Letter of Reference

1. Define your relationship to the applicant and describe the circumstances under which you have known him or her.

From May of 1994 through October of 1997 Mr. ??? was one of my students at the University of Munich. I came to know him in my lectures and practical courses. Over the course of his studies our contact became more frequent and intensive, since we met for several personal conversations and additional discussions while he was acting as a student representative. Finally, I conducted Mr. ???´s 2nd state examination.

The statements concerning Mr. ???´s work as a math tutor are based on the evaluation of my colleague Dr. ???.

2. What are the applicant´s greatest strength? In what way might you distinguish the applicant from other able individuals at his or her professional level?

Mr. ???´s strongest asset is his superior analytical capability. In our conversations I was struck by his analytical and perceptive prowess. In scientific as well as non-scientific fields he showed a thorough understanding of the issues he faced. His excellent analytical skills along with his high level of ambition and motivation have led to a truly exceptional academic performance: He passed the two state examinations of his university education with the best possible score 1.0, a performance that is achieved by less than 2% of our students.

Another important point I want to mention is his inquisitiveness. Mr. ??? was always eager to gather any information that would provide him with a deeper understanding of a problem. Moreover, I appreciate that Mr. ??? attacked problems from very different points of view (e.g. scientific, social and ethical ones).

Finally I would like to emphasize Mr. ???´s commitment towards the student body as an asset with which he can clearly be distinguished from other students. As a student representative and math tutor he vigorously maintained the students´ interests and supported the students´ efforts to master their studies. The math examination was one of the most critical examinations for many of the students hoping to graduate. By means of his didactic and rhetorical proficiency and by providing the least competent students with extra lessons, Mr. ??? helped numerous students to pass the test.

3. What are the applicant’s weaknesses or developmental needs? How has the applicant addressed these needs?

There are two particular weaknesses I want to mention:

Mr. ???´s academic performance was excellent, however I sometimes felt that he spent too much time on his extracurricular activities at the university such as his job as a math tutor. Although Mr. ??? enjoyed his job as a math tutor, he sometimes regretted having too little spare time to apply to companies and pursue his career plans. Before his second state examination he recognized that he could best develop and apply his talents and abilities with a career in the industry. He knew that his future career options largely depended on his performance in the second state examination and therefore reduced his work as a math tutor in order to prepare optimally. After this exam Mr. ??? devoted much more of his time to advancing his career and started to apply for MBA fellowships.

Mr. ??? lacks the in-depth knowledge of business that is needed to handle the complex managerial tasks of today’s world. However, he is aware of this weakness and therefore will enhance his business knowledge in the consulting firm he will work for from spring to fall of 1999. Nonetheless, I strongly reinforce his intention to pursue additional practical-orientated business studies with an MBA program.

Mr. ??? has always tried to identify and improve upon his deficiencies on his own, but he also takes into consideration any reasonable critique to find out and overcome his weaknesses. He very much reflects on his environment as well as himself and strongly emphasizes his personal development and social maturity.

4. Describe the applicants interpersonal skills (effectiveness in establishing and maintaining relationships; working with supervisors, peers, and subordinates; sensitivity to those less competent; willingness to work in a team environment; etc.).

Mr. ???´s interpersonal skills were remarkable. He was respected by the faculty as well as his fellow students for his friendly, unbiased, and open-minded character. His behavior has always reflected integrity. As a supervisor it was highly enjoyable to work with him, since he aimed to create a relaxed, yet concentrated working atmosphere.

Mr. ??? very much enjoys working as part of a team. He likes to contribute his ideas and concepts to the team, but he is also able to listen to his colleagues in order to develop a sound and comprehensive solution with the rest of the team. His outstanding communication skills allowed him to present himself in a self-confident and convincing manner.

During his studies he was elected the speaker of his student group for two semesters. With this task he has proven to be a very good mediator between faculty and student body.

Mr. ???´s behavior as a math tutor was characterized by objectivity and maturity. He managed to maintain a balance between sustaining his authority on the one hand and establishing a close relationship between him and his students on the other hand. Particularly appreciated was his readiness to aid his students with any mathematical and non-mathematical issue. As a math tutor he showed a special sensitivity for the less competent and particularly motivated them.

5. Describe the applicant´s performance in leadership roles, including specific strength and weaknesses. If you have not had the opportunity to observe the applicant in a leadership role, please comment on his or her potential for senior-level management.

For more than two years Mr. ??? was a math tutor and responsible for approximately 80 first and second-year students. He succeeded in motivating them as well as judging their learning potential. Mr. ??? took the initiative to improve the students´ performance, e.g. he established a review of the past examinations which helped the students to infer and exercise the most important issues and handle the test format. In his academic and extracurricular activities he regularly asked for feedback to further improve his performance. Moreover, in carrying out his jobs at university he demonstrated high organizational talent.

With respect to his leadership abilities I am sure that Mr. ??? has the potential to fulfill a senior managerial postion.

6. Is there anything else about this applicant that you feel is relevant to our assessment of his or her candidacy (e.g. personal integrity, maturity, demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others, impact and unusual accomplishments in the workplace)?

Mr. ???´s consistently friendly manner, his sense of fair play and his maturity have made it interesting and pleasant to work with him. Besides his high academic ambition he was firmly engaged in the students´ body interests. It was an outstanding accomplishment that, as a math tutor, he saved many students who performed poor in maths from being dismissed from our institution. I appreciate Mr. ??? as a remarkable individual with remarkable ideas. I am convinced that he will be a valuable member of your student body.