The MBA Recommendation Process

A strong MBA recommendation does more than confirm that you are good at your job. It gives the admissions committee another person’s view of how you work, lead, respond to feedback, and contribute to a team.

Because business schools often ask different questions, your recommendations should be prepared with each university in mind. The process should still be honest and sound like your recommender, but it should answer what each school is actually asking.

Berkeley University

How to send a recommendation?

Enter your recommender’s name and email address into the university’s online application system. Subsequently, your recommender will receive an email containing instructions on how to write the recommendation. Alternatively, some universities allow sending hard copy recommendations. Please review the exact instructions on the admissions page of the relevant university website.

Why Each School Needs a Separate Recommendation

The recommendation questions are not identical from one business school to another. One school may ask about leadership, while another may focus on teamwork, development areas, or the applicant’s impact.

That is why a single generic letter is rarely the best approach. The examples can overlap, but the final recommendation should answer each school’s questions directly and use details that are relevant to that program.

Choosing the Right Recommender

The best recommender is not always the person with the most impressive job title. It is usually someone who has worked closely enough with you to describe your judgment, growth, leadership, and day-to-day impact with real examples.

A detailed, credible letter from a direct manager can be more useful than a vague letter from a senior executive who barely knows your work.

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MBA Recommendation Creation Stages

Let’s assume you’ve selected Steve as one of your recommenders.

Contact Steve.

Update him that you are applying to top MBA programs and you would appreciate receiving a recommendation from him. Inform him that:

You are applying to X (number of) universities.
Each school asks specific questions on its recommendation form. Therefore, it is required to write a separate recommendation for each university.
Each recommendation is normally 2-5 pages long.

Discuss the best path forward with Steve:

a. You will prepare an example of an “ideal recommendation” for each university in order: (i) for him to understand your expectations (ii) to refresh his memory regarding the details of your relationship.

b. Work with your consultant to create a list of accomplishments and examples that demonstrate your strengths as a candidate. Share this list with Steve to assist him in crafting a strong letter o recommendation.

c. Introduce Steve to your consultant for assistance in brainstorming, crafting, and editing the letter of recommendation as he prefers.

If Steve chooses option c, ask him to contact your ARINGO MBA application consultant (or ask your consultant to contact him). The consultant will interview Steve and then assist you in preparing recommendation drafts. Your MBA admission consultant will follow the ARINGO guidelines in preparing effective MBA recommendations for the top schools.

If Steve chooses option a, continue the process as described below.

Check the school’s ethical guidelines on recommendations, and make sure you comply with them (they may dictate a different process from the one described below).

If applicable, emphasize to Steve that according to the school’s ethical code of conduct, you are not permitted to review the recommendation he will ultimately submit. He may use the example you prepared for him, change it, or ignore it.

If Steve is interested in such a recommendation example, choose one school and complete the remaining steps.

Focusing on one school before proceeding to the others will often streamline the process.

It is recommended that you first choose a school that does not limit the number of words for recommendations. This way, it will be easier and faster to prepare recommendation examples for the next schools.

Contact your MBA admission consultant and schedule a date for your recommendation interview.

We recommend that you conduct the recommendation interview for the first school verbally (on the phone or in–person).

The interview will be more efficient if you consider in advance what your professional weaknesses are. These are usually the “toughest nut to crack.” What might Steve say? Which weakness would be most credible (based on your relationship), portray you accurately and truthfully, and present you relatively positively? Prepare several options and present them to your application consultant.
In addition, in order to prepare for the recommendation interview with your consultant, review the school’s recommendation questions (if you don’t have them, ask your consultant to send them to you). Think about possible answers. The more prepared you are for your recommendation interview, the more efficient the process will be.

During the recommendation interview, your MBA admission consultant will review the university’s specific recommendation questions with you.

These questions refer to your relationship with Steve, your demonstrated abilities and your achievements during the relationship period. The consultant will take brief notes of your responses. Usually, the recommendation interview takes 40-90 minutes.

Following the recommendation interview...

Your MBA admission consultant will assist you in preparing Steve’s “ideal recommendation” for the university in question.

Present Steve with the “ideal recommendation.”

Convey to him that this is an example of a recommendation that you would be happy to receive, and it will also refresh his memory regarding your work together. Should he choose, he may ignore the example altogether.

Ask Steve whether he would like you to prepare additional examples for the other schools, since each school has its own set of unique questions.

If Steve agrees, schedule an additional recommendation interview with your consultant. During this recommendation interview, you and your consultant will review and answer the recommendation questions of the other universities.

Following the additional recommendation interview...

Your MBA admission consultant will assist you in preparing Steve’s “ideal recommendation” for each of the subsequent schools to which you are applying.

Present Steve with the “ideal recommendations.”

Convey to him that these are examples of recommendations that you would be happy to receive, and which will reacquaint him with your relationship. Should he choose to, he may ignore the examples altogether (the ethical code of conduct for most schools states that a candidate cannot see the recommendations that the recommender sent).

Frequently Asked Questions: The MBA Recommendation Process

How many MBA recommendation letters do I need?

Generarlly 1-2. The number depends on the school. Follow each university’s application instructions rather than assuming that every program requires the same number or format.

What matters is not only the number of letters, but whether each recommender can provide specific and credible examples.

Should I use the same recommendation letter for every business school?

Schools often ask different questions, so a recommendation prepared for one university may not answer another school’s questions properly. The underlying examples may be reused when they are genuinely relevant, but the letter should be adapted to the specific form and word limit.

Who should write my MBA recommendation?

Choose someone who knows your work well and can discuss your performance with detail. In many cases, that may be a current or former supervisor, although the best choice depends on your circumstances and the requirements of the school.

Look for someone who can speak about:

Your results and responsibilities.
How you work with other people.
Your leadership potential.
How you respond to feedback.
Areas where you have grown.

A famous name is not a substitute for meaningful knowledge of your work.

Can my recommender write the letter without help?

Yes. Your recommender can write the letter independently, and some recommenders prefer to do exactly that. They may already know your work well, feel comfortable answering the school’s questions, and want to use their own writing style from beginning to end.

That can work very well, provided the recommendation is specific and follows the university’s instructions. A strong letter should include real examples rather than general compliments. For example, it might describe a project you led, a difficult decision you handled, the way you worked with colleagues, or how you responded when someone gave you difficult feedback.

Even when your recommender writes independently, it is still helpful to give them practical information before they begin. You can share your current resume, a list of the schools and deadlines, the recommendation questions for each program, a short summary of your post-MBA goals, a reminder of projects or achievements you worked on together, and any important changes since you last worked together.

This is not the same as giving your recommender a script. The letter should remain their honest assessment of you, written in their own voice. Your role is simply to make sure they have enough context to remember the relevant details and understand what you are applying for.

Some recommenders prefer more support. They may want to talk through examples, understand how the process works, or receive help organizing their thoughts. In that situation, an ARINGO consultant may be able to assist with brainstorming, drafting, editing, or translation, depending on the school’s rules and the recommender’s preference.

The most important thing is to check each university’s ethical guidelines before deciding how much assistance is appropriate. Whether your recommender works alone or receives limited guidance, the final recommendation should be accurate, personal, and genuinely theirs.

Should I tell my recommender about my weaknesses?

Yes, but handle the conversation thoughtfully. Many recommendation forms ask about weaknesses or areas for development, and a completely flawless description can sound less believable.

Think about a weakness that is truthful, relevant to your relationship, and connected to a real improvement story. Prepare to discuss it with your consultant and recommender before the letter is written

How long should an MBA recommendation letter be?

There is no universal length. Each school sets its own questions, format, and word limit. Follow the instructions for that university rather than relying on a general page count.

The letter should be long enough to include specific evidence but not padded with repeated praise.

When should I start my MBA recommendations?

Start earlier than you think. Recommenders are usually busy, and a thoughtful letter takes time to prepare. Early preparation also gives you time to check school-specific questions, resolve any concerns, and avoid sending repeated last-minute reminders.

The strongest MBA recommendations are specific, credible, and written with the individual school in mind. Start early, choose recommenders who know your work well, and give them the context they need without taking away their own voice.