IMD MBA Recommendation Questions
The IMD MBA recommendation questions for entry in 2026 are here. IMD requires a single recommendation from a business-related source who knows you well, has worked directly with you, and who can highlight your professional achievements, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and leadership using their form.
2025-2026 IMD MBA Recommendation Questions
Section 1: Personal Information
What is your relationship with the applicant?
- Business partner (currently)
- Business Partner (previously)
- Buyer
- CEO/Managing Director (currently)
- CEO/Managing Director (previously)
- Client
- Colleague/Peer (currently)
- Colleague/Peer (previously)
- Family/Friends
- Line Manager (currently)
- Line Manager (previously)
- Mentor
- Professor
- Supervisor (currently)
- Supervisor (previously)
- Supplier
- Other
How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
Section 2: Recommendation
Can you describe a significant professional accomplishment of the candidate? Detail a project or initiative where the candidate made a substantial impact. Highlight their role, the challenges they faced, and the outcome of their efforts. (500 words)
How would you evaluate the candidate’s leadership skills? (500 words)
In what areas could the candidate improve to reach their full potential? Identify any areas where the candidate could further develop, whether in their professional skills, leadership abilities, or interpersonal interactions. How might a program at IMD help them address these areas? (500 words)
MBA Applywire
Chemical Engineering Bachelors and Masters (3.44 and 3.88 respectively)
Currently mentoring entry level engineers as well.
Worried about transition from a more engineering field to consulting and how the masters impacts admission odds
Background:
24F, Indian
GPA - 7.5 from a Tier 1 Indian college
Participated in CBSE Swimming nationals, and won medals in relay
Took part in badminton clusters
Was part of the prefectorial body in which we welcomed delegates from all around the world
Took part in a NASA program wherein we visited the Johnson Space Centre in Houston
College:
Not good GPA but can defend it
Part of college badminton team and won many laureates
Got bronze in an inter-collegiate tournament as the women’s badminton team captain. And created history as this wasn’t achieved before by any woman’s badminton team
Was the sportswoman of the year for my college
Was part of the incubation center management team of the college. Was part of the strategic relations team (where we almost got Steve Wozniak to deliver a speech) and was the event management team lead
Work Experience:
3yrs Software eng/ quant experience in a top investment bank (front office and back office Eng roles)
Got a promotion
Lead a 2months intern project
What are my chances for the above colleges for a MBA and can I expect any scholarship?
Should I retake the test? Planning to apply in R1
Two-time founder (marketing agency during undergrad, then a fintech post-graduation), ex-Kearney consulting, currently on the founding team of a boutique financial consulting firm. Based in Pakistan, 29. Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Undergrad from LUMS (top business school in Pakistan) with a 2.91 GPA, which I know is my main weakness.
Targeting HBS, Stanford, and MIT Sloan for R1. I'm aware these are reaches given my GPA. GRE is in progress, currently retaking to push into the 315 to 320 range with a strong quant score to offset the academic profile.
Post-MBA goal is to scale into senior operating or founder roles in fintech and financial services, building on my consulting and startup background.
GMAT/GRE waiver, realistically what are my chances? I have 4 major exercises and 1 deployment. The reason for the waiver is time constraints as I am currently deployed.
I'm a dentist from India exploring international MBA programs and would appreciate some advice from people who have either gone through a similar transition or have experience with MBA admissions and outcomes.
My long-term goal is to move into the healthcare/healthtech ecosystem, potentially in areas such as healthcare consulting, product management, healthcare strategy, or healthtech startups. I am particularly interested in leveraging my clinical background rather than moving into a completely unrelated field.
I'm currently evaluating MBA programs in Europe and Asia (Singapore, Japan, HongKong)
For context, I have a GMAT Focus score of 575 with 4 years of work ex within the clinical and corporate side of the healthcare sector
MBA LiveWire
Frustrating that no feedback is given. Felt like I had a great profile/ fit for the program. Good luck to anyone else still waiting