How to Get a Strong MBA Recommendation Letter

One of the most important components of any MBA admissions application are the recommendation letters. In addition to your GMAT score, personal statement and other required essays, you will be asked to submit letters of recommendation. You should anticipate submitting around two recommendation letters. 

Contrary to what many applicants believe, you can directly influence the quality of the recommendation letters you receive. It starts with choosing the right people to write recommendation letters, and the specific details in the letters they write that help demonstrate your skillset and allow you standout as a candidate. 

Who should write an MBA recommendation letter?

MBA recommendation letters should generally be written by direct supervisors or employers in an organization that have worked with you in a direct capacity that allows them to speak to specific examples of working with you and the impact you’ve made on a project or team. Although it can be tempting to have the most senior level individual in the organization that you know write your recommendation letter, unless this person can speak to working with you directly, the letter may be too vague to be impactful in a positive way. 

Be sure to weigh the different options you have for writers, and think through the pros and cons. If you’ve worked in multiple departments or roles, you also want to consider what working experience aligns with your personal statement and stated goals for post business school plans.

You may also want to consider choosing diverse writers to ensure your application shows a range of examples and experiences that may showcase you as a more well rounded applicant.

What makes a good MBA recommendation letter?

A good MBA recommendation letter gives admissions counselors a clear idea of who you are as a candidate and what you would bring to a business school class. In other words, what makes you special and unique as a potential student. A good recommendation letter will not be generic or filled with broad praise - rather, it will have very specific examples that will highlight your personality and character. 

If your writer needs some inspiration or a starting point from which to write your letter, feel free to provide some examples that speak to your leadership or workplace accomplishments, or characteristics you would like highlighted. However, you should refrain from overediting the letter or having too heavy of a hand in the letter. 

After asking someone for a recommendation letter, you can either find time to meet with them or send an email to discuss your contributions and impact, and also share with them your intentions for going to business school and high level goals and plans upon graduation. This will give them a better understanding of your application, and will help them tie specific examples to your stated chosen future field. 

What format should an MBA recommendation letter take?

A recommendation letter from a supervisor or employer is not long - therefore, every paragraph and example must count. It typically follows an example like the sample letter below. A good MBA recommendation letter should introduce the writer’s relationship to the applicant, highlight the applicant’s strengths and skills, and provide concrete examples to demonstrate positive characteristics. 

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