10 Tips for Recommenders

1.Reviewacopyoftheapplicantspersonalstatementorapplicationessayssothatyourletterofrecommendationcandovetailwith--notconflictwithorduplicate--therestoftheapplication.

2.Asktheapplicanttosupplyyouwithadditionalinformationlikearésumé.

3.Describeyourqualificationsforcomparingtheapplicanttootherapplicants.

Ihavebeenteachingfortwentyyearsandhaveadvisedapproximately450studentsonindependentresearchprojectsoverthelastfiveyears.

IhavepersonallysupervisedteninternseverysummerforthelastfiveyearsplusworkedwithovertwohundredcollegegraduatesinmycapacityastrainerforBigBankCorp.

4.Discusshowwellyouknowtheapplicant.

IwasabletogettoknowMr.Doebecausehemadeitapointtoattendtwoofmysectionseveryweekwhenonlyonewasrequired.

Ms.Smithreporteddirectlytomefortwoyearspriortoherwell-deservedpromotiontothepositionofSeniorinourBigSixAccountingFirm.

5.Choosetwotothreequalitiesthatyouobservedintheapplicant.

Janehasarareblendoftopwritingandinterpersonalskills.

Thecombinationoftenacity,analyticalabilities,andgoodcommunicationsskillsfoundinMr.Doeistrulyunique.

6.Indiscussingthosequalities,supportyourstatementswithspecificinstancesinwhichheorshedemonstratedthoseattributes.Beasconcreteanddetailedaspossible

HeistheonlystudentIeverhadwhocametoallmyofficehoursaspartofarelentless,andultimatelysuccessful,drivetomasterfinancialtheory.HewasoneofjusttenpercentintheclasstoreceiveanA.

BecauseofJaneswritingskills,IdidnthesitatetoaskhertowriteareportwhichwasusedbyourPACasthebasisforamajorpolicystatement.CongressmanXeventuallyusedthestatement,basedonJanessophisticated20-pageanalysisofMiddleEastpolitics,inlobbyingforincreasedfunding.

7.Trytoquantifythestudentsstrengthsorrankhimorhervisavisotherapplicantsthatyouhaveobserved.

Hewasinthetop10%ofhisclass.

ShehasthebestanalyticalskillsofanypersonheragethatIhaveeversupervised.

8.Avoidgeneralitiesandplatitudes.

9.Includesomemildcriticism,typicallytheflip-sideofastrength.

TheonlyfaultIhaveencounteredinhimishisretiringnature.Hismodestysometimeshidesayoungmanofremarkablestrengthandbroadinterests.

Occasionally,herfortitudeandpersistencecanturnintostubbornness,butusuallyhergoodnatureandlevel-headednessprevail.

10.Discusstheapplicantspotentialinhisorherchosenfield.

IenthusiasticallyrecommendMr.Doetoyourbusinessschool.Thiswell-roundedstudentwillbeafinebusinessperson..

Withherexceptionalleadership,writing,andquantitativeskills,Ms.Smithwillbeanoutstandingstrategicconsultantandandacredittothebusinessschoolsheattends.