Oxford Saïd MBA Recommendation Questions
The MBA application for Oxford Saïd Business School requires a minimum of two references, at least one professional. If you are unable to provide a letter from your current direct supervisor, then a previous supervisor, an indirect manager, a client, a member of your board of directors, or any other individual who supervises your work would be acceptable. Alternatively, ask someone who managed you in an extracurricular, research, volunteer, or community activity. Choose individuals who know you well through significant, direct involvement with you within the last three years and will provide detailed anecdotes and examples to support their assertions.
Admissions can only accept references from a valid work, professional, or institutional email address and not from Gmail or Hotmail accounts. The Oxford MBA recommendation questions for the current admissions season are below.
2025-2026 Oxford Saïd MBA Recommendation Questions
The recommender is asked to rate the applicant on the following five traits.
Intellectual Curiosity
- Needs Improvement
- Developing
- Competent
- Exceeds Expectations
- Unknown/Not observed
Leadership Skills
- Needs Improvement
- Developing
- Competent
- Exceeds Expectations
- Unknown/Not observed
Ability to Work in a Team
- Needs Improvement
- Developing
- Competent
- Exceeds Expectations
- Unknown/Not observed
Energy and Drive
- Needs Improvement
- Developing
- Competent
- Exceeds Expectations
- Unknown/Not observed
English Language Ability
- Needs Improvement
- Developing
- Competent
- Exceeds Expectations
- Unknown/Not observed
Please upload a letter to elaborate on your ratings you have given the candidate above. Please also indicate, for how long you have known the candidate and in what capacity, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and how you think the candidate would benefit from the programme.
MBA Applywire
Hi. I pivoted from litigation to credit research (worked with Evalueserve India, Crisil India) post my first mba. I did my mba from Symbiosis School of banking and finance in 2021. And altogteher i hold 6 years 4 months of work experience. I am targeting for 2027 fall. I hold an undergraduate degree in Law (BA.LLB (Hons)). I am looking for a change in roles/ geography.
Additional Notes:
1. MBB consultant w/3 years at the firm + one promotion
2. Took a secondment at a nonprofit focused in sustainability in countries below the equator (although have programs above too), including the one I am from (mentioned the link in essays)
3. Choosing to go to MBA for network opportunity to continue sustainability-focus, and inch closer to being ready to be in fields like impact investing (think MBB gives me general knowledge, but doesn't get me to where I want to go)
4. Will return to MBB because of sponsorship
5. Am worried about GRE; got a 158Q and 169V - so avg is around school avg, but the split is bad. Biggest worry here.
6. URM
URM with strong extracurriculars mentoring and tutoring low income students of various ages. Worked 25-40 hrs per week in undergrad which explains the lower GPA. Have led automation projects at work and should receive strong letters of rec. Goal is to pivot to management consulting at a B4/T2 in the financial services space since it matches my prior experience.
Intended R1 applicant to the listed schools. Targetting MBB post-MBA (with one eye on returning to corporate strategy)
I am 25 Indian male and would like to introduce myself as a Chartered Accountant from India working as a Risk Analyst ( Third Party Risk Analyst ) in Citi Chennai.
In addition to 2.5 years of work experience as a Risk Analyst with a promotion .I also have a 3 year CA articleship experience in an audit firm (1.5 years) and as an industrial trainee in one of the start ups of a renowned car manufacturers primarily handling tax compliances audits accounting aspects
Further I have a cgpa of 7.5 in B.Com ( Distance education) since I was pursuing my CA. After my CA I did ACCA (UK based CA) , CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) and completed my CFA Level 1. I want to make a career change to finance and targeting M7 , LBS AND INSEAD. Need a review of my profile and suggest me what would be good gmat score for my application