Mastering Your Recommenders: A Strategic Guide for Business School Applications
Your recommenders are crucial allies in your business school application journey. They provide the third-party validation that admissions committees seek, offering insights into your professional capabilities, character, and potential. Choosing the right recommenders and preparing them effectively can significantly strengthen your application.
Who Should Write Your Recommendation Letters?
The ideal recommender is someone who knows you well in a professional capacity and can speak to your strengths with specific examples. This typically includes direct supervisors, senior colleagues, or clients. Avoid recommenders who only know you superficially or have a personal relationship with you.
Preparing Your Recommenders for Success
Simply asking someone to write a recommendation is not enough. You must actively prepare them to write a strong, tailored letter that aligns with your application narrative.
A strong recommendation letter is a narrative that complements your application. It should highlight specific achievements, leadership qualities, and potential for success in business school and beyond. Think of it as a story where your recommender is the narrator, providing evidence for your claims. Key elements to guide your recommender on include:
- Specific Examples: Encourage them to recall 2-3 concrete instances where you demonstrated key skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, analytical ability).
- Quantifiable Results: If possible, ask them to include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your impact.
- Alignment with Your Goals: Briefly explain your post-MBA career aspirations and how the school's program will help you achieve them. This helps the recommender frame your strengths in the context of your future.
- Comparison to Peers: A recommender who can state you are among the top X% of individuals they have supervised is highly impactful.
- Addressing Weaknesses (Optional but strategic): If you have a clear weakness in your profile (e.g., a low GMAT score), you might strategically ask your recommender to address it with context, if they are comfortable doing so.
Text-based content
Library pages focus on text content
The Recommender Toolkit
To facilitate their task, provide your recommenders with a comprehensive package of information. This 'toolkit' should equip them with everything they need to write an effective letter.
| Item | Purpose | How to Provide |
|---|---|---|
| Your Resume/CV | Provides a snapshot of your professional experience and accomplishments. | Attach as a PDF. |
| Your Application Essays/Goals | Helps them understand your narrative, motivations, and why you're applying to specific schools. | Share draft essays or a summary of your goals. |
| School-Specific Information | Details about the programs you're applying to, including their values and focus areas. | Provide links or brief descriptions of target programs. |
| A 'Brag Sheet' or Prompt List | A document outlining specific skills, projects, and achievements you'd like them to highlight, with concrete examples. | Create a structured document with bullet points and prompts. |
| Submission Instructions & Deadlines | Clear guidance on how and when to submit the letter. | Include links to online submission portals and clearly state deadlines. |
Timing and Etiquette
Respecting your recommender's time and effort is paramount. Proper timing and etiquette can ensure a positive experience for both of you.
Give your recommenders at least 3-4 weeks' notice before the deadline. This allows them ample time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter without feeling rushed.
Always ask for permission before listing someone as a recommender. Once they agree, follow up with your prepared toolkit. After submission, send a sincere thank-you note, and consider updating them on your application status and outcomes.
3-4 weeks
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Be aware of common mistakes that can weaken your recommendations.
- Choosing the wrong recommender: Someone who doesn't know you well or can't speak to your strengths.
- Failing to prepare them: Not providing sufficient information or guidance.
- Procrastinating: Asking too late, leading to rushed or generic letters.
- Not saying thank you: Neglecting to show appreciation for their effort.
Conclusion
Your recommenders are powerful advocates. By strategically identifying, preparing, and supporting them, you can transform your recommendation letters from a formality into a compelling endorsement that significantly boosts your business school application.
Learning Resources
Provides official guidance and practice questions for the GMAT, offering insights into the skills tested which can inform recommender discussions.
An in-depth article discussing criteria for selecting the best recommenders and what qualities admissions committees look for.
A comprehensive guide from Poets&Quants on how to approach recommenders and what makes a strong letter.
Explains the key components of an effective recommendation letter and how to guide your recommender.
Offers practical advice on selecting and preparing recommenders for MBA applications.
Discusses the importance of recommendation letters and what admissions committees look for in them.
A general timeline for MBA applications, which helps in planning the recommender request process well in advance.
Guidance from Princeton University on the etiquette and process of requesting letters of recommendation.
A comprehensive checklist for MBA applications, including sections on recommender preparation.
Details the GMAT exam structure, which can be a point of discussion with recommenders regarding your analytical and quantitative skills.