In this post I analyze the HBS Recommender Questions for the Class of 2013. For my analysis of HBS essays, see here. For my analysis of HBS interviews, see here.
I like the HBS recommendation form best because it is short and sweet. Other MBA programs torture recommenders with a series of typically 6-10 questions, while HBS takes a recommender-friendly approach. For more about recommendations in general see my previous posts, "10 KEY POINTS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RECOMMENDATION: WHAT EVERY RECOMMENDER SHOULD KNOW" and "Further Comments on Selecting the Right Recommenders." Another thing that I like about the HBS recommendation questions is that they are found on the HBS website and don't require registering as a fake recommender to obtain. It is really annoying to have to go through the process of a registering as fake applicant and then registering fake recommenders in order to look at recommendation questions! I try to avoid doing that. Some schools seem to think that no one has figured out how to get access to these things or that there is something wrong in having applicants have easy access. Applicants need to see the questions because there is a very good chance that they will need to advise recommenders on the questions, especially if their recommenders are not familiar with this process. Why make something that should be so easy to obtain so difficult?
"Recommender Questions for the Class of 2013"
Recommendations must be completed online. The form includes the following three essay response questions, along with other types of questions.
- 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)
You will notice that HBS is asking for no more than 750 words spread through three questions. With other schools your recommenders will likely need to write 1000-1500 words to answer the schools questions effectively. Some schools, in fact, provide no guidance on word count, but HBS does. Let's look at each question.
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)
Adam's Quick and Dirty Interpretation: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE APPLICANT AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
As I emphasized in my 10 Key Points Post, "#2: YOU BETTER KNOW THE APPLICANT OR CREATE THE APPEARANCE THAT YOU REALLY DO," it is critical that the recommender establish the legitimate basis upon which they are making this recommendation. A clear description which is explicit about the time knowing, organizational relationship to, and extent of observation of applicant is critical. In addition, this answer should, even though it is not stated, begin the act of advocating for the applicant (My key point #10: BE AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR THE APPLICANT). Given that HBS only provides a limited amount of word count for obvious praise (250 words in the 3rd question), begin doing that here. A good way to do that is to, in the process of describing the applicant's role in your organization, highlight the ways they have added value to the organization. It might also be useful to compare the applicant to his or her peers in the process of explaining the applicant's role in your organization.
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)
Adam's Quick and Dirty Interpretation: IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO WRITE THIS RECOMMENDATION, YOU HAVE PROVIDED CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK TO THE APPLICANT!
I consider this to actually be the ideal question for determining whether a recommender actually knows an applicant well. After all, casual acquaintances, your dad's friend, the President of your country,and other such personages that often take the form of bad VIP recommendations, cannot effectively answer this question. As this will be a situation where you are criticizing the candidate, Key Point #7: BE CRITICAL, BUT NUANCED applies. Clearly describe what the candidate did that resulted in you providing feedback. Next describe how the applicant responded. An effective and applicant friendly answer here will be one where the applicant learned from and was, ideally, able to implement your feedback. Compare this question to my analysis of HBS Essay 2: What have you learned from a mistake? as clearly HBS wants to understand both from an applicant and recommenders' perspectives how the applicant responds to mistakes, errors, and failures. Assume that HBS believes that great leaders learn from their mistakes and they are trying to gauge the extent to which the applicant has the potential to be such a leader.
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)
Adam's Quick and Dirty Interpretation: OK, SO WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE APPLICANT?
Other schools will often ask two questions or more to address this same issue as HBS does in this one question. What I really like about this is that the recommender is not forced to fit the applicant into a specific category. Such attempts at fitting round pegs into square holes can certainly take much time for a recommender to address. Compare this HBS question to the extremely specific Haas rec question, 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, and you can easily see that HBS makes it easy for recommenders to focus on what they consider most important to say about an applicant. This space should be used to focus on the absolutely critical selling points about the applicant that the recommender really wants HBS to know. Core accomplishments, interpersonal and/or professional skills, and future potential are the ideal topics to write about here.
Finally, I just wanted to mention that given that HBS has the largest alumni network of any MBA program, it is not necessarily the case that one should prioritize obtaining recommendations from HBS alumni. If you are fortunate to have such a person who can effectively recommend you, that is great, but selecting an HBS alumni simply because they are an alumni is not necessarily smart because there will be so many of them. The most important thing is to have a recommendation that will really standout and fully convinces HBS about your past accomplishments, suitability to enter HBS in 2011, and future potential.
Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. Before emailing me questions about your chances for admission or personal profile, please see my recent post on "Why I don't analyze profiles without consulting with the applicant." If you are interested in my graduate admission consulting services, please click here.
-Adam Markus
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