Episode 17: Recommendations I: The Basics

In this lesson, we explain what recommendation letters are and their role in the MBA admissions process. In summary the main purpose of these letters are as follows:

-To provide the admissions reader with a third-party point of view on your candidacy

-To offer up evidence that can corroborate what you have written in your own materials

-To test your ability to ‘manage’ a former or current supervisor through the process of submitting a recommendation on your behalf

-To test your judgment in terms of selecting appropriate recommenders who can really shed light and best support your candidacy

We highlight the Common Letter of Recommendation, which has been provided by GMAC and adopted by many MBA programs. For reference, the main questions for the common letter of recommendation are as follows:

-Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.

-How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (e.g., what are the applicant’s principal strengths?)

-Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

We also highlight the importance of avoiding writing your own recommendations.

See also Becoming a Clear Admit: The Definitive Guide to MBA Admissions Chapter 4, “How to Apply – Recommendations.”