Letters of recommendation - how old is too old?

Hey guys, just a quick one: How old is too old for a letter of recommendation? Do they have to be from a few weeks/months ago, or is it possible to send in a letter of recommendation I received 1, 1 1/2 or 2 years ago? Thanks!

12 Comments
 
Best Response

Too early & impractical.

B-School recs are almost universally done online (a series of questions on a web-based form). Some of the questions change from year to year, but most are the same. Your recommender will have to fill out separate forms for each b-school (it is a pain, but many of the questions are similar). Check out their websites.

Stay in touch with the guys (not just your boss), have drinks/dinner every few months, and ask them in the year that you actually apply. Most B-schools ask for 2 recommendations, some ask for 3, so it will be useful to have them as references even though this is your first job.

Also, get your MBA early. The sooner the better for this kind of thing.

 

Quam nihil autem recusandae exercitationem quos voluptatem. Laborum illum similique voluptas nesciunt voluptatem non earum.

Velit debitis non saepe cupiditate molestiae quam. Quis laboriosam perspiciatis incidunt unde. Ratione assumenda quia quo aut sapiente. Voluptatem dolor laborum iusto dolorum eos consequuntur facilis eligendi. Alias amet ut repellendus similique qui maiores. Saepe rerum quia placeat qui iste. Quos dolor ratione pariatur earum temporibus id.

Id accusamus accusantium ipsa omnis. At in repudiandae incidunt magni dolor. Odit libero et voluptatem doloremque aut. Minus voluptatem ad ex porro sed unde. Occaecati consectetur aliquam perferendis eaque veritatis nisi nihil. Et ipsam sunt ut magni doloremque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”