Indian School of Business (ISB) MBA Recommendation Questions
The Indian School of Business (ISB) uses the Common Letter of Recommendation from GMAC. The application accepts one evaluation. Choose someone who can vouch for your performance, potential, and personality. Direct and current supervisors are generally preferred, but you may also tap past supervisors, managers, or professional colleagues. You may choose a client, too, if you work in your family business or if you are an entrepreneur. If you are considering a professor as a recommender, be sure to approach someone who can comment on your work and potential beyond what’s on your transcripts. Note that no extra attention is given to recommendations written by ISB alums.
2025-2026 Indian School of Business (ISB) Recommendation Questions
Competency Evaluation
Please answer the questions below in as specific and candid a manner as possible, particularly noting maturity, purposefulness, and initiative. Your comments will not be disclosed to the applicant and will be available only to those involved in our admissions process.
For each competency, please select the one button that corresponds to the behavior that you have seen the applicant most consistently exhibit.
Achievement
1. Initiative
2. Results Orientation
- No basis for judgment
- Takes actions to overcome obstacles to achieve goals
- Documents activities and outcomes to learn from past; introduces incremental improvements to raise the effectiveness of team
- Invents new approaches with measurably better results; works to deliver best-in-class performance improvements
- Focuses on fulfilling activities at hand; unsure how work relates to goals
- Independently acts to exceed goals and plans for contingencies
Influence
3. Communication, Professional Impression & Poise
- No basis for judgment
- Uses tailored language that appeals to specific groups; restates what others have said to check for understanding; comes across as confident; responds rapidly and strongly to crisis; looked to for advice and guidance
- Struggles to get point across; neglects to understand audience’s input or perspective; lacks confidence and gets flustered under pressure
- Structures content for senior-level meetings; maintains composure when challenged; solicits opinions and concerns, discusses them openly and adjusts communication; when in strong conflict or crisis, remains cool under pressure; channels strong emotion into positive action
- Works to get point across; acknowledges feedback; reframes statements when necessary to make them clearer; speaks politely; remains composed in known circumstances
- Present views clearly and logically structures content for a broad audience; listens and responds to feedback; prepares in advance to appear confident; leaves a positive and professional impression; responds confidently in unfamiliar situations
4. Influence and Collaboration
- No basis for judgment
- Uses tailored influence approaches to create and leverage a network of strategically chosen individuals to improve collective outcomes
- Uses tailored approaches to connect with others, influence, and achieve results
- Does not seek input and perspective of others
- Accepts input from others and engages them in problem solving
- Seeks first to understand perspectives of others; takes actions to gain their support for ideas and initiatives
People
5. Respect for Others
- No basis for judgment
- Invites input from others because of expressed respect for them and their views
- Unwilling to acknowledge others’ points of view
- Open to considering others’ views when confronted or offered
- Uses empathy and personal experience to resolve conflicts and foster mutual respect; reinforces respect with public praise when individuals solicit and use input from others
6. Team Leadership
7. Developing Others
How will graduate education in management help the applicant to realize his or her goals? (100 words maximum)
9. Adaptability/ Resilience
10. Self Awareness
Cognitive Abilities
11. Problem Solving
12. Strategic Orientation
Optional Comments
Is there anything about your ratings on which you’d like to comment? (Optional, word limit 500)
Capstone Questions
Based on your professional experience, how do you rate this candidate compared to her/his peer group?
Overall, I…
Recommendation Questions
* Recommender must select button from list
Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant. (Word limit 500)
How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (Word limit 500)
Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. (Word limit 500)
Is there anything else we should know? (Word limit 500)