Ask a typical MBA applicant what the most important component of his or her business school application is and you will probably hear GMAT score. While standardized test scores, undergraduate GPA and work/internship experiences are critical, I’m a big fan of one of the more underappreciated components of the MBA application: the letter(s) of recommendation.
Why? LORs offer unique insights on each applicant that aren’t available from the more standardized portions of the application. For example, a strong GMAT score doesn’t tell me if the applicant works well in teams. A high GPA doesn’t tell me if the applicant has the interpersonal skills to impress interviewers and alumni. Even a well-written essay or personal statement doesn’t tell me if the applicant is willing and able to capitalize on the myriad opportunities he or she will have in the MBA program to propel a career forward. High-quality LOR’s provide this information in spades.
What makes a strong letter of recommendation?
- Details – Since most LORs are positive, it’s the more detailed ones that are most useful. It’s also helpful if the recommender outlines specific skills or strengths and can support them with details. For example, saying the applicant is a good manager is OK. Saying the applicant managed a team of 10 and a $50 million budget for five years, and during that time sales grew by 50 percent while turnover was nearly nonexistent, is much more descriptive and therefore more helpful.
- Honesty – I once read a LOR stating that as an intern the candidate developed and launched a new product that sold more than 5 million units in its first year on the market. This seemed very impressive and I wanted to learn more. When attempting to contact the recommender, I learned that neither the company nor the recommender actually existed. While this is an extreme example (and one that did not end well for the applicant), applicants sometimes coach their recommenders to only mention their positive attributes. In my opinion, offering some areas for improvement adds credibility to the recommendation.
- Perspective – I like when recommenders introduces themselves and explicitly state their relationship with the applicant. Mentioning how long they have known the applicant provides some important context to the admission committee. In addition, contrasting the applicant with other employees they have managed, students they have taught or volunteers they have supervised helps illustrate the traits that make this applicant unique. For example a letter from a professor who states the applicant took her class and earned a B is ok. However, a letter that states that of the thousands of students she’s taught over her career, this applicant stands out due to his passion for the subject matter, work ethic and presentation skills is extremely helpful to the admissions committee.
Feel free to drop me a line or leave a comment if you have any questions about letters of recommendation or any other components of the MBA application.
Brian Precious is the MBA Program Director at Oregon State University. He can be reached at: OSUMBA@OregonState.edu.
