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Write a grad school reference that's specific and accurate

Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

A former employee asked you for a reference paragraph for her MBA application. Write one paragraph under 120 words, addressed to the Whitfield School of Business by name, with two specific examples that each include a number from your notes, and describe her role accurately, naming her co-lead, even where her own request overstates it. Skip superlatives like 'best employee I've ever had', 'exceptional' and 'rockstar', and end with the school's required contact line: 'Contact: Greg Tamura, gtamura@pellham.example'. Write a prompt that gets that paragraph.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 120 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "5 sentences, each under 20 words."
  • Copying her overstatement. The AI repeats "she led the migration" from her email, which isn't accurate. Try: Say it: "She co-led the migration with Ben Ortiz."
  • Praise without proof. AI references say "hardworking and detail-oriented" with no numbers behind it. Try: Add: "Name the Whitfield School of Business. Give two examples with numbers: 46 staff trained, late shipments 14% to 6%."
  • Gushing or oversharing. The AI reaches for "exceptional" and may mention her early weakness to sound balanced. Try: Add: "No superlatives like 'exceptional'. No weaknesses. End with my contact line."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets a word limit
  • Keeps her role accurate
  • Asks for numbers
  • Bans superlatives
  • Keeps it to the facts given

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