Vanderbilt / Owen MBA Recommendation Questions
The Vanderbilt / Owen MBA application requires one professional recommendation, preferably from a current or former supervisor or someone who has relied on you/your work in a full-time, part-time, or internship position. Undergraduate students with little to no professional work experience may use academic references. The recommender should be able to draw upon unique observations and insights to share about you and your qualifications for the program.
Vanderbilt Owen also accepts the Common Letter of Recommendation from GMAC. There is an option for the recommender submit a letter instead, but the online form is preferred.
2025-2026 Vanderbilt Owen MBA Recommendation Questions
Section 1: Recommender Information
Highest degree earned:
Institution name:
Type of recommendation letter:
- Academic
- Professional
- Personal
- Research Advisor
Relationship to applicant:
- Colleague
- Professor
- Research Advisor
- Spiritual Leader
- Mentor
- Past Supervisor
- Current Supervisor
- Other
Section 2: Applicant Ratings
The recommender is to use the following scale:
- Truly Exceptional (Top 1-2%)
- Excellent (Top 5%)
- Very good (Top 10%)
- Good (Top 25%)
- Average (Top 50%)
- Below Average (Bottom 50%)
- Inadequate Opportunity to Judge
To the best of your ability, please rate the applicant for each of the following characteristics:
- Intellectual Ability
- Motivation/Initiative
- Integrity
- Oral Communication
- Written Communication
- Task Management
- Working with Others
- Leadership Potential
- Overall Potential Compared to Peers
Section 3: Short Answer Recommendation Questions
What skills have you observed in the applicant that would transfer well to business school and beyond? Please provide specific examples demonstrating these skills. (Max 1200 characters)
What areas do you consider to be areas of growth for the applicant? (Max 1200 characters)
Describe a specific example when the applicant demonstrated exceptional leadership, teamwork, or took initiative to go above and beyond expectations. (Max 1200 characters)
Optional Recommendation Letter Upload
MBA Applywire
Additional Notes:
1. MBB consultant w/3 years at the firm + one promotion
2. Took a secondment at a nonprofit focused in sustainability in countries below the equator (although have programs above too), including the one I am from (mentioned the link in essays)
3. Choosing to go to MBA for network opportunity to continue sustainability-focus, and inch closer to being ready to be in fields like impact investing (think MBB gives me general knowledge, but doesn't get me to where I want to go)
4. Will return to MBB because of sponsorship
5. Am worried about GRE; got a 158Q and 169V - so avg is around school avg, but the split is bad. Biggest worry here.
6. URM
URM with strong extracurriculars mentoring and tutoring low income students of various ages. Worked 25-40 hrs per week in undergrad which explains the lower GPA. Have led automation projects at work and should receive strong letters of rec. Goal is to pivot to management consulting at a B4/T2 in the financial services space since it matches my prior experience.
Intended R1 applicant to the listed schools. Targetting MBB post-MBA (with one eye on returning to corporate strategy)
I am 25 Indian male and would like to introduce myself as a Chartered Accountant from India working as a Risk Analyst ( Third Party Risk Analyst ) in Citi Chennai.
In addition to 2.5 years of work experience as a Risk Analyst with a promotion .I also have a 3 year CA articleship experience in an audit firm (1.5 years) and as an industrial trainee in one of the start ups of a renowned car manufacturers primarily handling tax compliances audits accounting aspects
Further I have a cgpa of 7.5 in B.Com ( Distance education) since I was pursuing my CA. After my CA I did ACCA (UK based CA) , CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) and completed my CFA Level 1. I want to make a career change to finance and targeting M7 , LBS AND INSEAD. Need a review of my profile and suggest me what would be good gmat score for my application