Florida Warrington MBA Recommendation Questions
The University of Florida (UF) Warrington College of Business MBA application requires two professional recommendations to help evaluate the applicant’s performance within an organization, whether the degree program is the right fit and their potential for business leadership. Current and former supervisors are preferred, but you can select anyone who can speak to your professional abilities. Recommendations should not be submitted by friends, relatives, or former professors. If an applicant knows a current UF MBA student or alum, they can serve as a recommender by providing a brief endorsement directly to an admissions representative. In lieu of the UF Warrington MBA recommendation form, the school also accepts the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation, or recommenders can also upload their own written evaluation. The UF Warrington MBA recommendation questions are below.
2025-2026 UF Warrington MBA Recommendation Questions
Section 1
Applicant information
Recommender information (title, institution)
Section 2: Applicant Rating
Please rate the applicant with others of the same academic level. It is important to the applicant that you give a percentage rating on the grid below as well as a written evaluation. If you are not able to judge in any category, please explain why in your written evaluation.
Recommenders are asked to use the following scale, with the “upper” option also requiring a drop-down selection of 1-9% for each characteristic:
- Unable to Observe
- Lower Third
- Middle Third
- Upper Third
- Top 10%
- Upper ___%
Characteristics to be rated:
- Competence in Chosen Field
- Motivation and Diligence
- Creativity/Research Potential
- Intellectual Ability and Critical Thinking
- Teaching Potential
- Emotional Maturity
Section 3: Written Evaluation
Please provide a written evaluation of the applicant’s suitability as a graduate student. How long have you known the applicant, and in what capacity?
MBA Applywire
I'm a GCC national at MBB in the region. Mostly worked on large-scale government projects, and hoping to continue in government after graduation (also a woman, not sure if that makes a difference but I see fewer women from my country applying to MBAs).
322 GRE (162V 160Q)
3.0 GPA from US T30 school (this one is painful but I had a strong upward trend after switching majors)
5 years experience (boutique + currently MBB)
Hey everyone,
I’d really appreciate an honest profile review and advice on how to best position myself over the next 4–5 years before applying to MBA programs (targeting M7 / T15, ideally with strong scholarship outcomes).
Background:
• 23M, URM (Latino, immigrant background)
• Graduated December 2025 from a non-target state school (Honors College)
• Major: Finance
• GPA: \~3.7–3.8
Work Experience:
Incoming: Management Rotation Program (Audit track) at a large U.S. financial institution (starting mid-2026)
• Rotational program with exposure to risk, capital markets, and enterprise functions
Current: Financial Analyst (Controls / Risk) at a large global tech company (co-op + full-time transition before MRP) not FAANG but similar
Prior internships:
A) 6 months internship Internal Audit – Housing Finance / Mortgage-related institution (Fannie/freddie)
B) 1 year internship and 1 year contract Risk & Compliance – Fixed Income / Debt Issuance organization (~$800B issuance exposure)
Exposure to MBS, capital markets, and financial risk frameworks
C) Summer experience for a regulatory agency (Pcaob, SEC, GAO)
Leadership & Extracurriculars:
• Director of Data Analytics – professional Latino association (2-5K members)
• Committee Member – State CPA Society (content + events)
Certifications / Plans:
Sitting for CFA Level I (May) → plan to complete CFA within ~3–4 years
Planning to complete CPA (150 credits + exams) within ~4–5 years
Short-Term Goal (pre-MBA):
Move from audit → capital markets / risk / transaction-related roles internally
Potentially pivot into roles closer to banking, valuation, or strategy
Long-Term Goal (post-MBA):
Investment Banking (M&A / Capital Markets) or potentially strategy consulting as backup
⸻
Questions:
1. How competitive is this profile today for M7 / T15 (assuming a strong GMAT, targeting 740+)?
2. What matters more in my case over the next few years:
• Internal mobility into capital markets–related roles?
• External jump (e.g., consulting, transaction advisory)?
3. Will CPA + CFA actually help for MBA admissions + IB recruiting, or is that overkill?
4. How can I best differentiate coming from a non-target + audit background?
5. What would you prioritize if you were me for the next 4–5 years?
I am a European 28-years-old engineer (automotive and oil&gas background) preparing my MBA applications. GMAT Focus 695 (97th percentile), IELTS 8/9, ~3 years of work experience.
4.1 GPA from a T10 university in STEM planning on doing entrepreneurship post college during the deferred years.
