So I'm pretty much setup to apply to school choice #1 but there is one thing (not in my control) holding me back... A letter of recommendation from a former Professor I had. He originally wrote a letter for me back when I was job hunting in June of 2007 and said he would be happy to do another for me when I started looking to grad school. However, actually getting a letter has been quite the task (much as it was last June). My school of choice does NOT have a hard deadline but I do want to get my app in as though it is a round 1 application for the earliest consideration.
My question is...should I think about just submitting the letter I got from my Professor last Summer or will that be frowned upon? I have back-up options for recommendations but I really want this letter as it expresses a lot of the qualities the school is looking for and I believe it compliments my application nicely. My Professor even gives out his personal info in there to be contacted so I know he would back it up if any question was raised enough by the school. I just don't want to bother him anymore but definitely want to get this letter in my application. Just concerned about it being (in the very slightest way) geared somewhat toward a job recommendation (although the exact wording says 'position') and that it is dated back by about 1.5 years now.
Sorry for the long post! Thanks for the help!
-Brent
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Letter of Recommendation problem
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GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
- MBA Admissions Consultant
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Dear Brent,
I think you might want to try and secure a recommendation from someone in your professional experience instead. Business schools are generally not looking for recommendations from professors and would prefer to have letters from people you work with professionally--ideally supervisors but co-workers, clients or vendors are also good. You can still try to get something from the professor, but I would encourage you to move on to someone else so you can get your application in sooner rather than later.
Good luck,
Lisa
I think you might want to try and secure a recommendation from someone in your professional experience instead. Business schools are generally not looking for recommendations from professors and would prefer to have letters from people you work with professionally--ideally supervisors but co-workers, clients or vendors are also good. You can still try to get something from the professor, but I would encourage you to move on to someone else so you can get your application in sooner rather than later.
Good luck,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for the help. I should have noted though that I do have my Director at my current job filling out a recommendation form the school provides. So this particular letter is the second letter but it does carry weight as I worked exclusively for the marketing Professors during my UG time as part of an exclusive scholarship. Very valuable experience and that is the main reason I really like this letter.
On your note, I do have vendors around the world that I outsource work to daily. Given that this school focuses on diversity that may be a very real option and worth the thought.
Given the new information (sorry for not adding this earlier), would you change your advice at all?
Thanks,
Brent
Thanks for the help. I should have noted though that I do have my Director at my current job filling out a recommendation form the school provides. So this particular letter is the second letter but it does carry weight as I worked exclusively for the marketing Professors during my UG time as part of an exclusive scholarship. Very valuable experience and that is the main reason I really like this letter.
On your note, I do have vendors around the world that I outsource work to daily. Given that this school focuses on diversity that may be a very real option and worth the thought.
Given the new information (sorry for not adding this earlier), would you change your advice at all?
Thanks,
Brent
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
Lisa Anderson
- MBA Admissions Consultant
- Posts: 3845
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:57 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
- Thanked: 442 times
- Followed by:148 members
I think I will stick with my original answer here. A global vendor that you have a strong relationship with would be a great choice. However, if you don't feel you have a strong enough relationship with any of the vendors, then it sounds like one of the professors you have worked with would also be a good choice.
Best of luck,
Lisa
Best of luck,
Lisa
Thanks again Lisa. I was able to check with the school and they actually recommended the exact same thing as you (not surprisingly). They did say I could include the old letter as a third recommendation even though only 2 are required. I will just use the small space on the app form to explain why I thought submitting this older, third recommendation was worthwhile.
Appreciate your help on these boards!
Appreciate your help on these boards!
