.
But since I'm on the topic... as I mentioned, I only highlighted my strong, good attributes in my application. Though should I provide a quick explanation to the admissions tutor I've been in contact with as to why I had the bad semester? He hasn't questioned me about it though, just wondering if it's a decent idea or not.

I wouldn't mention it. The admissions committee can see your transcript so you're not being deceptive. There's no reason to point it out to them. Don't be stressed yet. Deadlines in a lot of places go all the way up until August for the September start semester. Just give it a little while. I don't see why the professor wouldn't get back to you. Don't be disheartened either. If they're showing interest in you, that's a really good sign. Also remember, you're an international student so just the money they'll be making off you makes you a very attractive candidate.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to get in contact with S.B. today, just a friendly e-mail to see how things are going with the letter. And if I don't hear from the other prof by tomorrow, I'll contact her once more to see if she received my previous e-mail. There's always a chance she didn't receive it, or is really busy right now, etc. I'm not going to take up the prof I've been in contact with today on her (dis) recommendation letter... this is my application, after all, and I'm not going to have negative remarks on it. Though I had a period where I didn't do well, there's no point dwelling on it. It's about moving forward and pointing out my good qualities. The deadline for this course is not until August (it's a PGDip). The admissions tutor I've been in contact with hasn't told me that if my recommendation letter isn't received by X date, then it's going to be withdrawn. He only stated that they can't make a decision until all application materials are received.