Your letter of recommendation gives us the opportunity to see you objectively through someone else’s eyes. It gives us insight into what you have accomplished, how you accomplished it, and how what you did was different from others. It also gives us a window into your qualities as a team member.
We require one letter of recommendation. We prefer that your letter come from your current direct supervisor, a former supervisor, or other individuals who have overseen your work and with whom you have had significant professional interaction.
We understand that there may be situations that may prevent you from providing a letter from your direct supervisor such as if you are self-employed, work for a family business where a family member is a direct supervisor, or you have recently moved into a new position with a supervisor who does not know you well. In those situations use your best judgment in finding an alternative source - a previous supervisor, an indirect manager, a client, a member of your board of directors, or any other individual who supervises your work. We strongly discourage your letter of recommendation from co-workers, subordinates, business partners, professors, family, or friends.
Choose an individual who knows you well and who will take the time to write a thorough and thoughtful letter on your behalf. Their title or status is not important. What does matter is how closely they have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities.
And give them plenty of time to write a thoughtful letter (ideally 3-6 weeks ahead of the deadline). In your application you will be required to explain who you chose for your recommendations and why, including when you worked with them and the context of your professional relationship.
We find the most helpful letters provide specific and detailed examples to support their assertions and are more convincing than those with positive, but general statements. Consider sitting down with your recommender and reviewing your recent accomplishments - much as if you were preparing for a performance review. Let them know your goals and how the Berkeley Haas MBA will help you achieve them. Letters that are recent, relevant, and written specifically for the Berkeley Haas MBA application give us the best insight into who you are and will be as a leader.
Even if asked to do so by your recommender, as this can result in denial of your application or withdrawal of an offer of admission.
We strongly encourage your recommender to submit their letter via the online recommendation form. As part of completing the online application, you will provide an email address for your recommender and indicate that they will be submitting their recommendation online. This will generate an email to them providing access to the online recommendation form. After a recommender submits a letter, both of you will receive email confirmation.
If you wish to give your recommender a hard copy form to print, complete, and mail, you may download the same recommendation form (PDF). Please review and complete the submission instructions at the top of the form prior to sending it to your recommender.
You are responsible for ensuring that your recommendation is submitted prior to the application deadline.
While MBAs are certainly a significant investment, they may be a wise one. For the right people looking to shift or improve their career paths, an MBA degree can open doors not previously imagined and can offer both tangible and intangible, financial and non-financial benefits.
The Berkeley Executive MBA is a prestigious program designed for executives looking to earn their MBA. Learn from world renown faculty and join a cohort of accomplished peers. All this in the heart of Silicon Valley and on a schedule that respects the rest of your life.
Haas School of Business
University of California, Berkeley
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