Tuck MBA Recommendation Questions
The Dartmouth Tuck MBA recommendation questions for the 2025-2026 admissions season are now available. Tuck School of Business recommenders and applicants can read on to understand how candidates are evaluated and exactly what recommenders are asked.
First-time applicants must submit two letters of reference. Reapplicants who applied in the most recent admissions cycle need to submit only one new letter from a reference who did not previously write to Tuck on their behalf. One recommendation should come from a direct supervisor, but if that is not possible, you can provide a brief explanation in the Other Employment Information section of the application.
Before they even view the school’s recommendation form and questions, Tuck recommenders receive a detailed email emphasizing how their letters will materially influence admissions outcomes and defines strong references as follows:
- demonstrates the applicant’s qualifications for admission with descriptive examples, stories, and anecdotes. Tuck is seeking clear evidence that the applicant is smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging, their four admissions criteria.
- provides examples of the applicant’s strengths and growth areas. They count on the recommender to help illustrate how Tuck, given their distinctly immersive learning community, can help the applicant grow.
- reflects the recommender’s expenditure of time, effort, and thought on behalf of the applicant. It is expected that the recommender alone will compose and submit the reference letter.
Accordingly, Tuck has eliminated maximum word counts for its MBA recommendation questions, allowing recommenders to answer each prompt in as much detail as they wish.
Of note, Tuck uses the Common Letter of Recommendation from GMAC – check out our analysis of these questions and tips for responding to them.
2025-2026 Dartmouth Tuck MBA Recommendation Questions
Please respond to all of the following questions in the space below. If you have written your reference letter in a Word document, please copy and paste your letter into the space below.
- Provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
- How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? 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.
- Is there anything else we should know?
Clear Admit Resources
For more guidance on addressing the Tuck MBA recommendation questions and crafting a supportive letter, check out the Clear Admit Recommendation Guide. This 39-page PDF publication offer strategic guidance and is available for immediate download.
MBA Applywire
Applying to deferred programs this year, would love to hear thoughts on my application.
675 GMAT Focus, 3.723 at Non Target Undergraduate, Finance Major. Decent extra curricular on-campus, for internship experience started college with internship at a small ABL shop, interned sophomore summer/junior school year at a large publicly traded mortgage company doing Risk, interned after junior year at a Big4 doing Risk Consulting for FSOs. Returning FT to same B4 in Deals practice.
Would love to hear thoughts. Thanks.
Orthopaedic surgeon with cross-border training/work exposure i.e. UK, HK & Pakistan
• Strong involvement in research, publications, and innovation-related work
• Interested in the intersection of clinical medicine, healthcare systems, digital health, and business
• Long-term goal is to move from being a clinician to a broader leadership role where I can help build, scale, or evaluate healthcare solutions
African female - after 7 years at an international engineering consultancy and 3 in public sector, looking to get into infrastructure finance through an infrastructure focused MBA and internship pipeline. Certified PPP practitioner but not ao much leadership experience. Hoping to join a big 4 infrastructure advisory or infrastructure fund post MBA.
Only applying to Wharton "Deferred" Program (Due to eligibility)
Demographic: Asian Male, 26
Academic Background: B.S. & M.S. in Nuclear Engineering @ Top school in S.Korea
GPA: B.S.(3.76/4.30), M.S.(3.93/4.30)
GMAT Focus: 675 (Q-96th, DI-95th, V-56th)
Pre-MBA Employer: Recieved FT Offer @ Bain (expected start: July 2026)
Post-MBA Goal:
- Short: Banking
- Long: Infrastructure PE
Internships: Internship @ BCG
Research Experience:
4 conferences and several papers under review about Nuclear Fuel Materials, Nuclear Plant Economics & EPC, Nuclear Reactor Core Design
Extracurricular Activities/Leadership:
- Led a consulting project for a nuclear energy company in S.Korea
- Honor Society, College of Engineering
- VP of the student council @ UG department
- Soccer/Baseball team(non-varsity)
Awards:
- 2 x Minister's Award (1st place in Nationwide competition in Energy Sector)
- 5~10 x Minor Awards mostly in Energy & Nuclear Engineering
Honors:
- U.S. Army Commendation Medal
- Presidential Science Scholarship(Awarded by the President of the Korea, one of 25 recipients nationwide) - Fully funded during UG
- Korea Defense Veteran's Association (KDVA) Scholarship
- Honor Society of the College of Engineering
Hi All,
Location: India YOE:2.8 yrs Industry: Software Role: Senior software developer
I have been working in a software Mnc and recently got fired. I had initially planned to apply for MBA programs for 2027 intake. But given the recent layoff I'm not sure what to do next. I didn't yet take the gmat. And confused if I should do a job hunt now or prepare for gmat, since I wanted to apply for round 1s by sep.
I definitely want to go for a good International MBA for 2027 intake.
What should I do next, follow are the choices I can think of-
1. Prepare for a good gmat score, finish it in next 2-3 months, I also have a small startup idea that I would like to in parallel experiment/try out, not sure how far it will succeed.
2. Prepare for gmat, complete in next 2-3 months then do job hunt(might or might not be able to get a job by the time I apply for round 1s)
Please suggest what is better for my mba applications.
MBA LiveWire
Waitlisted post interview. Gutted. I have offers from INSEAD and LBS but Stern was my first choice.