Where does MITs required recommendation place on this totem pole?
[Recommendations] are important because they tell us about some of an applicant’s personal and professional [attributes]. A positive recommendation is one of the many things that we look for. But if it’s bad — and believe me, there are people who write negative recommendation letters — then that certainly [stands out]. Q: Is a poor recommendation a kiss of death? A: Oh, sure. [A bad recommendation] will affect the decision negatively. Q: Some B-schools place a high degree of importance on an applicant’s enthusiasm. Many times, applicants are encouraged to complete an interview, participate in a campus tour, attend a reception, write thank you letters, and so forth. How are such actions seen by MIT’s admissions committee? A: They’re looked upon favorably, but one doesn’t have to overdo it. We’ve known some candidates who have overdone it. You can show how hungry you are in a lot of ways, but don’t go overboard. Sure, we love for people to come here and visit the school, but they shoul
