{"id":56858,"date":"2022-12-30T09:04:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T16:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=56858"},"modified":"2022-12-30T09:04:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T16:04:58","slug":"five-tips-on-getting-a-great-letter-of-rec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/five-tips-on-getting-a-great-letter-of-rec\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Tips on Getting a Great Letter of Rec"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-56859\" src=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM-300x174.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM-1024x593.png 1024w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM-768x445.png 768w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM-640x371.png 640w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Screenshot-2022-12-30-at-9.42.02-AM.png 1516w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"bb8c\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Letters of recommendation are hugely important parts of your application. Having a third party assess your skill, talent, experience, accomplishments, potential, and maturity provides admissions committees with valuable data. Unfortunately, because this is an \u201coutsources\u201d part of the application, many applicants aren\u2019t sufficiently thoughtful about the process, thus hurting their chances of admission. Here are the five most common mistakes that I\u2019ve seen clients make. For additional thoughts, check out this extended YouTube video we made.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jh ji jj jk ek hy\">\n<div class=\"bz jl l di\">\n<div class=\"jm jn l\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"es n gl dh bf\" title=\"How to get a GREAT Letter of Recommendation!\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.embedly.com\/widgets\/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FTE20SmSD5Aw%3Ffeature%3Doembed&amp;display_name=YouTube&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTE20SmSD5Aw&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FTE20SmSD5Aw%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"auto\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<ol class=\"\">\n<li id=\"d1dc\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im in iq ir iu jq iy jr jc js jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\"><strong class=\"il gy\">Requesting a letter of recommendation too late.<\/strong> It is critical to allow enough time for the individual writing the letter of recommendation to finish the assignment. A decent rule of thumb is to request a letter at least one month ahead of time. If you wait until the last minute, your letter may not be as effective as it may be. Remember, you\u2019re asking someone for a favor, so do what you can to make it easy for them as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p id=\"80a8\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">2. <strong class=\"il gy\">Asking the incorrect person.<\/strong> It is critical to ask someone who is familiar with you and can speak to your skills and successes. This might be a lecturer, supervisor, or mentor who has worked with you closely and can offer concrete instances of your abilities and successes. Too often, applicants will seek letters from big names who might not actually know them well. In these instances, you\u2019re going to get a pretty vanilla recommendation that just doesn\u2019t move the needle.<\/p>\n<p id=\"a81e\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">3. <strong class=\"il gy\">Failure to provide adequate information.<\/strong> It is critical to provide the person composing the letter with all relevant information about the opportunity for which you are seeking, including the requirements and deadlines. The writer will be able to personalize the letter to the individual opportunity, making it more effective. If you have it, provide a copy of your Personal Statement and CV. Offer to sit with them for a chat about it as well.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8601\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\"><strong class=\"il gy\">4. Failure to follow up.<\/strong> After asking someone to write a letter of recommendation, it is critical to follow up to verify that the letter is finished and delivered on time. This is especially true if a deadline is approaching.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2e1b\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">5. <strong class=\"il gy\">Failure to thank the writer.<\/strong> This is basic human kindness, but it\u2019s also a smart life strategy. People like to feel appreciated, so if someone does you a favor, let them know. They\u2019ll be more likely to go the extra mile for you in the future. It is essential to express gratitude for the time and effort that the person composing the letter has put into the assignment. A simple thank-you message or email might go a long way toward improving your relationship with the writer.<\/p>\n<p id=\"f17a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\"><em class=\"jx\">For more help with your personal statement, check us out at <\/em><a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"http:\/\/gurufi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\"><em class=\"jx\">Gurufi.com<\/em><\/a><em class=\"jx\">. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at <\/em><a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"mailto:service@gurufi.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\"><em class=\"jx\">service@gurufi.com<\/em><\/a><em class=\"jx\">. Check us out on <\/em><a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gurufi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\"><em class=\"jx\">Facebook<\/em><\/a><em class=\"jx\">, <\/em><a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gurufinder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\"><em class=\"jx\">Twitter<\/em><\/a><em class=\"jx\">, and <\/em><a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/guruficonsulting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\"><em class=\"jx\">LinkedIn<\/em><\/a><em class=\"jx\">.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"c649\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph ij ik gx il b im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg gq bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\"><em class=\"jx\">More free resources:<\/em><\/p>\n<ol class=\"\">\n<li id=\"c6c9\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im in iq ir iu jq iy jr jc js jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cHow to Request a Letter of Recommendation\u201d (n.d.). The Graduate School. Retrieved from <a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.grad.illinois.edu\/career-services\/how-request-letter-recommendation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">https:\/\/www.grad.illinois.edu\/career-services\/how-request-letter-recommendation<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"cdbf\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im jz iq ka iu kb iy kc jc kd jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cHow to Request a Letter of Recommendation\u201d (n.d.). The University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved from <a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vpul.upenn.edu\/careerservices\/students\/graduate\/request.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">https:\/\/www.vpul.upenn.edu\/careerservices\/students\/graduate\/request.php<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"c5cb\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im jz iq ka iu kb iy kc jc kd jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cHow to Request a Letter of Recommendation\u201d (n.d.). The University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved from <a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/career.berkeley.edu\/Grad\/LOR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">https:\/\/career.berkeley.edu\/Grad\/LOR<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"5f37\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im jz iq ka iu kb iy kc jc kd jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cLetters of Recommendation\u201d (n.d.). Stanford University. Retrieved from <a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanford.edu\/dept\/spec_coll\/uarch\/exhibits\/letters\/letters.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">https:\/\/www.stanford.edu\/dept\/spec_coll\/uarch\/exhibits\/letters\/letters.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"c96f\" class=\"jo jp gx il b im jz iq ka iu kb iy kc jc kd jg jt ju jv jw bi\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cLetters of Recommendation\u201d (n.d.). The University of Michigan. Retrieved from<a class=\"ae jy\" href=\"https:\/\/careercenter.umich.edu\/article\/letters-recommendation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">https:\/\/careercenter.umich.edu\/article\/letters-recommendation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Letters of recommendation are hugely important parts of your application. Having a third party assess your skill, talent, experience, accomplishments, potential, and maturity provides admissions committees with valuable data. Unfortunately,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,2170,775,113,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-gurufi","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56858"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56860,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56858\/revisions\/56860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}