Friends,
I've been struggling with finding the recommender questions for all the schools - so here it is for all compiled and in one place. Hope this is helpful to all of you and I can do my lil bit and give back to the community here.
Cheers
STANFORD https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/letters_of_reference.htmlFor Your 2 Professional/Workplace recommenders
- Please briefly describe your relationship to the candidate, and describe the circumstances under which you have known her or him.
- How does the candidate’s performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
- What (if any) legacy has this candidate left on your organization?
- Describe the most constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please also detail the circumstances that caused you to give the feedback.
- Is there anything else (positive or negative) we should know about the candidate?
For Your Peer/Team recommender
- Please briefly describe your relationship to the candidate, and describe the circumstances under which you have known her or him.
- Describe how the candidate has generated support from others for an idea or initiative.
- What (if any) lasting impact has this candidate left on your organization?
- Describe the most constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please also detail the circumstances that caused you to give the feedback.
- Is there anything else (positive or negative) we should know about the candidate?
HBS https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/writtenapplication.htmlRecommendations must be completed online. The form includes the following three essay response questions, along with other types of questions.
- Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250-word limit)
- Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250-word limit)
- Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)
WHARTON https://engage.wharton.upenn.edu/MBA/forums/t/2095.aspx1. “How long have you known the applicant and describe your relationship to the applicant?
2. Provide an example of constructive feedback you have provided to the applicant. How did the applicant receive this feedback and what efforts did the applicant make to address the concern?
3. Please provide an example of a time when the applicant was particularly successful at interacting with others in a team (employees, peers, managers, etc.); how was the applicant successful? How does the applicant compare to his/her peers in this dimension?
4. Provide an example of a time when the applicant did not meet expectations. What was the outcome? How did s/he handle the setback?
5. How has the applicant’s career progressed over the time that you have known him/her? How does this growth compare to his/her peer group? Please describe the peer group that you are comparing this applicant.
6. Provide any additional comments you think would assist the Admissions Committee in making its decision.”
7. “In addition to the questions above we also ask the recommenders to fill out a grid that appraises some of your attributes.”
KELLOGG https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/parttimemba/apply/~/media/Files/PTMBA/RecommendationForm102709.ashxYour comments will be an important factor in the admission decision.
1. What are the applicant's most outstanding attributes?
2. What are the three areas of the applicant's professional performance that have improved the most in the time you have known him or her?
3. What do you perceive to be the applicant's weaknesses?
4. Please address the following components of the applicant. Cite specific examples where possible.
A. Intellectual ability (e.g. analytical and quantitative skills, communication skills, creativity, curiosity)
B. Career performance (e.g. responsibilities and progression relative to others in the industry, impact on organization)
C. Career focus (e.g. clarity of post-degree plans, active participation in his or her own career development)
D. Interpersonal skills (e.g. maturity, listening skills, team skills, sense of humor, respect for different viewpoints)
E. Leadership experience and potential (e.g. ability to influence others, initiative, contribution beyond expected responsibilities, integrity)
5. In comparison with other candidates for graduate school in management that you have known, how would you rate the applicant with respect to the following qualities?
(A rating grid)
Intellectual Ability
Maturity
Personal Integrity/Ethics
Professionalism
Leadership/Career Potential
Decision Making
Interpersonal Skills
Written Skills
Oral Skills
6. ( OVERALL) Highly recommend / other choice
(NOTE I AM NOT 100% SURE ON KELLOGG QUESTIONS - the PART TIME MBA SITE and the MBA ADVANTAGE SITE have different questions!)
COLUMBIA https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/null/download?&exclusive=filemgr.download&file_id=10470Show SpoilerConfidential Professional Recommendation Questions
- What is your relationship to, and how long have you known the applicant? Is this person still employed by your organization? If not, when did he/she depart?
- Please provide a short list of adjectives describing the applicant’s strengths.
- Please compare the applicant’s performance to that of his/her peers. Does the applicant have the potential to become a senior manager?
- How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills in working with peers, supervisors and subordinates?
- How does the applicant accept constructive criticism?
- Comment on your observations of the applicant’s ethical behavior.
- What do you think motivates the candidate’s application to Columbia Business School?
- In what ways could the applicant improve professionally? If you could change one thing about the applicant, what would it be?
- Are there any other matters which you feel we should know about the applicant?
BERKELEY HAAS https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/LORFall2011.pdfWe are particularly interested in the answers to the following questions, but welcome any information you think appropriate. We encourage you to provide specific examples wherever possible. Please provide your responses on your company letterhead or stationery, but use this form to mark your responses to question 9 (see grid below).
- Describe your relationship to the applicant. Are you, or have you been, the applicant’s direct supervisor? If not, what is the nature of your relationship? How long have you known the applicant and how frequent is/was your interaction with them?
- How does the applicant’s performance compare with that of his or her peers?
- How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills?
- What are the applicant’s three greatest strengths? Cite specific examples.
- What are the applicant’s three greatest weaknesses or areas in need of improvement? Cite specific examples.
- What significant contribution has the applicant made to your organization?
- Please comment on the applicant’s potential for leading an organization.
- In the Berkeley MBA program, we develop leaders who have “confidence without attitude” or “confidence with humility”.
- Please comment and provide examples of how the applicant reflects this Berkeley-Haas value.
- Please give us your appraisal of the applicant in terms of the traits listed below. Compare the applicant with others whom you know have applied to business school or with individuals who are being groomed for leadership positions within your organization.
- It should be extremely rare for any candidate to receive “truly exceptional” in all areas, and unusual for a candidate to receive either “superior” or “truly exceptional” in all areas.
LEADERSHIP GRID - (Options: Truly exceptional (top 1%), Superior (top 2%), Outstanding (top 5%), Very Good(top 10%), Good (top 25%), Average (top 50%), Below average (bottom 50%), No Opportunity to Observe)
Leadership ability
Innovation & creativity
Intellectual ability
Analytical ability
Quantitative ability
Professional poise
Interpersonal skills
Self-confidence
Personal integrity/ethics
Maturity
Initiative
Ability to accept constructive feedback
Respect for different viewpoints
Team skills
Ability to create positive impact
Oral communication skills
Written communication skills
Career focus
Overall impression
UCLA ANDERSON https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x27516.xml- What is your relationship to the candidate and how long have you known him or her? How would you compare the candidate to others with similar responsibilities within the organization?
- Comment on the candidate's career progression to date.
- How would you describe his or her potential for professional growth and development?
- Comment on the candidate's aptitude for strategic thinking, leadership, and/or management.
- Describe how the candidate deals with challenges.
- Is there anything else that you would like us to know about the candidate?
DUKE https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/- Comment on the applicant's interpersonal skills (effectiveness in establishing and maintaining relationships; working with supervisors, peers, and subordinates; willingness to work in a team environment).
- Description of applicant's peer group.
- What do you consider the applicant's primary talents or strengths?
- In what areas does the applicant need improvement or growth? If you have had the opportunity to provide the applicant with constructive feedback, please provide specific examples of the feedback and the applicant's response to it.
Edited for CBS/Kellogg update per mba prep advantage site (Thanks Brave_Little_Toaster)