UPenn / Wharton MBA Recommendation Questions
The MBA application for the Wharton School requires one letter of recommendation from an individual who is well acquainted with your leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills, as well as your potential for success in professional settings. Make sure you select someone who can speak directly about your aptitudes and capabilities, such as a current or former supervisor, colleague, or client. The Wharton MBA recommendation questions for the 2026-2027 admissions season are below.
2026-2027 Wharton Recommendation Questions
Recommender Information
The recommendation begins with the recommender’s contact information, followed by a handful of background questions:
Relationship With Applicant: (e.g. Direct Supervisor, Advisor, Indirect Report/Subordinate)
During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the applicant? (Select dates)
Are you a graduate of Wharton or any other University of Pennsylvania school? (Yes / No)
Are you a faculty member of Wharton or any other University of Pennsylvania School? (Yes / No)
Summary Appraisal
For every set of three positive descriptors, select one that is most characteristic of the applicant. Although all statements are favorable, please choose only the single descriptor that best fits the individual.
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Applicant Assessment
How do the candidate’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (500 Words)
(Optional) Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 Words)
(Optional) Is there anything else we should know?
Clear Admit Resources
Get started on your research into the Wharton MBA program with more from Clear Admit:
- UPenn Wharton School of Business Profile on the Clear Admit website: up-to-date advice and admissions information
- Clear Admit LiveWire: admissions updates submitted in real-time by applicants to Wharton
- Clear Admit DecisionWire: school selections in real-time by admits to Wharton
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