I’ve been thinking about who I would ask to write my recommendations this time around. When I applied to HBS last year, I had to rustle up three recommenders. I asked two former work supervisors and a current supervisor in an extra-curricular activity. Now, my current boss (I work in government) knows that I plan on going to b-school, and I’ve already asked him and another upper-level individual I’ve worked on numerous projects with for a recommendation.
My question is: Can I really ask these two people to do four or more recommendations (potentially eight depending on my own stamina and how things go)? It seems like a lot, especially because all the recommendation forms are unique and though they may overlap in substance a bit, they’re still pretty different. Even though I think these two individuals can really offer the best insight into my current performance, should I ask people who are farther back in my past just to spread out the burden?
Runnin' Down the MBA Dream 
May 1, 2008 at 5:42 pm
That’s a tough question. I’d start and narrow down the 4 schools to which you definitely plan to apply. Tell your recommenders that your intention is to definitely apply to 4 schools and if you have the time and drive, you want to apply to up to another 4. Ask them if they would be willing to write all 8 recommendations or if they would be more comfortable with just the first 4. This gives them the choice. At which point if you need more recommenders, you can delve back into your past. I do believe current supervisors are better than past, but that’s simply an opinion.
May 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Two of my recommenders did eight schools, and I also had two supplemental recommenders who did the the third recommendations for Harvard and Stanford.
They found that after 3-4, they got to reuse what they’d written.
June 27, 2008 at 9:53 am
Well, I find myself in the same predicament. In fact for me, the number might go up to 10 (if I include some schools in UK) !! I have already asked my recommenders (rather, warned them!) that the list might be longer than they have the patience of, but they are nice enough to agree. Of course its going to be a pain for them, but I think if you let them know before hand, they’ll agree too. Just don’t surprise them towards the end when they’ve completed 4 that there are 4 more to go !! Atb !