LWLOR Writer
← All destination guidesMBA & GMAC COMMON LOR

MBA Letters of Recommendation: Applicant and Manager Playbook

MBA recommendations are professional evaluations. The strongest manager explains how the applicant performs relative to peers, leads through real work, and responds when given difficult feedback.

MBA letter of recommendationMBA recommender questionsGMAC Common LORbusiness school recommendation letterMBA recommendation example
CHECK THE CURRENT INSTRUCTIONS

The Common LOR prompt pattern

GMAC’s Common LOR is designed to reduce duplicate work across participating schools. Its core prompts ask about the working relationship, comparative performance with specific examples, and the most important constructive feedback given—including how the applicant responded. School-specific instructions still control submission.

WHAT THE LETTER MUST PROVE

Give the reader evidence they can use.

Prepare MBA recommenders for leadership assessments, performance comparisons, constructive-feedback prompts, and the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation.

  • Leadership without relying on title alone
  • Results, influence, initiative, and collaboration
  • Performance relative to people in similar roles
  • Self-awareness and observable response to constructive feedback
FOR APPLICANTS

Make the request easy to act on.

  • Target schools, deadlines, and each school’s recommender questions
  • MBA résumé, career goals, essays or a concise narrative of program fit
  • Key projects, quantified results, leadership moments, and feedback history
  • The current GMAC Common LOR template when a target school participates
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FOR LETTER WRITERS

Move from observation to a credible letter.

  1. Define reporting relationship, applicant role, and observation period
  2. Select one high-stakes example showing performance, judgment, or influence
  3. Compare performance with a relevant peer group and explain the basis
  4. Describe meaningful constructive feedback and the applicant’s response
  5. Answer the school’s exact prompts and respect its word limits
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FOCUSED GUIDES

Go deeper without starting over.

Applicants · 8 min readThe MBA Recommender Packet: What Applicants Should Send

Give an MBA recommender a focused packet for leadership comparisons, constructive feedback, career goals, and school-specific prompts.

Read the guide →Letter writers · 9 min readHow to Answer MBA Recommender Questions with Specific Examples

A manager-focused guide to MBA performance comparisons, constructive feedback, leadership evidence, and concise Common LOR responses.

Read the guide →
FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES

Pair destination detail with sound recommendation practice.

Employment and promotionProfessional Recommendation Letters for Employees, Promotions, and New JobsRead resource →The applicant’s guideHow to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Without Making It Awkward)Read resource →Practical templateLetter of Recommendation Template: A Flexible, Evidence-Based StructureRead resource →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MBA recommendation questions, answered.

Who should write an MBA recommendation?

A current or former supervisor who knows the applicant’s work well is often strongest. A famous title is less useful than direct knowledge of performance, growth, and leadership.

What does the GMAC Common LOR ask?

The shared format includes recommender information, a leadership assessment grid, comparative performance with examples, and a constructive-feedback prompt. Participating schools may still have their own submission process.

Should an MBA applicant draft the letter?

No. Applicants should provide goals, résumé, project context, and factual reminders. The recommender should independently evaluate the applicant and control the final responses.

How long should an MBA recommendation be?

Follow the school’s current prompts and limits. The Common LOR includes recommended limits for specific responses, so concise evidence is more useful than a generic long narrative.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Verify the current destination rules.

Requirements can change and program-level instructions may be more specific. These authoritative sources informed this guide.

LESS ADMIN. BETTER EVIDENCE.

Turn this guide into a finished workflow.

Applicants organize the record. Writers add firsthand judgment, review every claim, and control the final recommendation.

Start my request →Draft my letter →