Recommendations Revisited

As the admissions season picks up, it is a good time to revisit our April blog tips on choosing and preparing recommenders.

Your recommendations, along with your essays and interviews, help schools see your personality and character – the you beyond your resume. However, unlike your essays or interview, you have very little control over the recommendations. So it is essential to choose your recommenders wisely and prepare them well.

Here are some tips on choosing recommenders, but please read the full entry here.
Professional recommendations are best
People who know you well are best
Build your relationships
Impress your recommenders
Prepare your recommenders

We suggest creating recommendation packages for recommenders. Here are the essential components to include but please read the entry on creating recommendation packages here.
Instructions
Your strengths
Area of development
Your goals

You should give recommenders at least 1-2 months notice. For applicants applying to the first rounds in October, this means it is time to talk with your recommenders and give them your recommendation packages.

Feel free to send us questions on recommendations, essays, etc. Read our response here to a question we received on alumni recommenders. We love to hear from you!