Stanford GSB Recommendation Letter Requirements and Tips
Letters of recommendation are a crucial component of your application, offering insights into your impact and personal qualities from the perspective of those who have worked closely with you. Two letters of recommendation are required for the application process.
Selecting Your Recommenders
The most impactful recommendations typically come from individuals who have directly supervised you. It is requested that one of your letters be written by your current supervisor.
Circumstances Regarding Current Supervisor
If you are unable or unwilling to involve your current supervisor in your future plans, you should: - Use the provided dropdown menu to select the primary reason for this decision. - Consider alternative recommenders if your direct supervisor is not an option. These alternatives include: - A previous direct supervisor - An indirect supervisor - A senior colleague - A client - A board member
Second Letter of Recommendation
For your second letter, you have more flexibility. You may choose someone who: - Supervised you in a professional, community, or extracurricular setting. - Worked closely with you in a professional, community, or extracurricular setting.
Applicants Without Full-Time Work Experience
If you do not have full-time work experience, you should use a direct supervisor from: - A summer job - A part-time job - An internship
Ultimately, use your judgment to select individuals who will write thoughtful and insightful letters.
Recommender Guidelines and Policies
To ensure the authenticity and integrity of the recommendations, strict policies are in place: - Sole Authorship: Recommenders must be the sole authors of their letters. You are not permitted to draft, write, or edit the content yourself, nor can anyone else do so on their behalf. - Submission Method: Recommenders may not submit their letters from your personal or work computer. These policies are designed to ensure that the reflections provided are entirely their own.
Leadership Competency Assessment
In addition to the written letter, each recommender is required to complete a short assessment focusing on leadership competencies that contribute to effective and principled leadership.
Evaluating Potential Recommenders
If you have a potential recommender in mind but are unsure if they are the best choice, it is advisable to: - Review the short answer questions and the assessment that recommenders are asked to complete, which are available on the website. - If you are confident that the potential recommender can answer these questions with detailed examples based on their relationship with you, then they are likely the right choice.
Important Considerations for Recommenders
It is strongly recommended that you: - Notify your recommenders well in advance of the deadline. - Confirm that they are able to meet the submission deadline.
Purpose of Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation provide the admissions committee with an alternative perspective on your journey. They help to understand: - Not only what you have achieved, but also how you achieved it. - How you navigated challenges. - How you have developed into the leader you are today.
These insights contribute to a more complete picture of how you will contribute to the Stanford GSB community.
Takeaways
- Applicants must submit two recommendation letters, one of which must be from their current supervisor unless a valid reason is selected via the dropdown menu.
- If the current supervisor cannot be used, applicants may choose a previous supervisor, indirect supervisor, senior colleague, client, or board member as an alternative recommender.
- The second recommendation can come from anyone who supervised or worked closely with the applicant in professional, community, or extracurricular settings, providing flexibility.
- Candidates without full‑time work experience may satisfy the requirement with a direct supervisor from a summer job, part‑time job, or internship.
- Recommenders must write their letters independently, submit them from their own devices, and also complete a short leadership competency assessment; applicants should notify them early and ensure deadline compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Stanford GSB require one recommendation letter to be from the applicant’s current supervisor?
Stanford GSB wants a current supervisor’s perspective because it provides the most recent, direct insight into the applicant’s performance, impact, and leadership in a professional setting, which helps the admissions committee assess how the candidate functions in real‑time work environments. The policy ensures the letter reflects up‑to‑date observations.
What are the rules about who can write and submit recommendation letters for Stanford GSB?
Recommenders must be the sole authors of their letters and must submit them from their own computers, not the applicant’s devices. This ensures authenticity and integrity of the recommendation, preventing any editing or drafting by the applicant or third parties.
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