Bloomberg BusinessWeek Guest Blogger Rose Martinelli on Recommendation Letters
Formerly the director of admissions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Rose Martinelli is now a guest blogger for Bloomberg BusinessWeek, addressing different topics related to MBA admissions. In a recent post, she shares some valuable tips about recommendation letters that we thought were worth highlighting.
Martinelli advises prospective applicants to tailor their letters of recommendation to fit within an overall application strategy and also to meet the specific requirements of the individual school to which you are submitting them. “If you are applying to several schools, you may need three to four different recommenders, depending upon the application requirements and your content strategy,” she points out.
Ideally, you want to choose recommenders who can speak to different aspects of your background and work experience to create the fullest picture of you as a candidate. “Recommendation letters provide the only external view on your candidacy,” Martinelli reminds prospective applicants.
Acknowledging that it can sometimes be necessary to choose a recommender who doesn’t fit within a given school’s application guidelines, Martinelli encourages prospective applicants to explain why in such instances. “Rather than make the admissions committee guess why you did not follow its guidelines, write a brief paragraph explaining the reasons for your choice,” she urges. “Do the same thing if you choose to send an additional recommendation as well,” she adds.
Finally, respect your recommenders’ time and effort, she advises. Check with potential recommenders to make sure they are willing to write on your behalf and have the time to do so. Provide clear timelines and all necessary forms, and find time to meet with your recommenders to explain your career program and why you are pursuing an MBA now.
And don’t forget to thank them, Martinelli reminds applicants. “While it is likely you will need to gently remind them about deadlines, remember to also thank them for taking the time,” she says. “While they may be submitting similar letters for all your schools, each school requires further effort,” she says, adding that a small token of appreciation is never a bad idea.
Those of us here at Clear Admit always appreciated the advice and insight Martinelli provided while at Chicago Booth through her Rose Report blog. We’re glad to see that she has found a new forum to help prospective MBA applicants.
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