AI in MBA recommendation letters.
Nobody bans it.
What each M7 school allows, and what to send your recommender.
Updated September 14, 2026
You're in. One email, promise.
The rules, school by school
"No rule" means the school hasn't published one. Tap a school below for a note you can send your recommender.
What to send your recommender
Harvard Business School
Hey [Name], one thing on the HBS form. At the end it asks whether you used AI in completing the recommendation. It's a yes-or-no disclosure with no penalty attached. Just answer it honestly. They ask me the same thing about my application.
The school's language
Have you utilized AI in completing this recommendation?
HBS recommender form, 2026-27. HBS doesn't publish the form; this is Clear Admit's copy.
Have you utilized AI in completing the application? Note, the use of AI is permitted; however, you should not claim AI output as your own independent work... Please indicate below in what manner you have utilized AI in completing this application, and in which sections. (75 words max)
HBS application form, via Fortuna Admissions, May 2026.
Stanford GSB
Hey [Name], one thing on Stanford's form. They ask that you be the sole author, which means I can't help draft it or look it over before it goes in. Stanford has no rule about tools, so how you write it is up to you.
The school's language
Your recommenders must be the sole authors of your letters of recommendation. Drafting, writing, translating, editing, or submitting (even if written by your recommender) your own recommendations, or having any outside party review or edit them (even if asked to do so by a recommender), is a violation of our application terms.
Stanford GSB, Letters of Recommendation.
It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have another person or tool write your essays.
Stanford GSB, Essays. The applicant rule, about your essays.
Wharton
Hey [Name], Wharton has no rules for recommenders about AI. They do ask me to send you my resume, my essays, and a list of projects I'd love you to cover, so those are attached.
The school's language
Provide your recommender with a copy of your resume, your essay answers, and a list of projects and responsibilities you'd like them to highlight.
Wharton MBA Application Guide, July 2026.
The Wharton School requires that the work in your application must be completely accurate and exclusively your own... it is also unacceptable to have AI substantially complete the task.
Wharton application form, via Fortuna Admissions. The applicant rule.
Columbia Business School
Hey [Name], one thing on Columbia's form. They allow AI for idea generation and editing, and not for writing the whole letter. Same rule they give me for my own application. Columbia also asks that I stay out of the drafting, so it's all you.
The school's language
While the use of generative AI tools for idea generation and/or to edit a person's work is permitted by the school, using these tools to generate a complete letter violates the Honor Code.
Columbia's email to recommenders, via Clear Admit, July 2026.
We expect that you, the applicant, will not participate in the drafting of your recommendation.
Chicago Booth
Hey [Name], Booth has no rules for recommenders about AI. They want objectivity and someone who can speak to my strengths and my weaknesses, and the letter goes in through Booth's own form. They don't take letters by email.
The school's language
Please submit one letter of recommendation from a supervisor. We are looking for objectivity in the letter, and we want to hear from someone who can assess both your strengths and your weaknesses.
Kellogg
Hey [Name], Kellogg has no rules for recommenders about AI. One heads-up: their form asks how I compare with other people you've worked with in similar roles, so it helps to have a specific answer ready.
The school's language
We encourage the kind of thoughtful reflection that can benefit from a sounding board, and AI tools may serve that role. However, the authorship of this essay must be your own.
Kellogg's 2026-27 essay instructions, via Clear Admit. Last year's form also asked applicants to cite the tool they used.
MIT Sloan
Hey [Name], MIT has no rules for recommenders about AI. The letter goes in through MIT's online application, and if you'd rather write it in another language, they require an official translator rather than me.
The school's language
If your recommendation letter is not in English, please use an official translator. Do not translate it yourself.
The short version
No business school bans AI in MBA recommendation letters. Where there's a rule, it's the same one: the work is the author's own, and where you're asked, you say so. Your recommender writes it and submits it. You stay out of it.
Found newer language than what's here? Email hello@getlor.com and we'll update the page.
GetLOR is built to those rules.
Your recommender talks for 20 minutes. Every answer comes from what they said, in their words. They read it, edit it, approve it line by line, and put it into the school's portal themselves. You never see it. At HBS, they answer the question with a yes.
Questions
Do M7 business schools allow AI in MBA recommendation letters?
No M7 school bans it. HBS allows it and asks the recommender to say so. Columbia allows it for ideas and editing. Stanford requires the recommender to be the sole author and has no rule about tools. Wharton, Booth, Kellogg and MIT Sloan have no rule for recommenders.
Which MBA programs ask my recommender about AI?
HBS. One yes-or-no question on the form, no stated penalty. The other six don't ask.
Can I use AI in my own MBA application?
At most schools, with terms. HBS says yes and asks how and where. Columbia says yes for ideas and editing. Kellogg says yes as a sounding board, and the writing has to be yours. Stanford and Wharton say a tool can't do the writing for you. Booth and MIT Sloan have no published rule.
Can I write my own MBA recommendation letter?
No, at every M7 school. Stanford calls it a violation of the application terms, Columbia expects you not to take part in drafting, and all seven require your recommender to submit it through the school's form.
Applying in Round 2?
Your recommender talks for 20 minutes. Every school's LOR, in their words. Free for Round 2.