MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Status:Admissions Expert
Affiliations: Founder, Amerasia Consulting Group
Posts: 1081
Given Kudos: 264
Re: Stanford Leadership Grid
[#permalink]
06 Sep 2011, 00:12
Have them rank you entirely in the top boxes if A) they are willing, and B) it is not morally wrong for them to do so. Remember that these are recommendation letters - not performance reviews. You are presumably selecting the two (or three, in the case of Stanford and HBS) people that you know in the entire world who are most qualified to advocate you to this school. It would be weird if you found someone who felt you were only okay. Plus, not unlike some colleges that suffer from "grade inflation" or the way steroids jacked up home runs in baseball, you will be the lone humble applicant in a sea of people getting top marks. Don't be a hero, get the best rec you can. (In fact, the keys to a good recommendation are simple: have it be from someone who knows you well, have it be from someone who can articulate those thoughts, have it be authentic - which means stay out of the process, and have it be glowing ... that's it, don't over think it more than that.)
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti