BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Issue with letter of recommendation

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:45 pm
Location: Minneapolis MN

Issue with letter of recommendation

by ftorpt » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:36 am
Hello

I have an issue, where I got a recommendation from my current supervisor and it was poorly drafted. While the content in the letter seems to be positive ( not stellar, but shows positive growth with words like steadily grown,his efforts show he has a good aptitude and overall impression is positive, with focus on professional development combined with eagerness to learn will allow to continue to grow and improve in the area), the drafting was poor without some grammer issues. Unfortunately, I need to get one from my supervisor, so I dont have a fallback. Also my second letter is from a manager I worked with in my last job and he gave me a very good letter that was both impressive from a content and construction point of view. My question is will this be viewed negatively by the adcom? I am planning to apply to Kellogg and Booth for their part time program.

Regards
MI
Top
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 204
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:22 pm
Thanked: 51 times
Followed by:6 members

by MBAApply » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:05 am
ftorpt wrote:Hello

I have an issue, where I got a recommendation from my current supervisor and it was poorly drafted. While the content in the letter seems to be positive ( not stellar, but shows positive growth with words like steadily grown,his efforts show he has a good aptitude and overall impression is positive, with focus on professional development combined with eagerness to learn will allow to continue to grow and improve in the area), the drafting was poor without some grammer issues. Unfortunately, I need to get one from my supervisor, so I dont have a fallback. Also my second letter is from a manager I worked with in my last job and he gave me a very good letter that was both impressive from a content and construction point of view. My question is will this be viewed negatively by the adcom? I am planning to apply to Kellogg and Booth for their part time program.

Regards
MI
It depends. If it's poorly written because it seems like your supervisor isn't a native English speaker, the adcoms are known to be a lot more forgiving of it than you may realize - they are willing to overlook that if the letter reveals that he's really vouching for you, admires your work, etc. And they are certainly more forgiving if they know you're working in a non-English speaking country (China, Brazil, Russia, etc.) - given the schools you're applying to, I assume you're in the Chicago area so that's not the case. In plain English, if your recommender has an Anglo name (i.e. Robert Smith) then the impression will be that he was a bit sloppy (but not fatal if the letter is otherwise supportive). If he has a non-Anglo name (Indian, Chinese, Russian, Italian, etc.) then the adcom could reasonably assume there's a chance that he's a non-native speaker.

Again it's all a matter of degree - if there's a few spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in the rec letter, the adcom isn't going to hold that against you the applicant.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:45 pm
Location: Minneapolis MN

by ftorpt » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:18 am
Hello MBAApply

Thank you for your prompt reply. The issue is that he is a native english speaker and also that I have been at my current position for less than two years and hence the letter becomes less stellar than it would have been if I had a longer run. Does it help to address this in the essay to backup why the letter shows me to be on a learning curve as opposed to a "star" employee?

MI
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1