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Reco. from supervisor - Expert advice needed

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jimmy4444: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 9:35 am

Reco. from supervisor - Expert advice needed

by jimmy4444 » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:21 am

Hi,
Desperately trying to understand this. A few schools like Stanford, Insead and LBS have stated explicitly that they prefer letter of recommendations from current supervisor. Columbia states that it requires a letter of recommendation from current supervisor. Asking my current supervisor would mean that he'll start looking out for people for my role. This could also adversely impact my bonus & promotion. While a few B-schools allow for an explanation for an alternate reco, columbia has not stated that this is fine. Would request some advice on how should one go about it. Does it significantly impact your application?
Regds
Jimmy

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Source: Beat The GMAT — The Application Process | Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:21 am

Toddius: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 25; Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:53 am; Thanked: 4 times

by Toddius » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:52 am

Why don't you email the school and explain your situation? I'm pretty confident they'll tell you it's fine to go with someone else.

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money9111: Legendary Member; Posts: 2109; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm; Location: New Jersey; Thanked: 109 times; Followed by:79 members; GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:57 pm

it should not be an issue as long as you explain it

My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

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PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 288; Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:23 am; Location: Los Angeles/NY; Thanked: 58 times; Followed by:11 members

by PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:24 pm

MBA programs understand that there are circumstances under which getting a boss to write a letter could threaten your position. And in this economy, that is something to be very careful about. As long as you proactively address why you are not asking him, you will be fine. Just make sure you choose folks who have worked with you directly over a material period of time.

Regards,

Alex Leventhal
Harvard MBA, 1998
Prep MBA Admissions Consulting
www.prepmba.com
[email protected]
(323)424.3178

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jimmy4444: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 9:35 am

by jimmy4444 » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:48 pm

Hi guys,
Thanks for the response. I have good relationships with supervisors in my earlier jobs who have worked with me for more than a year. Do you think it will be a good idea to have them recommend me? What about Columbia? Should I write to them asking if it makes sense to apply without fulfilling an application requirement?
Thanks

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Toddius: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 25; Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:53 am; Thanked: 4 times

by Toddius » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:24 pm

Jimmy,

If Columbia is where you'd like to be - I'd simply email someone in their admissions department and ask them how they think you should handle it. Admissions people get emails like that all the time. There's also the optional essay - which seems like a logical place to explain why you used a different recommender than they requested. But don't take it from me - get it directly from the people that work in admissions at Columbia.

Good Luck,

Todd