Letter of Recommendation Questions (Class of 2013, Starting Fall 2011)
1. What is your relationship to, and how long have you known the applicant? Is this person still employed by your organization? If not, when did he/she depart?
2. Please provide a short list of adjectives describing the applicant’s strengths.
3. Please compare the applicant’s performance to that of his/her peers. Does the applicant have the potential to become a senior manager?
4. How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills in working with peers, supervisors and subordinates?
5. How does the applicant accept constructive criticism?
6. Comment on your observations of the applicant’s ethical behavior.
7. What do you think motivates the candidate’s application to Columbia Business School?
8. In what ways could the applicant improve professionally? If you could change one thing about the applicant, what would it be?
9. Are there any other matters which you feel we should know about the applicant?
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY TEPPER
Please address the following questions in completing your letter of recommendation:
In what area is the candidate most exceptional?
In what area does the candidate need most improvement?
Discuss how effective the candidate is when working with others. (Consider whether the candidate is a leader, is sought out as a team member, commands respect of his or her associates.)
Rate the candidate’s achievements when compared to his or her peers. (Consider the opportunities the candidate has had to make use of his or her abilities and how effectively he or she has exploited them; also, consider whether the candidate completes assignments and is an effective performer under stress.)
Describe the candidate’s ability to communicate verbally, in writing, and through presentations. (For a non-native English speaker, how well does he or she use English?)
Any additional statement you may wish to make concerning the candidate’s aptitude for an MBA and/or her or his potential for becoming a responsible and successful business leader.
CORNELL JOHNSON
1. How long have you known the applicant?
2. In what capacity have you known the applicant? Please be specific.
3. What are the applicant’s most outstanding abilities or characteristics? (1500 characters)
4. What are the applicant’s most noticeable weaknesses? (1500 characters)
5. What impact has the applicant had on the organization in which s/he works? (1500 characters)
6. Please comment on the applicant’s personal and professional integrity. (1500 characters)
Please give examples of the applicant’s performance for any “Top 2%” rating from the table.
Please provide us with any additional information you may have about the applicant.
DARTMOUTH TUCK
How long have you known the applicant and in what context? Have you served as the applicant’s supervisor? If so, please provide approximate dates. Please comment on the frequency and nature of your interactions with the applicant. (300 words or fewer, 2150 character limit)
What are the applicant’s three principal strengths? Please provide an example of each. (300 words or fewer, 2150 character limit)
In which three areas can the applicant improve? Please provide an example of each. How has the applicant worked to address these areas? (300 words or fewer, 2150 character limit)
How does the applicant respond to constructive criticism? (300 words or fewer, 2150 character limit)
Please give examples in the space below to support any top 5% or bottom 20% ratings.
If you would like to provide any additional insights into this individual’s candidacy or any comments on your ratings, please feel free to compose a document off-line and upload into your online recommendation.
Comment on the applicant’s interpersonal skills (effectiveness in establishing and maintaining relationships; working with supervisors, peers, and subordinates; willingness to work in a team environment).
Description of applicant’s peer group.
What do you consider the applicant’s primary talents or strengths?
In what areas does the applicant need improvement or growth? If you have had the opportunity to provide the applicant with constructive feedback, please provide specific examples of the feedback and the applicant’s response to it.
Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant’s role in your organization. (250-word limit)
Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250-word limit)
Please make additional statements about the applicant’s performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)
LBS
How long have you known the applicant and in what connection?
What do you consider to be the applicant’s major talents and strengths?
What do you consider to be the applicant’s major weaknesses or areas for improvement?
In what developmental areas has the applicant changed most over time?
What will this individual be doing in 10 years? Why?
MIT SLOAN
How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
Please provide an example of the applicant’s impact on a person, group, or organization.
Please provide a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
Which of the applicant’s personal or professional characteristics would you change?
Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG
Please limit your responses to two to four pages.
1. Please comment on the candidate’s career performance. Cite specific examples where possible (e.g. ranking relative to others in the industry, overall progression within the organization, impact on organization).
2. Please evaluate the candidate’s demonstrated leadership and leadership potential (e.g. ability to influence others, initiative, contribution beyond expected responsibilities).
3. What do you perceive to be the candidate’s weaknesses? What efforts has he or she made to address these weaknesses?
4. What observations do you have about the candidate’s interpersonal skills (e.g. maturity, listening skills, team skills, sense of humor, respect for different viewpoints)?
5. Please comment on the candidate’s intellectual ability (e.g. analytical and quantitative skills, communication skills, creativity, curiosity
For Your 2 Professional/Workplace recommenders
Please briefly describe your relationship to the candidate, and describe the circumstances under which you have known her or him.
How does the candidate’s performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
What (if any) legacy has this candidate left on your organization?
Describe the most constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please also detail the circumstances that caused you to give the feedback.
Is there anything else (positive or negative) we should know about the candidate?
For Your Peer/Team recommender
Please briefly describe your relationship to the candidate, and describe the circumstances under which you have known her or him.
Describe how the candidate has generated support from others for an idea or initiative.
What (if any) lasting impact has this candidate left on your organization?
Describe the most constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please also detail the circumstances that caused you to give the feedback.
Is there anything else (positive or negative) we should know about the candidate?
All 3 of your recommenders will also be asked to appraise you on some competencies and character traits that contribute to successful leadership. » Leadership Behavior Grid
1. Describe your relationship to the applicant. Are you, or have you been, the applicant’s direct supervisor? If not, what is the nature of your relationship? How long have you known the applicant and how frequent is/was your interaction with them?
2. How does the applicant’s performance compare with that of his or her peers?
3. How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills?
4. What are the applicant’s three greatest strengths? Cite specific examples.
5. What are the applicant’s three greatest weaknesses or areas in need of improvement? Cite specific examples.
6. What significant contribution has the applicant made to your organization?
7. Please comment on the applicant’s potential for leading an organization.
8. In the Berkeley MBA program, we develop leaders who have “confidence without attitude” or “confidence with humility”.
Please comment and provide examples of how the applicant reflects this Berkeley-Haas value.
9. Please give us your appraisal of the applicant in terms of the traits listed below. Compare the applicant with others whom you know have applied to business school or with individuals who are being groomed for leadership positions within your organization. It should be extremely rare for any candidate to receive “truly exceptional” in all areas, and unusual for a candidate to receive either “superior” or “truly exceptional” in all areas.
UCLA ANDERSON
What is your relationship to the candidate and how long have you known him or her? How would you compare the candidate to others with similar responsibilities within the organization?
Comment on the candidate’s career progression to date. How would you describe his or her potential for professional growth and development?
Comment on the candidate’s aptitude for strategic thinking, leadership, and/or management.
Describe how the candidate deals with challenges.
Is there anything else that you would like us to know about the candidate?
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ROSS
Please describe your relationship to the applicant, and describe the circumstances under which you have known the applicant.
What do you consider the applicant’s primary talents or strengths?
In what areas does the applicant need improvement or growth? How would you describe the applicant’s insight into these areas?
How do the applicant’s personal or professional characteristics stand out positively or negatively from others who are in a similar capacity?
What one quality of the applicant do you wish all of your staff possessed? If you could change one thing about the applicant, what would it be?
Please feel free to provide any other information you think is relevant to our evaluation.
How long have you know the applicant? Please describe your relationship to the applicant
Please provide a written letter of recommendation. Be sure to include how the applicant ranks comparative to his/her peer group. Other items to consider are the applicant’s:
- most salient strengths
- areas of development, including efforts the applicant has taken to show improvement
- team skills and leadership ability
- initiative, curiosity and motivation
- other matters which you feel we should know about the applicant
WHARTON
How long have you known the applicant and describe your relationship to the applicant?
Provide an example of constructive feedback you have provided to the applicant. How did the applicant receive this feedback and what efforts did the applicant make to address the concern?
Please provide an example of a time when the applicant was particularly successful at interacting with others in a team (employees, peers, managers, etc.); how was the applicant successful? How does the applicant compare to his/her peers in this dimension?
Provide an example of a time when the applicant did not meet expectations. What was the outcome? How did s/he handle the setback?
How has the applicant’s career progressed over the time that you have known him/her? How does this growth compare to his/her peer group? Please describe the peer group that you are comparing this applicant.
Provide any additional comments you think would assist the Admissions Committee in making its decision.
