admissions officers refer to letter-writers as evaluators. These letters can
be very important factors in an application, so who should write them?
First, let's dispose of a common misunderstanding. A letter of evaluation
does not have to come from a famous person. How effective is the
following letter?
William Hardy, CEO
MegaBucks Holding Company
To the Admissions Committee:
I am recommending Paul Roberts for business school. My head of
Financial Operations knows his father, Mark, who works in our
Bonds Division and says that Mark is a very hard worker. If
Paul is anything like his father, he too will be a good
employee.
Sincerely,
William Hardy
The letterhead holds out great promise, but then the letter itself is
worthless. It is obvious that the letter-writer doesn't really have any basis
for the conclusion that the candidate will make a good student.
The best letters of evaluation come from people who know you very well,
e.g., a professor with whom you took several courses, your immediate
supervisor at work, or a business associate with whom you have worked
closely. A good evaluation incorporates personal knowledge into the letter
and makes references to specific events and activities. For example:
Mary P. Weiss
White, Weiss, and Blanche
To the Admissions Committee:
White, Weiss, and Blanche is a consulting firm that advises
businesses on environmental matters. Paul Roberts has worked for us
for the past two summers. His work is outstanding, and he is an
intelligent and genial person.
Last summer, as my assistant, Paul wrote a 25-page report that
