Four recommendations? That sounds like an awful lot!
Here's what I encountered during my MBA programme research, and these findings appear to be surprisingly uniform across many of the top programmes:
1) Most programmes ask for two references, and want no more than what they ask for. Harvard's a notable exception in its explicit requirement of three references.
2) Some programmes (London Business School among them) will accept, or even encourage, an additional letter of recommendation
only if such a recommendation provides a
compelling addition to your profile that could not be addressed in the standard references. For instance getting a third reference from a manager at your workplace from which two references have already been submitted isn't the best use of a reference, and starts to detract from your candidacy.
3) Some Admission Committees view supplemental references as desperation on the part of the candidate; an indication that an applicant is not confident that his/her application can stand alone on its merits. Sloan (MIT) is famous for this, and has a policy of randomly discarding any supplemental recommendations over the required number without exception. Kellogg, as I was told by one of their senior Admissions representatives, views supplemental recommendations with irritation in nearly all circumstances.
I did find that London Business School was the most receptive to supplemental references, but even they stressed that it would be a waste of precious application-reading time if it didn't add value, and provide new information.
Good luck!
2010LBSRound2
I was talking to a student from the graduating class and he mentioned that he submitted 4 recommendation letters during his application. I would have loved the opportunity of sending in more recommendations. Has anyone here submitted more than 2 recos? Good luck for round 2!!