The online MBA application for the University of Virginia is now live for the 2015-2016 admissions season, meaning that the Darden MBA recommendation questions are now available to applicants and their recommenders. The form begins with basic contact information, as well as some questions about the recommender’s background and relationship with the applicant. Are you a Darden School of Business Alumnus? (yes or no)
May we contact you at work regarding this applicant? (yes or no)
Have known applicant since: (drop down menu)
During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the applicant? (text field)
Are/were you the applicant’s direct supervisor? (yes or no)
Did you use a translator in completing this recommendation? (yes or no)
Do you have an MBA? (yes or no)  Recommenders are then asked to complete a Leadership Assessment, rating the applicant on a series of qualities and skills related to communication, teamwork, management, and information processing. Recommenders rate candidates on a five-point scale with text descriptions for each rating on each ability. Click on the image to the right to view an image of the Darden MBA recommendation grid.
The Darden adcom then asks recommenders to provide a comparison of the applicant to his or her peers, and to summarize the strength of their recommendation. Based on your professional experience, how do you rate this candidate compared to her/his peer group?
– The best encountered in my career
– Outstanding (top 5%)
– Excellent (top 10%)
– Very good (well above average)
– Average
– Below average Overall, I:
– Recommend enthusiastically
– Recommend this candidate to Darden
– Recommend with this candidate to Darden, with reservations
– Do not recommend this candidate to Darden Finally, recommenders are asked to upload a letter responding to a few specific prompts. The adcom asks that letters be limited to 4 double-spaced pages, and be written in 12-pt font. Below are the guidelines and prompts for the Darden MBA recommendation: The most useful recommendations provide detailed descriptions, candid anecdotes, and specific evidence that highlight the candidate’s behavior and impact on those around her or him. This kind of information helps distinguish the very best individuals from a pool of many well-qualified candidates. Please write your answers to the following questions in a separate document and upload that document into the online application. Please comment briefly on the context of your interaction with the applicant. If applicable, describe the applicant’s role in your organization. (500 characters) 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. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. | 
