How to Get A Great MBA Letter of Recommendation

Business schools can be very competitive, so your application needs to stand out. One way to shine is by getting a great letter of recommendation. An exceptional letter of recommendation for graduate school can be the deciding factor that gets you into the MBA program of your choice.

This guide delves into what makes a great letter of recommendation and how to ask someone to write it. We also cover whom to ask and how to give them the information they need to write the best letter possible.

To get into an MBA program, you usually need two letters of recommendation from people who know you well and can provide insight into why you would make a great MBA candidate. A great letter of recommendation can cement your spot in the MBA program of your choice. An outstanding letter can even help move your application out of the “reject” pile.

A bad letter of recommendation could spell disaster for your chances of admission, so if you’re not happy with your letters of recommendation, try asking someone else to write one for you and scrap the less-than-positive review.

A great MBA recommendation letter helps paint a picture of the applicant that validates and enhances the candidate’s application. The letter should provide support for the claims made in the application. Most schools prefer a professional letter of recommendation from a supervisor or manager to an academic letter of application from a current or former professor.

Your letters of recommendation should highlight the positive aspects of your personality and qualifications. A great letter may praise your communication and decision-making skills or mention the time you saved the company thousands of dollars. Whatever you have accomplished that you would highlight on a resume would be great content for a letter of recommendation.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

When asking for an MBA recommendation letter, provide the person you’re asking with a copy of your resume and a list of your accomplishments. This will make it easier for the recommender to write a glowing recommendation letter that provides more information about your role in completing specific projects or assignments.

Some schools ask recommenders to answer specific questions. If that is the case, make sure to give the recommender a copy of the questions and any other requested requirements, such as word length or format.

If you’re wondering how to ask a professor for a letter of recommendation, try to catch them during office hours. Don’t approach them at the end of class when they may need to get to another class. Regardless of who you ask, try to ask when your recommender is in a good mood. If you’ve just received a compliment, that may be the perfect time to ask.

Don’t wait until the last minute to ask your recommender to write a recommendation letter for an MBA program. You don’t want your letter of recommendation to be rushed. Give the person plenty of time to do a thorough job.

Ask at least 6-8 weeks before the application deadline. That gives your recommender plenty of time to fit writing into their schedule without feeling pressured.

Most MBA programs want to see letters from people you have worked with in a professional environment. If possible, try to get all of your letters of recommendation from supervisors or other managers at your current or former job. If that is not possible, see if you can get a colleague to write you a professional letter of recommendation.

If you can’t get a professional letter of recommendation, a letter of recommendation from a professor in your bachelor’s program may be acceptable.

Remember, you want your recommendation letters to showcase the skills you’ve already listed on your application and resume. Giving your recommender a copy of your resume will help ensure that their letter of recommendation includes complementary information.

You might also want to make a list of your accomplishments while working in your current position (or former position, if your recommender is a former supervisor). This list helps the recommender remember your contributions to the organization.