Need suggestion for 2nd recommendation

Hey shreerajp99,

Thanks for reaching out to me. The best way to really irk the admissions committee is to not follow directions. This would include things like improper formatting, not actually answering the essay question (i.e. cutting and pasting from other schools), and submitting a recommendation from your ToastMasters division Gov.

I mean the following the best possible way – you lack perspective, and it is not your fault. I have the benefit of seeing thousands of applicants, you only have the benefit of reading wacky responses on GMAT forums. Given the cursory information I have, the ToastMasters LOR seems rather weak. Not only is it not what they want, but you have to consider what other people will be providing. Legitimately, there will be other applicants providing 2 great recommendations from their superiors. It is very possible that one of these superiors will be fairly high up in the organization, and the other will be their immediate supervisor. You – on the other hand – will be providing them with a recommendation from Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a fine organization, but it is not one that you should think is held in high regard by an admissions committee. Because it really is not. The types of skills that you develop in Toastmasters are requisite skills – skills that the admissions committee expects you to already have. Now, I know you may have helped build the Toastmasters organization in your area - but that is lightweight when compared to what they really want.

TLDR - If they want a professional recommendation, give them a professional recommendation. In life, if you have to rationalize something longer than 5 seconds, that something is probably not the right thing to do.

Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti