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
Asian Female. T20 Undergrad w/ double major in Biology and Statistics. Decided in college to pivot into the game industry and have interned/worked at top gaming brands. Trying to pivot into product in gaming or start my own company in the game industry.
ECs: president of my gaming club in college, have spoken and continue to speak at numerous universities, conventions, and more regarding careers in video games. Mentored numerous students who want careers in gaming, especially for women/underrepresented genders/LGBTQ+. Served as a judge/advisor for one mentorship program. Created grassroots gaming community in UG in response to COVID that grew to 3000+ members in 3 weeks and had industry speakers, sponsors, and more. Also volunteer at my local aquarium educating the public about ocean conservation and the local wildlife.
Applying Round 2 to Stanford, Harvard, MIT, and Kellogg (MMM) with hopes of moving back to the West Coast afterwards.
Already got an admit from one of the T15 with no scholarship in round 1, applying to the rest in round 2.
I really need a scholarship to afford an MBA so will be applying to lower ranked schools as well. I currently work in Big 4 strategy team.
I'm an MiM candidate at Kellogg expected to matriculate in June 2026. I have an undergraduate degree in engineering from IIT. I will be joining DHL Consultings Americas office as a Mgmt Consultant post graduation from Kellogg.
My undergrad GPA is 7.38/10 and am expecting a 3.7+ from Kellogg at the time of applications.
I have a lot of internships ( 5+) at start-ups across various roles(strategy, marketing, Product Management, operations), industries and sizes. From dorm-room stage to unicorns. Also held multiple leadership roles during my time at college. Founded and headed two social initiatives on sustainability and women empowerment and informally mentored underclassmen from underrepresented backgrounds.
Plan to exit consulting soon into a start-up. Post MBA goal is investing ( not sure if VC/PE/Growth equity ). Longer term goal is entrepreneurship in India ( Inspired by family legacy and want to give back to country )
- 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
MBA LiveWire
Accepted with full ride $$
WL without Interview