UMD Smith MBA Recommendation Questions
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.
2025-2026 UMD Smith MBA Recommendation Questions
Recommender Information
Institution/company information
Rate the Applicant
Knowledge in Chosen Field:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Motivation & Perseverance Toward Goals:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Ability to Work Independently:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Ability to Work Collaboratively:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Ability to Express Thoughts in Speech & Writing:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Ability/Potential for College Teaching:
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Ability to Plan & Conduct Research (For professional programs: Ability to plan and complete projects):
- Exceptional (Upper 5%)
- Outstanding (Next 15%)
- Very Good (Next 15%)
- Good (Next 15%)
- Next 50%
- No Basis for Judgement
Overall Endorsement
Please indicate the strength of your overall endorsement:
- Highly recommend
- Recommend
- Recommend with some reservations
- Do not recommend
How long have you known the applicant?
In what capacity have you known the applicant?
Statement of Assessment
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