Kroll Recommender Checks

Question

Hi,

I had a quick question I was hoping someone could help with.

I am applying to HBS shortly. I think i have a strong resume and a reasonable (albeit not high) chance of getting in. My one concern is that i had to help one of my recommenders substantially with their recommendation due to the weakness of their written language. I'm not proud of it, and acknowledge it is a questionable move, though I am adamant I didn't change content at all.

Given the Kroll background checks, is it a certainty that this recommender (my non-professional recommender, and the third most important, in my opinion) is contacted? Or is it possible that only my two professional recommenders are contacted?

If so, I need to work with this individual extensively to get their English to a point that they could have a phone conversation in English without trouble. Does anyone have any specific knowledge with regard to HBS as to whether this will be the case?

bb · Answer

Have you see this thread: kroll-background-check-59285.html ?

MDF · Answer

I think that Kroll only contacts your recommenders to verify that they actually wrote the recommendation. They might be contacted via phone, but I'm sure the conversation would be very brief. And still, they might not be contacted at all.

If you're simply translating the letter for them, I don't see this being a problem. But if you consider that to be unethical, you could always ask someone else to translate their letter instead.

losttraveler · Answer

Listen.. this company is hired by nearly all the schools.. and doesn't get large amounts of money to do each check. Columbia subsidizes some of the cost but it's still $50 for the student and I think $100 in general. How much "check" do you think they're doing for $100? Do you know applicant? Did you write his LoR? Are you this person? Thanks, move on.

zabar2 · Answer

Thanks for the responses. I think MDF may be right-- I should just have someone else re-translate this, then tell the school it has been translate (and by who) and go from there. Hopefully, that will work out.

If anyone else has any HBS specific recommendations, let me know, but otherwise, this appears to be my optimal course of action

Kroll Recommender Checks

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards