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1.Reviewacopyoftheapplicant'spersonalstatementorapplicationessayssothatyourletterofrecommendationcandovetailwith--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.
BecauseofJane'swritingskills,Ididn'thesitatetoaskhertowriteareportwhichwasusedbyourPACasthebasisforamajorpolicystatement.CongressmanXeventuallyusedthestatement,basedonJane'ssophisticated20-pageanalysisofMiddleEastpolitics,inlobbyingforincreasedfunding.
7.Trytoquantifythestudent'sstrengthsorrankhimorhervisavisotherapplicantsthatyouhaveobserved.
Hewasinthetop10%ofhisclass.
ShehasthebestanalyticalskillsofanypersonheragethatIhaveeversupervised.
8.Avoidgeneralitiesandplatitudes.
9.Includesomemildcriticism,typicallytheflip-sideofastrength.
TheonlyfaultIhaveencounteredinhimishisretiringnature.Hismodestysometimeshidesayoungmanofremarkablestrengthandbroadinterests.
Occasionally,herfortitudeandpersistencecanturnintostubbornness,butusuallyhergoodnatureandlevel-headednessprevail.
10.Discusstheapplicant'spotentialinhisorherchosenfield.
IenthusiasticallyrecommendMr.Doetoyourbusinessschool.Thiswell-roundedstudentwillbeafinebusinessperson..
Withherexceptionalleadership,writing,andquantitativeskills,Ms.Smithwillbeanoutstandingstrategicconsultantandandacredittothebusinessschoolsheattends.