Qualitative accounts of your skills, abilities, and characteristics that contribute to your success as a leader are essential to our evaluation.
As such, we require three letters of reference for all Stanford MSx applicants.
Choosing Your Recommenders
Your recommenders will be asked to assess you on some competencies and character traits that contribute to successful leadership, and answer four questions.
You should choose individuals who:
- Have had significant direct involvement with you within the last few years.
- Know you well and can provide details and examples that support their assertions.
- Are a C-Suite or top-level executive, who make the most significant decisions regarding a company’s direction.
- Are truly enthusiastic about writing a recommendation for you and will devote the necessary time and thought completing the recommendation form.
If you are sponsored by an organization, your three letters must include:
- One reference from the chief executive officer (or a designee) of your sponsoring organization.
- Two references from individuals who have been directly responsible for evaluating your managerial performance and potential.
Submitting Letters of Reference
Your recommenders are required to submit their letters through the online application by the deadline of the round in which you apply. You are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted on time. You will be able to see the status activity of each letter (either notified, started, or submitted) and also will be able to send each recommender a reminder.
- Register your recommenders. Go to the “Letters of Reference” tab on the application, and enter each recommender’s personal information carefully. It is essential that you enter the recommender’s email address correctly so that your recommender can access the instructions and form. Read the waiver statement and determine whether or not you will waive your right to review each recommendation.
- Your recommender receives an email with log in information.
- Your recommender completes and submits his/her recommendation.
- You and your recommender receive an email confirming the recommendation has been submitted.
Do not email, mail, or fax letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation must be submitted online.