Letter of support

Question

Should letter of support come exclusively from alums (or) can it come from others who know your work well? For instance, I have already submitted 2 reccos to university X. There is 1 XC related person who wants to give me a letter of support. THis person is an alumni of X university, but not an alumnus of its business school. I know that the letter she is writing is going to be awesome, but not sure how schools will perceive it.

Any comments?

kidderek · Answer

unless she's an alum of the business school, her alma mater prob won't carry much weight. But if the school permits a third rec and you know it's going to be kickass, you should def submit.

kryzak · Answer

Even Kellogg, who technically allow up to 5 recs, said that when it gets busy, they will only read the "first two" recs that they receive. "Two is the magic number", said one of the adcom at an infosession.

So unless it's an alum of the b-school and an kickass rec, AND the school allows more than 2 recs (Berkeley and UCLA says explicitly two and only two, whereas Stanford says three and only three, with one of them from a peer), don't send more than 2 recs. 

Of course, if your alum knows the admissions director, that alum can write a letter of support directly to the director, which may or may not help your case, but at least will not be detrimental.

ncp · Answer

Sounds like a resounding NO. I will hold this letter back. Thanks guys!

aviroop · Answer

nc,
I can always write a letter for you. You will know how it begins......

kwam · Answer

I started making a pool from people from the schools I wanted, but then I realized that the two who would give me the best evaluation, not only because their recos would be great but also because it would be really sincere as I worked with them would be 2 alumni from INSEAD.

Eventually I decided that even though I'm not applying to INSEAD I would take both in my whole process and only if I need a third I would ask anyone else.

I'm not sure if it's the right approach, but I'm being more sincere with me, and with the adcomm

KingKREEP · Answer

No, I don't. Please do enlighten

pelihu · Answer

I think you should only submit this type of letter if it is coming from someone who has direct influence with the business school. A big donor, former professor or influential alum perhaps. Of course, this person should have substantial insights about you that can't be found in you other recs.

Otherwise, I think the downside is greater and the upside is really limited.

ncp · Answer

Well, this person is insanely successful and knows my work extremely well. However she is neither a donor nor a former prof. 

I told her this evening not to spend time on the letter of support. I have already listed her as contact for my XC project. So, she may still get an opportunity to substantiate my case.

MBAbot · Answer

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Letter of support

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