Writing Letters of Recommendation: Online LOR format for MBA

While applying for admission to any MBA program, providing a letter of recommendation from two supervisors/professors is a mandatory requirement. The letter of recommendation shows how credible the claims of a student are. It is basically a commentary by seniors, who have worked with the student/applicants.

Every LOR usually has two essays/questions that the recommender has to write. As far as the LOR format is concerned, most recommenders introduce themselves, make claims about the student’s suitability for college, outline his or her academic performance, and then fill in on the student’s achievements like, sports played, volunteer work, awards won etc. Colleges have to make sure that these LORs are not just ‘brag sheets’ or that there isn’t a uni-dimension focus in the letter. In order to do that, colleges accept online LOR where there is a pre-determined format to be followed while submitting the recommendation.

Here are a few examples of the format in which the LORs are supposed to be submitted.

1. NYU Stern School of Business – The recommender is asked to rate the student based on his/her Analytical/Quantitative Ability, Written Communication Skills, Leadership, and Professionalism skills, among others. Questions like ‘How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?’ and ‘How would you describe the applicant's interpersonal skills?’ are asked. Click Here to see the sample of the format.
2. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business – Once you provide the names and email addresses of your recommenders, the college will send them an email that includes the link to the online form that they will have to complete. The recommender will be asked to rate the skills of the student, as well as provide answers to questions pertaining to the student. To see the questions asked by the college, Click Here.
3. McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin – There are three sections to be filled by the recommender. The first one is the questions to be answered by the recommender. The second section is a scale to rate the student’s behavioural traits as compared to others in her/his peer group. The third section is the overall ratings. To read the complete sections, Click Here.
4. University of Houston – For this form, the recommender has to answer two questions, along with assessing the applicant in the areas of specialization, the potential for achievement in graduate study, the potential for professional achievement, and some other areas as well. This is exactly the format that the recommender will see ultimately, unlike the previous few where the hard copy format is provided.
5. Northern Illinois University – The recommender is first asked to provide information on the behavioural tendencies that the college believes to be related to his/her success in professional life. Next, they have to answer questions like 'How long have you known this applicant?' and 'In what capacity have you known the applicant?'. 

Also Read:

• Learn to write LORs with the help of videos by university experts