Recommendation Test: Part 1, you make the call

The following recommendation was submitted to highly selective colleges and universities.

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Odysseus (name changed to protect identity) is our class’s Renaissance Man: superior student blessed with an excellent brain, intellectual curiosity, a touch of skepticism, a bit of charm, a sportsman with talent for the stage and, as if that were not enough, a noble streak and an honorable character.

I confess that I was a bit leery of him for the first few years that I knew him, believing it a bit too good to be true, but seeing him daily in class for two years and at outside activities, I now realize that he is genuine. He has youthful energy, good health, and self-confidence. He has used all these to pursue a great variety of activities because he enjoys them all. He is a natural leader who does not shy away from the responsibilities of leadership.

He feels an obligation to himself, his parents, and his school to do the absolute best in he can in everything he does. He could whiz through tests and be content to pass with a decent grade, but instead he uses every moment available to make sure he has answered every question as well as humanly possible. He seems to hold himself to a higher standard than anyone else does, but he is not neurotic about it.

His problem solving and verbal skills are truly superior. In addition, he is a bit of a contrarian; he will always look at a situation or statement from every possible angle and raise an objection. He tends to be pleasantly skeptical of absolute statements and searches for e flaw in fact or logic. He would definitely have been the small child who said, “But the emperor has NO CLOTHES.” I find this admirable quality that has lead to many a spirited discussion in my business classes.

In addition to his schoolwork, he is a class leader, a sportsman on various teams and recently amazed us all acting, singing and dancing as one of the leads in the school’s musical comedy.

To me, however, his best quality is that he really does possess a strong personal sense of conscience and personal values. In a world too full of “wise-guys” and fast talkers, he sincerely wants to do the right thing, and for all the right reasons. Without flash or fanfare he has quietly said, “I want to help other people to improve their lives and to live better.” This is not political manipulation or some sort of fanaticism; he simply knows he is privileged and feels an obligation to help others who are not. Perhaps his parents deserve the credit for instilling in him a sense of social responsibility. Whatever the cause, this hemisphere needs more like him.

I enthusiastically recommend him to you as a serious student who will be an outstanding member of any university class. I look forward to hearing of his continued success.

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Rate the student from 1-5, with five being the highest, based upon this recommendation.

Rate the recommendation from 1-5, with 5 being the highest, using both form and content as guides.

Does this recommendation show or tell or both?

A business studies teacher in the International Bachelaureate program wrote this recommendation. Many selective schools do not perceive this course as highly academic. Should the teacher’s course matter in how to evaluate a recommendation and if so, how much?

This student attended a small private school. Does the fact that it is easier to participate in leadership activities in a smaller school outweigh the scope and range of activities described here?

Should a teacher focus mostly on the academic performance of a student in a recommendation? If yes, does this recombination fail to focus on what is most important or are the details of his personal traits too strong to overlook?

This international student has an opportunity to become a leader in his country. Should this be an important factor in an admission decision?

Should the student be evaluated differently if he comes from: Asia, Africa, Europe, or South America? Why or why not?

Are well-rounded students what selective schools look for or are they looking to create a class with people who are especially good in specify academic areas (STEM fields for example) or extracurricular activities (athletics or fine arts for example)?

How would you feel if someone had written such a letter about you?

Odysseus and the Sirens