Monday Myths: Part II

Happy Monday Mythbusters! Today we tackle two more common TMMBA Myths- one regarding leadership experience, and the other about the letters of recommendation. Take a look at last week’s Myth #s 1 and 2 for even more myth de-bunking. As always, leave us a comment or e-mail ([email protected]) if you have any myths you need solving.

 Masters of Business Administration? I won’t be admitted unless I have managerial experience!

Truth: While it may seem contradictory, formal management experience is not required for admission into TMMBA. To us, applying for your MBA signals a desire to gain the tools necessary for effective leadership. We do strongly encourage showing examples of leadership in your application; whether it is in your career, in a volunteer capacity or in other areas. As criteria for admission, we look at leadership potential and the motivation to develop these skills.

Bottom Line: You may not have the title or the legions of direct reports, but that’s not a problem for your TMMBA application. Getting your MBA means you’re working towards becoming a leader- show us your potential in the TMMBA application.

Getting a CEO to write my letter of recommendation means a lot more than a lower level manager.

Truth: There’s no checkbox that we mark for “esteemed status” when we see your recommender’s name and title. We only require a recommendation from your current supervisor and a professional reference. To the admissions team, status and title don’t matter as much as quality of the recommendation. It’s not who you know- but who really knows YOU. We’d rather have Joe Smith- your colleague for seven years- write a thorough and detailed recommendation than a short, vague statement by Jeff Bezos.

Bottom Line: Don’t get hung up on the name and title of your recommender. Select someone who will give the most comprehensive insight about you as an applicant.

Still have questions about the application process? Take a look at the Application Requirements for more information. See you next week when we straighten out two more common admissions myths!