IESE MBA Recommendation Questions
The IESE Business School at the University of Navarra MBA application requires one recommendation, but up to three may be submitted. The applicant’s recommendation should be from a current employer. The letter should reflect your capacities in the work environment.
Choose individuals who know you well through significant, direct involvement with you within the last three years, will provide detailed anecdotes and examples to support their assertions, and are sufficiently enthused to spend time writing a thoughtful letter. If candidates are unable to provide a letter from a current direct supervisor, former employers or clients, and extra-curricular activities such as Volunteer Organizations can also be considered.
The IESE recommendation questions for the current MBA program admissions season are available below.
IESE Recommendation Questions 2024-2025
Recommender Information
First Name
Last Name
Position or Title
School, Institution, or Company
Please elaborate on your professional relationship with the candidate providing details on such – the duration of your relationship, nature of projects you worked on, and so on, etc) (100 word limit)
Written Responses
1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)
The recommender must complete and submit the online form; no opportunity to upload a letter is available. There are only two IESE recommendation questions; both are short answer. If the recommender is unable to use the online submission form, the applicant must contact MBA admissions via email.
MBA Applywire
I am originally from the UK (now a permanent resident) and went to community college (3.6 gpa), then transferred to a top 25 undergrad and severe health issues due to a disability causing me to get a 3.1 gpa. I then stayed there and did a master’s in finance with a 3.8 gpa. I am very passionate about giving back, especially about the homelessness epidemic. Before college I spent a year in Switzerland volunteering at homeless shelters. During college I led a campus ministry with a focus on helping the unhoused. After my experience with my disability, I started a nonprofit that has consulted with several shelters and foodbanks to help those with similar health issues as myself. I also personally raised capital to purchase and preserve an affordable multifamily property. My career has been in real estate since I graduated, but I have job hopped. My first job was 5 months, then I moved to be closer to family. My next job was for 7 months, but I quit as they were taking actions to make housing unaffordable for first time buyers. My next job was in acquisitions but I was laid off with about half the company due to the rising interest rates that affected the industry. I have been at an impact real estate private equity firm for almost 2 years in an acquisitions, development, and asset management role with a promotion. All my roles have been for REITs or PE firms. My post-mba goal is banking to better learn capital markets and long term to start an affordable real estate investment firm, perhaps in London. I would love to be a wire tap candidate, fingers crossed.
Applying for deferred programs at the mentioned schools. African woman studying Comp Sci and Math. GMAT Focus 98 %tile. Substantial community involvement and some experience at big tech working as a SWE. Thinking of consulting or product management post MBA.
Took the GMAT twice - with significant percentile increases for DI (77th to 86th) and Quant (50th to 66th) and a small dip in Verbal from (99th to 96th) same overall score of 645. Wondering whether to retake again.
Female, UK citizen.
Many extracirricular leadership roles.
MBA LiveWire
With full tuition dean’s scholarship
Waitlisted in round 2 about a week and a half ago. Received interview invitation via email yesterday.
Full Funding