Letters of Recommendation for MBA Applicants

Karen Schweitzer is a business school admissions consultant, curriculum developer, and education writer. She has been advising MBA applicants since 2005.

MBA applicants need to present at least one recommendation letter to admissions committees, and most schools ask for two or three. Letters of recommendation are typically used to support or strengthen other aspects of the MBA application. For example, some applicants use recommendation letters to highlight their academic record or professional accomplishments, while others prefer to highlight leadership or management experience.

Choosing a Letter Writer

When choosing someone to write your recommendation, it is very important to select someone who is familiar with you and your accomplishments. Many MBA applicants choose an employer or direct supervisor who can discuss their work ethic, leadership experience, or professional achievements. A letter writer who has seen you manage employees or overcome obstacles is also a good choice. Another option is a professor or a fellow student from your undergraduate days. Some applicants also choose someone who supervised their volunteer or community work.

Sample MBA Recommendation

Below is a sample recommendation for an MBA applicant. This letter was written by a supervisor for her direct assistant. The letter highlights the student's strong work performance and leadership ability. These traits are important for MBA applicants, who must be able to perform under pressure, work hard, and lead discussions, groups, and projects while enrolled in their program. The claims made in the letter are supported by very specific examples, which help reinforce the points the letter writer is trying to make. Finally, the recommender outlines the ways in which the subject could contribute to an MBA program.

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to recommend Becky James for your MBA program. Becky has worked as my assistant for the last three years. During that time, she has been moving toward her goal of enrolling in an MBA program by building her interpersonal skills, honing her leadership ability, and gaining hands-on experience in operations management.

As Becky's direct supervisor, I have seen her demonstrate strong critical thinking skills and the leadership capabilities necessary for success in the management field. She has helped our company achieve many goals through her valuable input as well as a persistent dedication to our organizational strategy. For example, just this year Becky helped to analyze our production schedule and suggested an effective plan to manage bottlenecks in our production process. Her contributions helped us achieve our goal of minimizing scheduled and unscheduled downtime.

Becky may be my assistant, but she has risen to an unofficial leadership role. When team members in our department aren't sure what to do in a given situation, they often turn to Becky for her thoughtful advice and support on various projects. Becky never fails to assist them. She is kind, humble, and seems very comfortable in a leadership role. Several of her fellow employees have come into my office and expressed unsolicited compliments in regards to Becky's personality and performance.

I believe that Becky will be able to contribute to your program in a number of ways. Not only is she well-versed in the field of operations management, she also has a contagious enthusiasm that encourages those around her to work harder and achieve solutions for both personal and professional problems. She knows how to work well as part of a team and is able to model appropriate communication skills in almost any given situation.

For these reasons I highly recommend Becky James as a candidate for your MBA program. If you have any questions regarding Becky or this recommendation, please contact me.