Evaluation of the use of standardized recommendation forms in admissions in radiologic technology, medical technology, and dietetics.

The continuing decline in the number of applicants to allied health educational programs combined with the need to ensure that graduates are competent has made essential the development of reliable predictors that more fully assess the potential of all individuals in the restricted applicant pool. The letter of recommendation is the most commonly requested information that relates to personal qualities in college applicants, but little research has been conducted on the value of this predictor. The purpose of this study was to retroactively review how attribute ratings in letters of recommendation submitted on standardized forms (N = 500) related to the source of the reference and the admission status of students applying to allied health educational programs. Results indicated that some attribute ratings distinguish between students and some do not, that standardized forms can be refined by elimination of items that failed to distinguish students, that ratings vary significantly by type of rater, and that the relationship between rating scores and admission status supports the efficacy of the standardized recommendation forms.