UCI Merage MBA Recommendation Questions
The MBA application to the UCI Merage School of Business requires two letters of recommendation. These should be provided by employers, supervisors, professors, or others who are able to comment on the professional and educational goals and potential of the applicant. Additionally, recommenders may upload their own letter of recommendation which must be signed on letterhead (PDF or .doc format). The UCI MBA recommendation questions for the 2025-2026 admissions season are as follows.
2025-2026 UCI Merage Recommendation Questions
Section 1
Recommender information: Name, Title, Company
Please comment on the applicant’s managerial and leadership skills. What do you see as the applicant’s strengths and areas for growth in this regard? [If included in optional attachment, enter “see attachment”.]
Do you feel graduate study is appropriate for the applicant at this time? Why? [If included in optional attachment, enter “see attachment”.]
Please evaluate the applicant with respect to the following:
- Intellectual and Analytical Ability
- Maturity
- Leadership Abilities
- Ability to Work Well with Others/Interpersonal Skills
- Written Skills
- Oral/Presentation Skills
- Problem-Solving Abilities
- Self-Confidence
- Potential For Career Advancement
- Integrity
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Motivation/Initiative
Using the following scale:
- Unable to Comment
- Below Average/Lower 35%
- Average/Middle 30%
- Good/Top 35%
- Very Good/Top 20%
- Outstanding/Top 10%
- Truly Exceptional/Top 2%
How would you compare the applicant to his/her peer group? Describe the peer group to which you are referring (e.g., applicant’s peers, other candidates, other professionals)
We strongly encourage you to supplement your previous comments with any additional information you feel would be beneficial to the Admissions Committee. [If included in optional attachment, enter “see attachment”.]
Please select an option: I…
- Strongly recommend
- recommend
- Recommend with some reservations
- Do not recommend
Recommenders are given the option to upload a Word or PDF as a supporting letter for the UCI Merage MBA recommendation.
MBA Applywire
Currently working at Big4 Tax Advisory for Foreign Portfolio and Institutional Investors. Have a low GPA but positive trajectory from 2.00 in Semester 1 to 3.73 in Semester 6 and a Finance Major GPA of 3.64. CFA L3 candidate, hopefully cleared by the time I join.
Profile handicaps also include a 3 year gap post graduation and had to repeat Year 1 in college due to failing a subject.
4 YoE at matriculation. T1 Indian engineering college (Mech Eng.). Long term entrepreneurial goal building sports infrastructure and improving access to high quality training facilities and credible pathways to professional leagues. Played football (soccer) extensively through school and college as captain in school. Football community head in Hyderabad with around 60-70 members.
-5 year Division I student athlete
-3x captain
-3.97 masters gpa (business analytics)
-undergrad major is sport management
-4 years at Fortune 500 med tech company (3 different positions)
-started a fund 5 years ago to help families affected by cancer in memory of my mom (plan annual events, present to 200+ people per event, allocate funds to event beneficiaries)
-targeting round 2
-Taking the GRE in Oct
Any advice on a range for a target GRE score and based on my profile do you think the 3.3 will hold me back from those top M7/T15 schools that I plan to apply to?
(I assume to help offset the 3.3, my GRE score will need to be pretty high)
MBA LiveWire
Submitted application on August 19th. Completed optional Kira Interview
Application submitted 06 Sep
Applied on August 27.