MSU Broad MBA Recommendation Questions
The Michigan State University Broad College of Business MBA Program application for the 2025-2026 admissions season is open. You can find the MSU Broad MBA recommendation questions here.
MSU Broad requires one reference, but two are recommended. Recommendations can be made through the school’s simple online form; a letter of recommendation is not required. However, admissions may call your references/recommenders to speak to them during the application cycle. References should be able to attest to your ability to work within and lead teams as well as to contribute significantly to a professional business environment and provide specific information on your professional and intellectual skills and abilities. Employment-related references are strongly encouraged, and preferably supervisors.
2025-2026 MSU Broad MBA Recommendation Questions
Section 1: Recommender Information
What is your relationship to the applicant?
How long have you known the applicant?
Please indicate your overall recommendation of the candidate for admission to a graduate program:
- Do not Recommend
- Recommend with Reservation
- Recommend
- Strongly Recommend
Section 2: Skills Assessment
The following questions ask about both the applicant’s softer-skills, and harder-skills. If you yourself feel more comfortable evaluating the applicant quantitatively, please use the following reference: Outstanding = top 5% Strong = top 10% Great = top 25% Average = middle 50%. Poor = bottom 25%
Please rate the applicant’s:
- Self-confidence
- Intellectual ability
- Ability to work with others
- Motivation
- Leadership potential
- Written expression
- Oral expression
- Applicant’s integrity
Please comment on the appraisal provided above and make any additional statements about the applicant that will help the Admissions Committee make its decision.
MBA Applywire
*Pakistani National, M, 37, single.
*Planning to apply in R1 2027 to Tuck, Darden, Ross, Rice, Emory and Georgetown with Test Waivers if granted.
*Scheduled for GRE in Dec'26 to be able to apply in R2 to Consortium and other universities that do not offer test waivers.
*Short-Term Goal: Operations, Program Management or Strategy Roles at Amazon, Tesla or likes. Pivot from Oil & Gas into Manufacturing, healthcare or Tech Industries.
*Long-Term Goal: Reach C-suit level at a Corporate or be a Consultant. Start a Food business and launch a Non Profit for Stray animals.
*Wish to pursue MBA to pivot from Oil Gas industry and land USA job market.
Professional Timeline:
Graduation Year: 2012 (7 months Internship with General Electric)
First Employer: May-June 2013 as Application Engineer with a Firm in UAE. (Resigned duration probation)
Second Employer: Dec 2014 to Sep 2024 with a Fortune 500 Oil & Gas Service Company in Pakistan. Roles Served: Trainee Field Engineer, Engineer-1, Engineer-2, General Field Engineer and finally Product & Resources coordinator in Planning & supply chain function before Termination. Then went on a career break while being actively involved in Stray animal welfare as volunteer. Currently working as a freelancer in 3 different areas. 1. Setting up a education consultancy firm along with a foreign friend. 2. Involved in family outdoor advertising business and 3. consultant with a private environmental agency.
Please do comment on my extensive work experience and above average age, career break and Pivot as justification into a MBA program.
Background: Pakistani national, Senior Manager. 11 years at top FMCG manufacturing excellence, operations leadership, and digital transformation. #1 Pakistani University Gold Medalist, 3.94 GPA, Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Gold Medal for undergraduate final year project (intelligent systems / hardware-software integration).
Career highlights:
Acting Plant Manager: drove facility from #15 to #2 globally in 18 months; 98% workforce retention through full plant divestiture with 100% supply continuity
Currently an expat in Philippines
Co-Founded on (digital marketing agency) alongside full-time expat role, $20K MRR
Post-MBA goals: Short-term: MBB consulting (Operations or Digital/Technology practice) or Operations Technology/Strategy role at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, or Tesla. Long-term: build or lead an AI-native automation venture.
School list (R1, Fall 2027): MIT Sloan (LGO joint MBA/MS if possible), HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton (joint MBA/MS Penn Engineering), UC Berkeley Haas. Considering adding CMU Tepper for the MBA/MS ML or Robotics combination. INSEAD as a backup option for Middle East / SEA Work.
Visa: Pakistani national, prioritizing STEM-designated programs for 3-year OPT.
Weaknesses I'm aware of:
GRE not yet taken, sitting August 2026, targeting 325+. Deadlines are tight (HBS/Wharton Sep 3)
Heavy manufacturing background pivoting toward consulting and big tech, narrative work needed
South Asian male engineer applicant pool is highly competitive and quite a common stereotype
No US work experience
Questions for consultants:
Is my school list calibrated correctly given the manufacturing-to-consulting/big tech pivot, or am I reaching too broadly?
Does the joint MBA/MS angle (LGO, Penn Engineering, CMU ML) strengthen or complicate the application narrative at this stage?
How do I frame 11 years of manufacturing as an asset rather than a liability for MBB and big tech recruiting?
Is a 325 GRE realistic enough to keep HBS and Stanford on the R1 list, or should I be planning for R2 at the reaches?
Go-To-Market/CoS to the Founder/Economics Background/Female
I've worked for 2 online real estate trade publications for the past 4 years. I'm currently a Senior Associate Editor.
I have a nuanced knowledge of many niche industry topics and trends, alongside a solid grasp of economics and finance concepts.
I majored in philosophy with minors in journalism and history.
The other school I'd like to apply to is Fordham's Gabelli School of Business.
MBA LiveWire
Applied 7/13, decision received 7/20.
I am waiting the Decision
16th June Applied/2nd July Invite/12th July Interview/22nd July Admit Letter