Jun 30, 2026

Tuck Admissions Insights: Letters of Reference

By Patricia Harrison
Director of Admissions, Evaluation and Yield

Strong letters of reference (LORs) can help bring your application to life. While you can't write the letters yourself, you have more influence over their quality than you might think. Choosing the right people for your LORs and preparing them thoughtfully can make a meaningful difference in how the Admissions Committee understands your accomplishments, potential, and growth. 

What Does Tuck Ask References? 

Tuck uses the Recommendation Questions posed by GMAC’s Common Letter of Recommendation: 

• Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (50 words) 
• How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Provide specific examples. (500 words) 
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words) 
• Optional: Is there anything else we should know? 

We do not ask your references to complete GMAC’s Leadership Assessment Grid. 

You'll notice that the questions focus heavily on performance, impact, and development. The strongest letters will answer these questions with specific examples from the reference’s personal interactions with you, which is more persuasive than simply offering superlatives. 

Who Should Write Your References? 

What is most important is to choose references who know your work well and can speak to how you demonstrate Tuck's admissions criteria: smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. Ideally, your LORs will come from professional contacts who have supervised you and who can provide specific examples of your impact, strengths, and development over time.  

We strongly prefer that one of the LORs comes from your current direct supervisor. If you are not comfortable sharing your business school plans with your current supervisor, you may consider asking a previous direct supervisor, indirect supervisor, client, senior colleague, board member, or contact from a volunteer organization. These can also be great choices for your second reference. Use your good judgment to determine who is best positioned to advocate for you. 

Once you have identified your references, ask them these three questions: 

• Do you have sufficient knowledge of my performance and outcomes to write a compelling LOR? 
• Are you enthusiastic about supporting my candidacy? 
• Do you have the time to write a detailed LOR? 

If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” find someone else. 

Who Should Not Write Your References? 

Unless you have worked with them directly, your reference doesn’t need to be the CEO or head of the company. We want to hear from someone who knows you and your work well. That matters much more than their title. Someone very senior, if they haven’t worked with you closely, may not have the level of insight or be able to provide the specific examples that make for a compelling letter. Other people to avoid include: 

• Professors (we already learn about your academic performance through your transcript) 
• Family members (they are unlikely to provide an objective professional perspective) 
• Friends (for the same reason) 
• Athletic coaches 
• People who you supervise (this can place them in an uncomfortable position) 

We are looking to learn about you as a professional, and those above, especially if they’ve never worked with you, are typically not able to provide that perspective. If you work for a family business and your supervisor is a family member, or you work for yourself, we suggest asking a client, customer, or non-family member in the organization to write a LOR for you instead.  

Should Both LORs Come from Your Current Employer? 

I’m often asked by applicants who have worked for more than one organization whether they should have both LORs from their current employer, or if their second LOR should come from a past employer. Hearing from your past employer can be valuable in providing a complete picture of your experiences, particularly if you have changed jobs relatively recently. Think about how your references enhance the overall story of your candidacy:  

• Will a second LOR from the same employer provide a different perspective on your candidacy, or is it likely to mirror what your current supervisor will say? 
• Is there a past role that you wish to highlight?  
• Are there potential questions about why you left a past employer that could be addressed?  
• Will a reference from a past employer help tell a more complete story about your career progression and goals? 
• If a significant amount of time has passed since you worked with that person, will their perspective be a bit dated?  

How to Help Your References Write a Compelling LOR 

Writing a thoughtful letter takes a lot of time, so select your references early in the application process. Once they have agreed to write on your behalf, schedule time to discuss: 

• Why you're pursuing an MBA  
• Why you're interested in Tuck  
• Your career goals  
• Recent accomplishments and key projects  
• Feedback you've received and how you've grown  

Also remind them that the strongest LORs are not simply enthusiastic but provide specific examples and stories to illustrate the qualities they are describing. The goal should never be to script their letter, but to ensure they have the context needed to write a thoughtful and detailed LOR. 

Important Policies and Deadlines 

• If you’re not providing a LOR from your current direct supervisor, we ask that you include an explanation in the References section of your application. 
• Drafting, authoring, revising, translating, or submitting your own LOR is a direct violation of Tuck’s General Application Policies and the Academic Honor Principle, even if your reference requests it.  
• If your reference is not able to complete the LOR in English, they should write it in their native language and have it translated by an outside translation service. 
• Applicants are required to submit two LORs, and we discourage sending us more than that.  
• If you are a reapplicant who applied in the most recent year, you are only required to submit one new LOR, which should be from someone who did not write on your behalf in the last application. 
• Regarding deadlines, we understand that the timing of submission is not entirely in your control; however, it is your responsibility to make sure that your references are aware of your application deadline. If Tuck receives your LORs after the deadline, your application will be moved to the next round, or you will not be eligible for a guaranteed interview. 

Great LORs don't happen by accident. They come from thoughtful selection, clear communication, and giving your references enough time to reflect on your contributions and growth. And when the process is complete, don't forget to thank them—writing a strong LOR is a significant investment of their time. Their perspective helps us better understand your potential to contribute to the Tuck community and develop as a wise, decisive leader. 

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