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UMD Smith MBA Recommendation Questions

UMD Smith MBA

The University of Maryland Robert H Smith School of Business MBA application for the full-time program requires an applicant to share one recommender’s name and email address. Professional recommendations from one who has managed the applicant are preferred, typically a current or previous supervisor. If these options are not available, the applicant should choose recommenders who can attest to their professional skills, such as a person who managed the applicant through a volunteer or civic organization or a client.

The UMD MBA recommendation questions for the current admissions season are as follows.

2024-2025 UMD Smith MBA Recommendation Questions

Recommender Information

Institution/company information

Rate the Applicant

Please rate the applicant on the qualities listed below in comparison to his/her peer group.

Knowledge in Chosen Field:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Motivation & Perseverance Toward Goals:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Ability to Work Independently:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Ability to Work Collaboratively:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Ability to Express Thoughts in Speech & Writing:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Ability/Potential for College Teaching:

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

Ability to Plan & Conduct Research (For professional programs: Ability to plan and complete projects):

  • Exceptional (Upper 5%)
  • Outstanding (Next 15%)
  • Very Good (Next 15%)
  • Good (Next 15%)
  • Next 50%
  • No Basis for Judgement

umd mba recommendation

Overall Endorsement

Please indicate the strength of your overall endorsement:

  • Highly recommend
  • Recommend
  • Recommend with some reservations
  • Do not recommend

How long have you known the applicant?

In what capacity have you known the applicant?

Statement of Assessment

We ask for your assessment of the applicant’s scholarship, and professional promise.  Please include in the statement an assessment of academic strengths and weaknesses.
Please attach a letter with additional detail to your recommendation. In the attached letter, descriptions of significant actions, accomplishments, and personal qualities related to scholarly achievement are particularly helpful. Several paragraphs will be more useful to the faculty admission committee than one or two sentences. Please refer to the points we ask applicants to address, as a reference for your letter:  https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/graduate-admissions-statement-purpose.