Columbia MBA Recommendation Questions
Columbia Business School’s early decision and regular decision online applications are live, meaning that the Columbia MBA recommendation questions are now available.
Columbia requires one recommendation from someone who can speak directly about your performance and professional promise — ideally from your current supervisor. If that’s not possible, they ask you to submit a statement of explanation, and choose from other suggested recommender options: a former direct supervisor or another professional associate, senior to you, who can share their insights on your candidacy. Reapplicants are required to submit one new recommendation.
Columbia’s recommendation is rather streamlined compared to that of other leading MBA programs. The recommendation form requests that recommenders indicate whether they have an MBA, requires an upload of a business card or another form of proof of employment, such as a screenshot of a profile on an internal company website, or link to profile on public company website, etc., and asks that they address two prompts in the course of a recommendation of no more than 1,000 words that should be on professional letterhead. There are no additional questions asking the recommender to rate the applicant on a list of skills or qualities.
Recommenders are advised in the email sent by Columbia of the guidelines for submission, which now include a note that while the use of generative AI tools for idea generation and/or to edit a person’s work is permitted by the school, using these tools to generate a complete letter violates the Honor Code.
2026-2027 Columbia MBA Recommendation Questions
Please consider the following guidelines when writing your recommendation:
- How do the candidate’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
- Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
Limit your recommendation to 1000 words. Please submit your recommendation as a PDF or Word document on letterhead, if possible.
Of note, these questions track closely with—but are not identical to—the questions in the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation. Check out our analysis of the GMAC Common LoR prompts for strategic insight that your recommenders should keep in mind as they compose their responses.
MBA Applywire
Work Experience
• As of the time of application, five years in top-tier strategy consulting (client-face role), including 2 years at a Tier-2 global firm and 3 years at an MBB, consistently recognized as a top-performing consultant and awarded MBA sponsorship
• Broad exposure to international projects across diverse industries and strategic topics, with roles engaging mid- to senior-level client stakeholders
Social Impact & Volunteering
• Volunteer mentor at a non-profit dedicated to providing educational support and career guidance to low-income youth, contributing to social mobility initiatives
Academics
• B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from a top 3 Brazilian university with a GPA of 7.84/10.00
• GMAT Focus 665 (Q82, V85, DI82)
EA Score: Quant: 12 IR: 12 V: 10
I got a Master Degree in Finance with a 3.7 GPA.
CV:
Purchasing Manager (2025- Current) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Innovation Engineer (2023 - 2025) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Financial Analyst Sr. (2022 - 2023) in Strategic business services center.
Financial Analyst (2020 - 2022) in a Telecommunications infrastructure company, 150 employees
Short Term Goals: Right after my MBA, my goal is to work in the US, in a strategic corporate role, like a Global Procurement Manager, Operations Consultant, or a member of a Supply Chain Leadership Program in a global company. I want to manage large international supply chains, lead cross-border projects, and learn how top companies use new technologies to run their operations.
Long Term Goals: Ten years after my MBA, my goal is to be the Director of Development, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the company where I work right now or Director of Product Development. In this position, I want to lead the company's high-level strategy, drive our global expansion, and make the executive decisions on where the company is heading. Additionally, depending on the company's timings and internal succession plans, my ultimate goal is to compete for the General Director (CEO) position to lead the entire enterprise.
Why MBA Now: Through my roles in innovation, finance, and procurement at a leading manufacturer, I’ve learned how operational decisions shape overall business performance. I’ve led the digital transformation integrating an AI-powered strategic sourcing platform in indirect purchases and building supply chain resilience against tariff changes. However, I want to increase my influence over high-level business direction and execution. Having optimized our foundational operations, this is the perfect window to pivot toward global leadership. I need to develop leadership experience in a world-class global organization to return and successfully lead the company as it reaches its mature, global scale.
Silver medallist/ 7 years finance experience in JP Morgan and American Express (US market) / Led $30B commercial portfolio, led multiple initiative leading to $100M profitability/ Running AI startup in Supply chain finance- backed by Entrepreneur First
I want to be on a COO track in the medical device industry. I want to focus my MBA on strategy within an operations framework, so I can be the best applicant for MBB consulting in the medical device industry.
MBA LiveWire
Received a call from admissions last Thursday (7/9), official letter posted to portal today. Offered admission (no scholarship) after submitting a test score update (327 GRE) and quantitative readiness course completion.
Applied June 7, invited to interview June 29, interview and acceptance on July 8