When you are applying to a top school like MIT, you should always try to present the best version of you to the admissions committees. Therefore, a great letter of recommendation (LOR) from an authentic referee is of utmost importance. This is because your recommender can give insights into your work that tells the admissions panel about your potential to succeed in a top school.
The first thing the admissions committee would want to look at in a reference letter is “How long have you worked with your referee and in what capacity”. Many applicants are mistaken that a letter from the Head of the Department or the CEO will be the ideal one – however, the truth is that such a reference will have ZERO value if you have not directly worked with your referee. A good reference must always come from someone you have worked with for at least six months.
Always Include Proof and Examples
A strong recommendation letter should not just contain a plethora of superlatives like “Ms Jon Doe is persistent in learning and very hardworking.” It should also include examples that reflect your qualities and strengths. Clear examples that support your attributes are a great way to showcase your strengths. Without examples, your reference will look as if it was “a cut, copy, paste, generic” kind of a reference that the referee gives out to anyone and everyone that asks for one.
Here is an excellent example of a letter of reference written for a student who got into MIT Sloan.
Sample Letter of Recommendation for MIT
It is a great pleasure to recommend Jon Doe for the management program at MIT. Being the chief organizer of the Discover and Invent competition held by the MIT enterprise forum, I mentored Jon on four national and one international business plan competitions. Jon was an active participant in a highly able team of individuals and exhibited a high aptitude for problem-solving in the real world.
These business plan competitions lasted for about 9 to 12 months. They included not only competing with a pool of high achievers and brilliant thinkers from all over the world, but one also had to undergo rigorous training. From elevator pitches to presentation skills and understanding the core components of business plans. Jon handled the intense pressure of competing and steep learning by proactively prioritizing his responsibilities so that he could have a clear idea of what needed to be done and when and by working with industry mentors constantly to refine the product ideas. This unusual trait is crucial for success at this level.
Jon’s professional qualities are as impressive as his accomplishments. Despite the challenging routine associated with such a highly competitive event, he supported his team and remained a passionate team worker throughout this phase. His ability to provide creative solutions, such as the fantastic idea for the campaign “Hope is Alive” for the liver healing product, helped him impress all those around him. He developed practical writing skills and convincing presentation abilities during the entire improvisation process by speaking to several industry mentors and judges.
His analytical disposition, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills are an asset that will take him a long way to come up with better ways of eliminating practical problems. By gathering and analyzing market data for existing vaccines and affected patients, he played a significant role in framing pricing strategy and target market identification. Throughout this time, I have watched him grow through many phases of his professional and personal development. The US desperately needs people like Jon who can develop pragmatic solutions and be role models for others. Despite coming from an engineering background, Jon showed that one could expand their potential beyond their specific field. Instead, one can apply the skills learned at college to create new products that improve lives and help others in any way possible.
Recently, Jon discussed his intent with me to pursue a graduate degree in management and entrepreneurship at the prestigious institution MIT Sloan. It’s no surprise that the US needs people who desire to get innovations on the market to improve the socioeconomic disparity. But while creating technologies is critical, bringing those innovations takes a unique and well-rounded skill set. Therefore, we need entrepreneurs who can devise and execute bigger and better strategies. I strongly feel that Jon possesses the critical thinking and problem-solving required to pursue a challenging career in business innovation. Therefore, I strongly recommend Jon Doe for the program. Your favorable consideration of his application will be most appreciated. Should you have questions, please feel free to contact me.