UCLA Anderson MBA Recommendation Questions
The UCLA Anderson MBA application requires two professional recommendations. Reapplicants only need to submit one new recommendation. Recommenders should be able to speak to your work performance, capabilities, and potential for graduate studies and future career success, ideally a direct supervisor. There is an online questionnaire, but recommenders may upload an additional letter if they choose. The UCLA MBA recommendation questions are now available for applicants and their recommenders.
2025-2026 UCLA Anderson MBA Recommendation Questions
Section 1: Recommender Information
We appreciate your thoughtful feedback, which provides the Admissions Committee with a valuable perspective on the applicant’s abilities and achievements. Whenever possible, please support your comments with specific examples from your experience. If you wish to elaborate further, you are welcome to upload an additional letter.
Context of Relationship
- Current Employer
- Previous Employer
- University/Academic
- Extra Curricular/Community
- Other
Relationship to applicant
- Direct Supervisor
- Other Supervisor
- Advisor/Mentor
- Colleague/Peer
- Direct Report
- Indirect Report
- Client/Customer
- Business Partner/Investor
- Vendor
- Professor/Instructor
- Other
How long have you known the applicant?
During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the applicant?
If you are affiliated with UCLA Anderson School of Management or UCLA, please select the option that most closely matches.
- Faculty
- UCLA Anderson Graduate
- UCLA Graduate
- Staff
- Not affiliated
- Other
Section 2: Competency Ratings
Recommenders are asked to rate 10 competencies using the following scale:
Competencies:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Professional Maturity
- Resilience
- Self-Confidence
- Communication
- Analytical and Problem Solving
- Motivation and Initiative
- Work Quality
- Teamwork
- Leadership Potential
(Optional) Is there anything about your competency ratings on which you’d like to comment?
Section 3: Comments and Examples
Please answer the following questions and provide specific examples where possible.
- Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (Recommended word count: 50 words)
- How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?) (Recommended word count: 300 words)
- Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Recommended word count: 300 words)
- (Optional) Is there anything else we should know?
Based on your professional experience, how do you rate this candidate compared to her/his peer group?
- Unable to assess
- Below average
- Average
- Very good (well above average)
- Excellent (top 10%)
- Outstanding (top 5%)
- The best encountered in my career
Overall, I …
- Do not recommend this applicant
- Recommend this applicant, with reservations
- Recommend this applicant
- Enthusiastically recommend this applicant
MBA Applywire
I want to be on a COO track in the medical device industry. I want to focus my MBA on strategy within an operations framework, so I can be the best applicant for MBB consulting in the medical device industry.
Education/Testing
- T20 US University, 3.73 GPA, Economics - Graduated 2022
- Won some research/academic awards in undergrad - not sure if that matters
- GRE 332: 167Q/165V
Background & Experience
- 26M, based in South America, work across two roles in a family business
- Role 1: Small division within the family business making a leather goods (private label for a small client base). I led the entire public launch of our own brand, from the ground up, including hiring the full team and building out retail placement. Now have 3 of our own retail locations plus placement in larger third-party retailers, roughly $1.5M in sales over the last two years
- Role 2: Regional sales leadership for a distribution business, leading two teams (40+ people total). Led a strategy pivot that roughly quadrupled our regional sales target over three years to 250K$
ECs
- Regional chair of global professional organization
Pivot to Energy Strategy Consulting and potential achievable universities. GMAT Focus: 665. India-based Chemical Engineering gold medalist (rank#1) with 5+ years in India at renowned US-based EPC major, delivering process engineering on two flagship LNG EPC projects, earning 6+ internal recognitions and 2 merit based promotions. Took on a parallel 6-month international leadership role coordinating a USAID-funded social impact project in Zambia, managing a 16-person local team. Extracurricular national-level footballer, leadership of two Toastmasters clubs (one to President's Distinguished status), and an accredited Mental Health First Aider certification. Post MBA transition into Energy Strategy Consulting to build commercial and strategic capability before returning to scale a GCC-based family business, which currently supporting for past 9 months, into an energy transition solutions provider. Thank you!
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
MBA LiveWire
June 8 applied
June 26 interview invite
July 2 interview
July 8 acceptance via email about portal update
Applied 6/4
Interview Invite 6/24
Interview 6/30
Accepted 7/8
Don't give up!
Military