You know the basics: The MBA admissions teams prefer to get a recommendation from your current direct supervisor.
Is that really the best person for you to choose? Maybe, maybe not.
Many applications ask for two recommendations. Who is the right person to serve in that second spot?
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username123 says
Thank you for the insight. If the second recommender is a supervisor who recently (e.g. 2 months ago) left the team, should we highlight this in the Optional/Additional Info section?
essaysnark says
Sure, if you feel that an explanation is necessary – OR you could suggest that they do so in their recommendation itself. Many recommender’s forms ask the recommender to state how they know the applicant. The recommender can say something like “I was username123’s direct supervisor from [start date] to [end date] which is when I left Acme Consulting to pursue other opportunities” or whatever.
An explanation from you in the optional is often helpful if you’re using a gmail or yahoo email address for the recommender, since “official” corporate email addresses are better. Or, if you’re using the recommender’s new work email address, then an explanation from you can also be helpful in case the adcom reviewer is trying to sort out the recommender’s relationship to you when they’re apparently at a new company.
So yes! You can do so. And/or, have the recommender do so. Somewhere, it likely would help for it to be explained!
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