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 2025-2026 admissions season are below.
2025-2026 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.
(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
- No excuse for low GPA, I was simply didn't have the necessary drive or subject matter interest in school, was more interested in playing music and doing enough to graduate. Pursued that simultaneous to my conventional job for a few years after school and actually had a couple cool licensing deals with corporate brands but in last few years decided to focus on career.
- unfortunately had an illness at the end of last year that led to me have serious vision issues, being laid off and subsequently on disability for the first part of this year. Have since mostly recovered except for an operation I should be able to get next spring.
- volunteer leader for a high school ministry
Sponsored applicant from Deloitte. Applying to eight programs for the normal round two deadline. Pre-MBA experience is five years of consulting at Deloitte, completing a variety of projects across core business operations, human capital, and strategy within the TMT industry. MBA goals are to prepare for my return to Deloitte, specifically in the Monitor Deloitte strategy practice. Long-term, I would like to move into a strategy role within big tech.
Sponsored applicant
MBA LiveWire
4.5 YOE. Incredibly grateful.
Received call at 12:40 EST
Accepted with a $100k scholarship.
I received a phone call before Thanksgiving, but I got my confirmation on December 12, 2026. Got a 70k scholarship too.
