Have you recently needed a letter of recommendation for graduate, but weren’t sure whom to ask or what the expectations were?

If so, you’re in the right place. In this article, the Marilyn Davies   of Business will unpack the following for you :

  • What is a letter of recommendation for a graduate program?  
  • Which type of University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) MBA application requires letters of recommendation?
  • Who is a professional reference? Which types of people to ask (and not to ask) for letters of recommendation?
  • What are key ingredients for a strong recommendation letter?
    • Bonus tips for successful letters

What is a Recommendation Letter?

A recommendation letter is typically a one-page document that usually describes the

  • Work ethic
  • Experience
  • Accomplishments
  • Leadership potential
  • Positive character traits

The idea is that the letter will persuasively convey how an applicant’s strengths and skills will contribute to the program.

Does UHD’s MBA Program require recommendation letters?

For UHD’s MBA program, only applicants pursuing the Traditional   will need two letters of recommendation. For the  Soft Start track or Graduate Certificates, no recommendation letters are needed. For the most updated information on MBA Application requirements visit here

Who Can Write a Recommendation Letter?

Generally, for any program or position, recommendation letters are required to be written by recommenders who are professional or academic references. This means that no friends or family members should write the letters. Instead, the most commonly accepted recommenders are often supervisors, professors, mentors, and occasionally coworkers. These individuals often can provide strong recommendations because they have seen the applicant’s work ethic, experience, and character strengths over time.

Here are a few tips for how to choose and invite the best individual(s) to write a solid recommendation for you.

  • Pick people who know you well, especially individuals you’ve interacted with recently, if possible. It can hurt an applicant’s candidacy when the recommender says things like “They’re a great person” without giving any specific examples. Former professors who can speak to your academic aptitude and ability to contribute in the are often an excellent choice as well.
  • The same goes for unenthusiastic or only slightly positive letters. Select someone who is genuinely supportive and confident regarding your experience, personality, and qualifications.
  • Recommenders still need to write in a formal, respectful tone.

Key Ingredients for a Strong Letter

What are the standard components for a great recommendation letter? I’ve included the highlights below.

  • In the introductory paragraph, the recommender briefly explains the context for how they know the applicant (such as employer-employee, professor-student, or mentor-mentee).
  • In the skills and qualifications paragraph, the recommender needs to share brief examples and details of how the applicant’s hard work, knowledge, and achievements specifically suit the program of study or the job in question.
  • In the personal qualities paragraph, the recommender has the chance to share about the applicant’s interpersonal skills and character and how they will suit the program or job. How well does the applicant work with classmates, team members, or alone? Is the applicant a person of integrity?
  • In the concluding paragraph, the recommender makes the final case that the applicant is well-suited for the opportunity.

Bonus tips to remember:

  • Share your current resume and the opportunity description with your recommenders so they will be able to tailor the letter accordingly.
  • Recommendation letters are almost always one page long, so be sure to convey that expectation to your recommender so that they won’t write an excessively long letter.
  • Always remember to send your recommender a thank you note afterwards for taking the time to help you.

An alternative option to the recommendation letter

The UHD MBA program allows recommenders to fill out an MBA Applicant Reference Form

instead of writing a letter.

https://www.uhd.edu/documents/academics/business/graduate-programs/mba/reference-form-mba-committee-revisions-fillable-042014.pdf

 

Final takeaways

All in all, a well-written letter of recommendation can provide critical support to an applicant’s candidacy. The most successful recommenders make a clear case that your qualifications suit the opportunity well. Therefore, it’s essential to choose recommenders who know you well and are willing to help you.

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The Executive Path is the official blog of the University of Houston-Downtown’s MBA Program. For further information about the UHD MBA Program, you may find our webpage at Houston's MBA Program (uhd.edu). For the upcoming calendar of virtual Information Session links, click MBA Information Session (uhd.edu). To reach the UHD MBA Office, our contact information is here: Contact Us (uhd.edu).

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