Learn to Use References Effectively on Your Grad Application

Deciding to take on the challenge of earning a Masters degree in business is a big step! So, make your graduate school application as professional as possible. One of the most crucial steps in presenting yourself to the colleges board of admissions is to have good, effective and diverse references for administrators to contact. If possible, you will want to present at least 5 references even if the school does not require that many. While it is okay to use family members as references try to limit it to one member. The crucial references will come from your personal life, work life, charity/social commitments and a reference from your previous scholastic experiences.

First, ask yourself if there is anyone in your life that mentors you or that you hold in high esteem. Surely that person wants nothing but the best for their friend. So, before filling out the application, be sure to contact this reference and ask them if it would be okay if they spent some time on the phone with a school administrator talking about your strengths. If you know someone with a professional title such as a doctor or officer of a company, be sure to include him or her as a reference.

Next, be sure to include a personal or family friend as a reference. The reasoning here is that a personal reference will usually be from someone that you have known in your personal life for a number of years. This person will be able to attest to your personal goals along with a history of being a good friend of upstanding morals, ethics and values.

Then, you will want to also provide a professional work reference. You need to be careful here with whom you choose. Try to stay away from simply finding a friend that you used to or currently work with. Rather, have a previous supervisor vouch for your work abilities, goal setting abilities, professional demeanor in the workplace and your work habits. More than likely, they will also be able to speak to the areas in which you need to improve. Although that may not be the preferred topic that you want brought up, but the answer to the question will be honest. And since no one is of course perfect, the information provided answers the question about how you can improve.

Finally, if you are involved with social, religious, or civic groups this may be one of the best references that you could put down on and application. With these types of groups on an application, interviewers perceive the volunteering of ones time as very noble and noteworthy. By including one of these types of references you are showing that you see a bigger picture of the world than yourself and realize that as a future leader there is always a need in the community to help in many different aspects.

by Michael Chasan

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