The University of Maryland Robert H Smith School of Business MBA application for the full-time program requires an applicant to share one recommender’s name and email address. Professional recommendations from one who has managed the applicant are preferred, typically a current or previous supervisor. If these options are not available, the applicant should choose recommenders who can attest to their professional skills, such as a person who managed the applicant through a volunteer or civic organization or a client.
The UMD MBA recommendation questions for the current admissions season are as follows.
2020-2021 UMD Smith MBA Recommendation Questions
Recommender Information
Your relationship to the applicant
How long have you known the applicant?
During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the applicant?
Applicant Evaluation
Please rate the applicant on the qualities listed below in comparison to his/her peer group within your organization who have exhibited managerial promise.
Maturity (level of emotional intelligence)
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Motivation / Drive to succeed
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Personal integrity / Trustworthiness
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Ability to work well with others
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Leadership potential
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Prospects for a management career
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Accepting of constructive feedback
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Analytical thinking skills
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Communication skills
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Positive demeanor
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Problem-solving skills
- Unable to Rate
- Poor
- Satisfactory
- Very Good
- Outstanding
Questions
1. What are the applicant’s primary strengths? How might these strengths affect his/her performance in a graduate business program and in his/her career? (Max 500 characters)
2. What are the applicant’s primary weaknesses? How might these weaknesses affect his/her performance in a graduate business program and in his/her career? (Max 500 characters)
3. Comment on the applicant’s motivation to succeed and willingness to take initiative. (Max 500 characters)
4. Comment on the applicant’s ability to accept constructive feedback. (Max 500 characters)
5. We welcome any additional information you feel the committee may find relevant in reference to this candidate’s application for graduate school. (Max 500 characters)
6. Please indicate your overall recommendation for this candidate
- Highly recommend
- Recommend
- Recommend with reservations
- Do not recommend
Recommenders are given the option to upload their own document in lieu of filling out the UMD MBA recommendation form.
