3 Important Things to Know About Letters of Recommendation for the MBA Application (2023)

The recommendation letter is a very important part of the MBA application. It gives the MBA Admissions Committee a third view of the candidate.

1. What is a letter of recommendation??

The main purpose of a recommendation letter is to provide the admissions committee with insight into your talents and weaknesses. A letter of recommendation is a document that indicates the character of a candidate and helps the admissions college to get a general picture of the candidate's strengths, weaknesses, and achievements.

2. How to write a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation from applicants.You should always start with the person you refer introducing themselves and how they relate to you. This is done to provide the full context for the admissions committee to know

1. The relationship of that person with you.

2. Your experience in the relevant field.

3. Do they know you well enough to accurately assess your strengths?

What should an MBA recommendation letter contain?

Some common indications of letters of recommendation are the following:

1. Briefly describe your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant's role in your organization.

2. How does the candidate compare to other well-qualified people in similar roles?

   (Video) MBA Recommendation Letter Must-Haves With StratusPrep

3. Describe the most important constructive feedback you gave the candidate. Explain the circumstances and the applicant's response.Is there anything else we should know?

To answer the above questions, a letter of recommendation for an MBA program should provide specific examples of the applicant's skills and abilities, as well as the writer's assessment of the applicant's potential for success in an MBA program.

Here are some specific things that a letter of recommendation for an MBA program might include:

1. Personal and professional relationship with the applicant: the author must describe how and in what capacity they know the applicant (eg, as a supervisor, employee, teacher).

2. Specific Examples of Applicant's Skills and Abilities: The writer must provide specific examples of applicant's skills and abilities, such as: B. leadership potential, problem-solving abilities, or analytical abilities.

3. Assessment of the candidate's potential for success in an MBA program: The author should provide their assessment of the candidate's potential for success in an MBA program based on their experience with the candidate.

4. Comparison with other candidates: where appropriate, the author could also provide a comparison of the applicant with other candidates they have worked with in terms of their skills and abilities.

In general, a letter of recommendation for an MBA program should provide detailed and specific information about the applicant's skills and abilities and provide a compelling argument as to why the applicant is a good fit for the MBA program.

Are MBA Recommendation Letters Important?

Yes, MBA letters of recommendation are an important part of the MBA admission process. Recommendation letters provide information about an applicant's skills and potential for success in an MBA program from the perspective of someone who has worked with or knows the applicant well.

Actually in schools like thatMBA from ISBThe letter of recommendation is one of the five important factors that go into the applicant evaluation process.

MBA letters of recommendation can be particularly useful for admissions committees because they provide a broader view of an applicant's strengths and weaknesses. Letters from supervisors or peers can provide information about an applicant's work habits, leadership potential, and ability to work well with others, while letters from teachers can provide information about academic ability and career potential. applicant's success in a graduate program.

MBA letters of recommendation can be a valuable addition to an applicant's application and help admissions committees make more informed decisions.

Can a mentor write a recommendation letter for an MBA candidate?

A mentor can write a recommendation letter if there is no other option, even if it is the second referrer. For applications that only require a single reference letter, it is advisable to take it from a current or former supervisor. There are some schools that require two reference letters, and some schools only require one reference letter.

Some schools that require two letters of reference are:

1. Stanford MBA

2. MBA from HBS

3. Chicago MBA bracket

4. INSEAD-MBA

Some MBA programs that require a reference letter are:

1. Cornell SC Johnson MBA

2. ISB-PGP

3. Colombia MBA

   (Video) Everything You Need to Know About MBA Letters of Recommendation

How to write an MBA reference?

Some important points to keep in mind when writing a student recommendation letter

1) After a brief knowledge transfer, the recommendation letter should address specific experiences the recommender has had with you. It will represent your character, personality, and any other positive traits that make you the best choice for your university.

2) If your recommendation letter was written by a teacher, you can add cases where you achieved an exceptional level or had an excellent understanding of the lesson topic. The referrer may even discuss his behavior with peer groups, which reflects his positive personality traits.

3) You can include your area of ​​weakness in the letter that reflects your ability as an individual to learn from your mistakes and recognize that you are still growing. But it should be written in such a way that it ends up being positive and full of praise.

4) Student recommendation letter You should end up with positive feedback from the recommender that reaffirms your excellent potential, as you will prove to be a great asset to the admissions community. They will self-certify the document below and provide their contact information.

3. How do you select the references for your letter of recommendation?

Choosing a good reference for your letter of recommendation is one of the most difficult decisions one has to make. When choosing your referrer, keep the following tips in mind:

1)Choosing a Recommender - Academic Recommendation:Undergraduate applicants may choose a teacher to be their referrer, however, for graduate applicants, referrers must be a professional supervisor.

Most of the time, their recommendations are very typical and they would apply to any student who excelled in their course. Also, they can't even mention your character traits. Therefore, you should choose a teacher who has known you well, even if he was not very good in his classes. Getting a reference from a teacher who understands your personal behavior and his quality in overcoming difficulties would create a stronger connection with admissions officers and allow you to present yourself as a promising candidate.

2)Selection of a Recommender - Non-Academic Reference / Professional Reference:Specifically, depending on the program and school to which you are applying, you may be asked for a recommendation from a counselor, volunteer advisor, or employer. Non-teacher referrers work great for discussing your ability to work as a team member and your quality in building relationships not only with your peers, but also with your team leader, your coworkers, and the organization as a whole.

Take the time to decide who to recommend and reach out to them with sincere requests. This is the best way to secure your references, which will help you stand out in the application process.

How to ask a professor to write a letter of recommendation

The letter of recommendation is an important aspect of the admission process. In a situation like this, where face-to-face interviews are not possible, the letter of recommendation plays a key role. The recommendation letter is an important document that describes you as a candidate and shows whether you are a perfect fit for the institution or not. It is very common to feel intimidated in the initial stages when you think about asking for your letter of recommendation. The only thing to keep in mind is that you are asking the right person and that you are asking the way you are asking.

Who should you ask for the letter of recommendation?

When considering a recommender for your letter of recommendation, ask yourself the following questions:

a) Do you know yourself as a professional/student?

b) Did you interact with him regularly enough?

c) Have you had the opportunity to work on a project under your supervision?

When applying for the letter of recommendation, it is not necessary to ask the most prominent or notable person in your field. Instead, it should be someone who knows you and brings quality to your letter of recommendation. You should always approach the person who has a real opinion about you and would add meaning to your request. You should even consider someone who can show off your personality traits. It would be in a way that sets you apart and makes you shine above the rest.

Here are some perspectives on letters of recommendation that sometimes come a little late.

1. A letter of recommendation has the power to make or break your application.Most applicants do not understand why recommendations contribute to the success of their application. This happens in part because candidates have no control over this part of the application. In a way, letters of recommendation are a window into your managerial potential for the MBA application.

The ISB PGP Admissions team values ​​a third-party perspective on an applicant's leadership abilities. Also, there is a limit to how much we can discuss ourselves and why we are the best. So when a referrer steps in to make some glowing comments about the applicant, it's an opportunity worth taking. Learn more about theIn the application process from IIM and ISB.

2. Start early.Typically, the application preparation process leans heavily toward GMAT/GRE preparation, then we wake up to essays, and lastly comes the recommendation. This is a very good reason why many candidates fail. Considering that an effective recommendation letter is an important addition to the ISB PGP application, you should start going through your pool of references and filling it with details on time.

3. Choose your recommender carefully.For MBA schools that only require a letter of recommendation as part of the MBA application package, such asISB-PGPthe quality and length of the applicant's service should give the highest value to the recommendation. In some cases it is mandatory to obtain a recommendation from the hierarchical superior. There are some special conditions in which a previous supervisor can also be chosen as a recommender. For application support from an experiencedMBA admissions counselorinTorisb Contact Us.