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LamboWalker
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Recommender refusing to use work email and provide work details 19 Aug 2024, 10:41
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­Hi everyone,

As I aim to finalize my applications by R1, I am now faced with a predicament that has caused an unnecessary (and completely unexpected) headache.

The individual I had shortlisted as my second recommender has declined to provide a Letter of Recommendation. He cited a rule within his company that requires him to report any use of the organization’s name in such letters. As a result, he’s unwilling to send the letter either through his work email or his personal email. For context, this person is a former client of my organization.

Now I am completely unaware of such a rule and its implications however as I rush to complete my applications, I would like to hear some advice on how I go about it and try and convince him to write me one as I believe he knows me quite well and would be able to write a strong letter.

We do share a good dynamic and I don't think he does NOT want to write me an LoR, I could see why he is concerned as there have been certain situations in the past in his organization regarding 'gifts' that have had negative outcomes for everyone involved.­

What would you suggest I do here? I don't think there are other 'better'­ alternatives for me therefore I would really want to convince him.

1. He mentioned something about the LoR passing through a governement portal but I don't think this is true. The letter is only directly visible to the adcoms, right?
2. Is it possible that he writes a LoR without ever explicitly mentioning his organization's name anywhere? Could I make it up by explaining this in my optional essay?­
3. Is the organization of the recommender ever contacted? Could he land in trouble if he doesn't 'report' (if any such rule even is valid) to his organization?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any advice.
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SBCErikaOlson
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Recommender refusing to use work email and provide work details 19 Aug 2024, 15:28
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See my responses below in red! Good luck!
Quote:


1. He mentioned something about the LoR passing through a governement portal but I don't think this is true. The letter is only directly visible to the adcoms, right? Correct. Perhaps he was saying that if he sends it from his work machine it'll be scanned or checked somehow, which COULD be true, but I've worked with SEALS before who never even worried about this so this seems really odd to me.
2. Is it possible that he writes a LoR without ever explicitly mentioning his organization's name anywhere? Absolutely. He could just say "my company is a client" and that's totally fine. Could I make it up by explaining this in my optional essay?­ Yep, that's exactly what you should do. Keep it short & sweet & don't belabor the point -- they've seen it before, I assure you, and they won't hold it against you.
3. Is the organization of the recommender ever contacted? Could he land in trouble if he doesn't 'report' (if any such rule even is valid) to his organization? I have never heard of the overall organization of a recommender being contacted. I have rarely even heard of a recommender being contacted in general! This shouldn't be something he is worrying about, but there's only so much you can do to convince him of this. I wish you luck in convincing him!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any advice.
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­
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MBAGuide
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Recommender refusing to use work email and provide work details 19 Aug 2024, 22:44
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LamboWalker
­Hi everyone,

As I aim to finalize my applications by R1, I am now faced with a predicament that has caused an unnecessary (and completely unexpected) headache.

The individual I had shortlisted as my second recommender has declined to provide a Letter of Recommendation. He cited a rule within his company that requires him to report any use of the organization’s name in such letters. As a result, he’s unwilling to send the letter either through his work email or his personal email. For context, this person is a former client of my organization.

Now I am completely unaware of such a rule and its implications however as I rush to complete my applications, I would like to hear some advice on how I go about it and try and convince him to write me one as I believe he knows me quite well and would be able to write a strong letter.

We do share a good dynamic and I don't think he does NOT want to write me an LoR, I could see why he is concerned as there have been certain situations in the past in his organization regarding 'gifts' that have had negative outcomes for everyone involved.­

What would you suggest I do here? I don't think there are other 'better'­ alternatives for me therefore I would really want to convince him.

1. He mentioned something about the LoR passing through a governement portal but I don't think this is true. The letter is only directly visible to the adcoms, right?
2. Is it possible that he writes a LoR without ever explicitly mentioning his organization's name anywhere? Could I make it up by explaining this in my optional essay?­
3. Is the organization of the recommender ever contacted? Could he land in trouble if he doesn't 'report' (if any such rule even is valid) to his organization?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any advice.
Show more
­LamboWalker I have been in your shoes before and my managers have refused LORs because they believed in loyalty to jobs. Trust me when I say you do not want to get an LOR from someone who is not willing to take the walk. You cannot trust them to write in a highly positive tone about you. You could personally reach out to the school you are applying to and add a new recommender. The schools do accept exceptions where the supervisors are not able to or not willing to submit LORs from the official ids. People work in high security domains and others change job so this is not anything new for the B schools. But if someone is unwilling to put in a few good words, even from their personal id, you need to question your decision to have them as your recommender. If needed, ask the school for some adiitional time to arrange a second recommender.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­
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TheRedPen
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Recommender refusing to use work email and provide work details 19 Aug 2024, 22:49
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LamboWalker
­Hi everyone,

As I aim to finalize my applications by R1, I am now faced with a predicament that has caused an unnecessary (and completely unexpected) headache.

The individual I had shortlisted as my second recommender has declined to provide a Letter of Recommendation. He cited a rule within his company that requires him to report any use of the organization’s name in such letters. As a result, he’s unwilling to send the letter either through his work email or his personal email. For context, this person is a former client of my organization.

Now I am completely unaware of such a rule and its implications however as I rush to complete my applications, I would like to hear some advice on how I go about it and try and convince him to write me one as I believe he knows me quite well and would be able to write a strong letter.

We do share a good dynamic and I don't think he does NOT want to write me an LoR, I could see why he is concerned as there have been certain situations in the past in his organization regarding 'gifts' that have had negative outcomes for everyone involved.­

What would you suggest I do here? I don't think there are other 'better'­ alternatives for me therefore I would really want to convince him.

1. He mentioned something about the LoR passing through a governement portal but I don't think this is true. The letter is only directly visible to the adcoms, right?
2. Is it possible that he writes a LoR without ever explicitly mentioning his organization's name anywhere? Could I make it up by explaining this in my optional essay?­
3. Is the organization of the recommender ever contacted? Could he land in trouble if he doesn't 'report' (if any such rule even is valid) to his organization?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any advice.
Show more
­Hi,

The situation with your recommender is complex and requires careful handling. It's essential to maintain a positive relationship with the recommender while ensuring your application remains strong.

To answer your questions:

1. Most US MBA programs require recommenders to submit letters directly through the application portal. There's no intermediary government portal involved.

2. You can try speaking to your recommender about it. If convincing your recommender proves challenging, consider alternative recommenders who can strongly support your application. Also, briefly explain the situation and how it impacted your ability to secure a letter from this recommender in your optional essay if necessary.

3. Schools typically do not verify the authenticity of letters unless there is a strong reason to doubt their legitimacy.Given the complexities of this situation, a personalized consultation can provide tailored guidance.

Would you like to schedule a free consultation with one of our MBA experts to discuss your application strategy in detail? We can help you navigate this challenge and maximize your chances of admission. Our contact number is +91 7780769732.