How to select and prepare your MBA Application Recommenders

Why are your Letters of Recommendation (LORs) so important in the MBA Admissions process?

Often, MBA candidates overlook or misunderstand the importance of the LORs in the MBA Admissions process. It can be a costly mistake.

The LORs are the only application input that is not produced by you, the MBA candidate. And that’s immensely important.

The LORs serve as a tool to validate all the claims you make about yourself in your resume, essays, and overall MBA application. They also provide additional color and context for your accomplishments.

Equally importantly, your recommender is expected to be someone who has observed, managed, and contributed to the development of other professionals at your level - and can speak about how YOU compare to THEM. If you hope to be the 1 in 5 - or 1 in 10! - candidates who gets admitted to a top MBA program, your recommender will need to make it clear how and why that is the case.

So how do you select strong MBA application recommenders and brief them?

First, the Dos

Choose Recommenders Who Know You Well:

Select individuals who have a deep understanding of your work, strengths, and achievements. Most MBA programs will strongly suggest that at least one of your LORs comes from a direct supervisor.

Sometimes that’s not possible. If that’s the case, always check the application instructions – they usually exist in two places: the school’s admissions web site and inside the application form itself.

HBS offers great guidance regarding the sometimes-thorny issue of selecting recommenders:

“Use your best judgment on who you decide to ask - there is no set formula for who should be your recommenders. We know it is not always possible to have a direct supervisor write your recommendation – we would not want you to jeopardize your current position for the application process. Look at the questions we are asking recommenders to complete. Find people who know you well enough to answer them. This can be a former supervisor, a colleague, or someone you collaborate on an activity outside of work. How well a person knows you should take priority over level of seniority or HBS alumni status.”

The alternative to a direct supervisor could be someone who has managed you on projects, a mentor, another senior colleague, or in some instances even a client. Again, the key is to choose someone who can provide detailed and specific examples of your capabilities.

And again, research the requirements and guidance for each of your school - you would be surprised how much they can vary.

Ensure They Are Enthusiastic About Recommending You:

You want to choose recommenders who are genuinely supportive and enthusiastic about championing your MBA candidacy. Their enthusiasm can translate into a more compelling and convincing recommendation.

The best way to ensure this is to pick the right people and have a conversation (or two) with them. When my candidates are selecting recommenders and having the initial conversation with them, I often guide them to not start with directly asking for a recommendation. A discussion where you share that you are considering an MBA and ask for their input (“What advice do you have for me? Do you think business school would help my professional development?”) helps bring them onboard but also gives you an out if they are unsupportive.

Provide Them with Relevant Information:

Equip your recommenders with all the necessary information they need to write a strong recommendation. This includes your resume, and a summary of your professional accomplishments, projects, and feedback they may have given you. If the recommender has been part of your performance evaluations, using content from them could be extremely helpful.

Be Prepared to Follow Up – a Lot:

Most recommenders need reminders to submit. To ensure LORs are submitted on time, you may choose to ask your recommenders to submit a week before the deadline.

Keep in touch with your recommenders throughout the application process, reminding them of upcoming deadlines – ideally, a week before the date you asked them to submit, then again a few days and a day before.

And now the Don’ts

Don’t Choose Recommenders Based Solely on Their Titles – or Just Because They Are MBA Alumni:

Avoid selecting recommenders just because they have high-ranking titles if they don’t know you well. A generic or impersonal recommendation from a CEO or high-ranking executive is way less effective than a detailed, personalized one from someone who knows you intimately. The same goes for selecting recommenders solely because they are alumni of the MBA program.

Schools can smell an attempt to impress them with a high-ranking recommender from a mile away – and they are never impressed with an LOR that is generic and lacks substance.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute:

Don’t ask for recommendations at the last minute. And by last minute I mean a week or two before the deadlines!

Give your recommenders ample time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter. Rushed recommendations can come across as less sincere and thorough.

Don’t Overlook the Application Instructions:

Different MBA programs may have specific requirements for recommenders.

In some instances, if you don’t have a recommendation from a direct supervisor, you may be asked to explain – in a field in the application form itself or in the optional essay.

Ensure that your recommenders are aware of and adhere to these guidelines to avoid any issues with your application.

Don’t Neglect to Prep Your Recommenders:

Don’t assume your recommenders know what to write. Failing to provide them with context and key achievements can result in a weak and generic recommendation. Make sure they are well-prepared to write a strong and supportive letter.

Onwards and upwards,

Petia