1.Reviewacopyofthealicant"spersonalstatementoralicationeayssothatyourletterofrecommendationcandovetailwith--notconflictwithorduplicate--therestofthealication.2.Askthealicanttosulyyouwithadditionalinformationlikearésumé.3.Describeyourqualificatioforcomparingthealicanttootheralicants.Ihavebeenteachingfortwentyyearsandhaveadvisedaroximately450studentsonindependentresearchprojectsoverthelastfiveyears.IhavepersonallysupervisedtenintereverysummerforthelastfiveyearsplusworkedwithovertwohundredcollegegraduatesinmycapacityastrainerforBigBankCorp.
4.Discuhowwellyouknowthealicant.IwasabletogettoknowMr.Doebecausehemadeitapointtoattendtwoofmysectioeveryweekwhenonlyonewasrequired.Ms.Smithreporteddirectlytomefortwoyearspriortoherwell-deservedpromotiontothepositionofAistantCampaignManager
5.Choosetwotothreequalitiesthatyouoervedinthealicant.Janehasarareblendoftopwritingandinterpersonalskills.Thecombinationoftenacity,analyticalabilities,andgoodcommunicatioskillsfoundinMr.Doeistrulyunique.
6.Indiscuingthosequalities,suortyourstatementswithecificitancesinwhichheorshedemotratedthoseattributes.BeasconcreteanddetailedaspoibleHeistheonlystudentIeverhadwhocametoallmyofficehoursaspartofarelentle,andultimatelysucceful,drivetomasterpoliticaltheory.HewasoneofjusttenpercentintheclatoreceiveanA.BecauseofJane"swritingskills,Ididn"thesitatetoaskhertowriteareportwhichwasusedbyourPACasthebasisforamajorpolicystatement.CongremanXeventuallyusedthestatement,basedonJane"ssophisticated20-pageanalysisofMiddleEastpolitics,inloyingforincreasedfunding.
7.Trytoquantifythestudent"sstrengthsorrankhimorhervisavisotheralicantsthatyouhaveoerved.Hewasinthetop10ofhiscla.ShehasthebestanalyticalskillsofanypersonheragethatIhaveeversupervised.
8.Avoidgeneralitiesandplatitudes.
9.Includesomemildcriticism,typicallytheflip-sideofastrength.TheonlyfaultIhaveencounteredinhimishisretiringnature.Hismodestysometimeshidesayoungmanofremarkablestrengthandpoadinterests.Occasionally,herfortitudeandpersistencecan
turnintostuore,butusuallyhergoodnatureandlevel-headedneprevail.
10.Discuthealicant"spotentialinhisorherchosenfield.IenthusiasticallyrecommendMr.Doetoyourgraduateschool.Thiswell-roundedstudentwillbeafinesocialworker.Withherexceptionalleadership,writing,andresearchskills,Ms.Smithwillbeanoutstandingprofeorandacredittothegraduateschoolsheattends.