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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2026

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

GMATLiveTeach Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Recommenders and essay topics

Launched April 26, 2006
Expert replies
by smkrn » Wed May 21, 2008 4:45 am
Hi,

I am planning to apply to MBA programs this coming fall and was wondering, how much time is acceptable between obtaining a recommendation and the specified interaction with the recommender? Specifically, I did volunteer work full-time for 2 years, ending 3.5 years ago. I had a very great experience with my superior over the course of the 2 years, in which I was appointed to numerous leadership positions - is it ok to have him write a letter of recommendation for me, given that the experience ended 3.5 years ago? For what it's worth, I've stayed in steady contact with the potential recommender since ending my volunteer service.

Second, would this volunteer service (specifically the leadership experience) be an acceptable subject for an essay, again considering that the service spanned 2 years and ended 3.5 years ago?

I ask these questions because of my background: I will graduate from my undergrad program next May and will be applying as a college senior to MIT, Wharton, Chicago, and Cornell (also HBS 2+2). My other recommendation will come from a professor that I've helped with special projects and done research for over the last 2 years (this should be a very strong recommendation, as he knows me well outside the classroom).

Any input is greatly appreciated.
Join the discussion
Source: — Ask Stacy Blackman |

by Lisa Anderson » Wed May 21, 2008 5:04 am
Dear smkrn,

If you have stayed in contact with the person, then the recommendation is probably fine. Ideally, it would be best to have a supervisor from the last 1-2 years but if that is not possible than the recommender from your volunteer experience will suffice. Likewise, if the volunteer example is the best one for you to use for an essay question, then you should use it. However, I think more recent examples will resonate more with the admissions committees. Perhaps you have come extracurricular experiences or internships during college you can use?

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me
Join the discussion

by smkrn » Wed May 21, 2008 6:44 am
Thanks for the input Lisa.

I do have some other more recent experiences from college. For any programs that will allow 3 LOR, I'm planning to use a supervisor from a summer internship in addition to the professor and the advisor from the 2-year volunteer experience. However, some programs only allow 2 letters of recommendation (like HBS 2+2). In these cases, I could use an internship supervisor (instead of the volunteer experience person), but my adviser from the 2 year volunteer experience would be able to write a much more comprehensive and powerful recommendation (assuming that the time since the activity is not an issue).

As for the essays, it is somewhat the same issue. I have some good EC leadership things I could write about (president of honors fraternity, chair of student advisory committee), but I think I could write a killer essay about the 2 year volunteer experience (I was appointed to oversee and train 180 other volunteers, etc).

What do you think?
Join the discussion

by Lisa Anderson » Thu May 22, 2008 5:03 am
Dear smkrn,

You want to write about the strongest experience which demonstrates your effectiveness as a leader. However, I do think you should be aware that the committees might be looking for something more recent. Ultimately, go with your instincts to present yourself in the best way.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me
Join the discussion