A task is complete only when its result can be used
“Requesting a transcript” and “having a compliant transcript” are two different states. In between, it may need to be signed or translated, or replaced if a page is missing. Represent the chain with verbs: request, receive, check, submit. This makes the next action clear even when you cannot speed up the office handling your request.
Do the same for test scores. Booking a test does not complete preparation, the test itself, or sending scores to the recipient. Do not combine these steps into one green checkmark. For each dependency, record who must act, what confirmation you are waiting for, and when you will follow up if nothing arrives.
Give your recommender what they need to decide and respond in their own words
Check what kind of recommender is required before asking someone. HEC MiM requires an academic reference and recommends requesting it at least four weeks before the deadline. LBS MiM prefers an employer who knows you well and allows an academic recommender in some cases. The two processes are not interchangeable.
In your request, remind the person how they know you, which program you are applying to, and how to submit the reference. Include helpful facts, such as projects you worked on together and your current résumé. Let them decide whether to accept and how to assess you. The recommendation must remain their work and follow the institution’s confidentiality requirements.
Organize your weeks around the tasks that unblock the next steps
The following table is a sample plan for a fictional deadline, not an official schedule or a promise about processing times. The first row begins before the four-week recommendation published by HEC. Adjust all other buffers based on information from the relevant organizations.
If your university says it will issue a document late, immediately ask the program what provisional document it will accept. Do not invent a substitute yourself. While you wait, work on independent tasks: résumé details, an inventory of your experience, and reviewing the application questions.
| Illustrative timing | Action that unblocks the next step | Completion evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks before J | Check the required-document list; contact the recommender and request certificates. | Recommender has agreed, and administrative requests have been received. |
| 4 weeks before J | Check received documents; arrange any required translations. | Complete versions and translations that follow instructions. |
| 2 weeks before J | Check scores and recommendations; finish personal responses. | Receipt status and responses tailored to each program. |
| Final week | Proofread, check files, and submit with a buffer. | Submission confirmation saved. |
The pitfall
The pitfall is confusing coordination with delegated writing
Some materials depend on others; your personal writing remains your responsibility. HEC explicitly requires applicants to write their program-specific responses themselves. Coordinating a deadline with someone close to you does not authorize them to write the substance for you. Review the applicable independence rules before seeking outside help.
For recommendations, do not automatically draft a letter for someone to sign. LBS MiM says it does not accept prewritten letters and uses an online system. Providing factual information is different from writing your recommender’s assessment. Follow the required format.
Follow up on a specific step and plan an alternative
A useful follow-up states the original request, the deadline, and what is still outstanding. For example, ask whether the recommendation link arrived instead of repeating that the application is urgent. Agree on a follow-up point that respects the person’s stated availability. Daily reminders with no new information do not replace an initial buffer.
If the dependency remains blocked, identify permitted options: another eligible recommender, an accepted provisional document, or another application cycle. Keep written confirmations in your program file. Follow-up is complete when the item is received through the required process, not when you have exhausted your list of messages.
Key takeaways
- Track each item from request through confirmed receipt.
- The choice and submission of recommendations depend on the program.
- Set aside time for your own writing while waiting on others.