What does a college mean when it says no LORs from family members?

Question

What is the scope of "Family"? Does it mean direct family ( Mom,Dad,Grandparents,siblings) or anyone in the family tree?

MBAGuide · Answer

sambhasher The context of your question is not entirely clear. However, if you are specifically asking for letters of recommendation for a situation involving a family business, it is advisable to seek recommendations from people who can evaluate your work from an outsider's perspective. Acceptable sources for letters of recommendation in such cases may include clients and customers, business partners, suppliers, and vendors, provided they are not directly related to you. In no case should you get an LOR from an immediate family member. Do not hesitate to reach out if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. We do not cap discussion hours for our applicants Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  sambhasher ,

Hope this finds you well.

The larger message that the school is trying to communicate is that the recommendations should be unbiased; that the individual who is recommending you should be doing so in a neutral capacity; family members such as those related by blood or those related to you in close degree may not be able to do so.

All the best!

sambhasher · Answer

ExpertsGlobal   MBAGuide  My recommender is my CEO who is my distant relative ( 4 Levels separated) who is running a startup,not a family business. My only concern is that this might pop up in a background check that I am some distant twice removed nephew and cause jeopardy in the future. I hope that provides context and clarity

MBAGuide · Answer

sambhasher If you get a recommendation from the startup's CEO, it's important to show that this person has likely closely observed your work. Failure to demonstrate a strong working relationship could raise doubts about the recommendation's authenticity. I also believe your twice-removed nephew situation should not pose any issue during the background check. As long as your contributions have genuinely been valuable to the startup's growth, and your recommender can provide specific instances highlighting your significant contributions, there should be no cause for concern. Also note that if the startup is relatively new, the schools measure your growth curve relative to the startup's growth during that period. So, discuss with your recommender that the impact of your work is fairly highlighted. Do not hesitate to reach out if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. We do not cap discussion hours for our applicants Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Admissionado · Answer

sambhasher :

Jumping in here -

It's extremely unlikely that a background check will uncover your family tree. Even if it did, it's gray enough that even if this were "family" it's not a close enough family member to warrant a violation of the school's requirement. The background check validates where and for how long you worked at particular companies, your academic degrees, and any legal matters.

You should be fine if you get a recommendation from the CEO. Even if you had some concerns, it's a risk worth taking.

Admisisonado

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  sambhasher ,

You should be fine getting a recommendation from the CEO; of course, please ensure that the recommendation highlights that you have worked very closely with the CEO in a professional capacity; specific examples will help you focus on the same.

All the best!

sambhasher · Answer

Understood  Admissionado

ARINGO · Answer

In general, schools are looking for recommenders who know the candidate very well, on the basis of an experience that is:
1) As long as possible.
2) As intense as possible.
3) Experience that is preferably work-related.

A recommendation from a family firm is usually not recommended if it is written by a family member. However, if it is written by someone senior in a big firm, who is not a family member, even though the firm is owned by the family, it may be fine.
Schools prefer recommendations from bosses, unless they state otherwise.

For more tips on selecting MBA recommenders, please visit: https://aringo.com/mba-recommendation-letter-process/

What does a college mean when it says no LORs from family members?

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