{"id":10543,"date":"2017-08-14T19:08:13","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T19:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/?p=10543"},"modified":"2019-08-30T16:38:38","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T16:38:38","slug":"effective-letters-of-recommendation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/blog\/effective-letters-of-recommendation\/","title":{"rendered":"Securing Effective Letters of Recommendation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Manhattan<\/p>\n

Taking the GRE for your business school application? You\u2019re in luck. Each month, we are featuring a series of MBA admissions tips from our exclusive admissions consulting partner, <\/i><\/b>mbaMission<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

Letters of recommendation are a vital element of every MBA applicant\u2019s profile, because they provide a school\u2019s admissions committee with its only truly objective insight into what the candidate has to offer. For this reason, recommenders can play a significant role in helping an applicant gain admission to his\/her target business school, but only if the letters they write are credible and compelling. Fortunately, even though your letters of recommendation are technically in someone else\u2019s hands, you still have some measure of control over them. Here, we explain where some of these opportunities lie\u2014and where they do <\/span>not<\/span><\/i>\u2014to help you navigate this portion of your application with less anxiety and better results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Resist Writing Your Own Letters of Recommendation<\/b><\/h4>\n

Sometimes, when applicants ask an individual to be their recommender, that person responds by saying something like \u201cJust write whatever you want, and I\u2019ll sign it.\u201d At first glance, this proffered opportunity for complete control may seem like a gift. What a great way to ensure that your recommendation says exactly what you want it to, right? The truth is that this initially appealing option is just a mirage\u2014<\/span>not<\/span><\/i> the recipe for effective letters of recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The admissions committees want letters of recommendation that are detailed, personal, and sincere, and writing about oneself with objective, dispassionate sincerity is all but impossible for even the most self-aware among us. Moreover, because you lack that true \u201coutside\u201d perspective, you are likely unaware of\u2014and therefore incapable of writing about\u2014the many positive subtleties that set you apart from your fellow applicants. You are, of course, unquestionably aware of the many important functions you fulfill at work every day, the responsibilities you shoulder, and the accomplishments you have experienced. However, you are probably equally <\/span>unaware<\/span><\/i> of certain qualities you possess, lesser achievements you have facilitated, and more elective things you do that those around you find impressive, valuable, or admirable. These special qualities and contributions of yours can only be brought to light by someone other than you, and they are crucial aspects of authentic and powerful letters of recommendation. In short, if you write your recommendation yourself, these key bits of information will almost certainly be missing, and without you even realizing it!<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose Your Recommender(s) Judiciously<\/b><\/h4>\n

Unfortunately, too many MBA applicants believe that for letters of recommendation to be valuable, one or more of the following must be true:<\/span><\/p>\n