The Carnegie Mellon University online MBA application is now live for the 2015-2016 admissions season, meaning that the Tepper MBA recommendation questions are available for CMU MBA applicants and their recommenders.
The Tepper MBA recommendation is a relatively brief one. Following an inquiry about the recommender’s contact information and whether he or she is a CMU alum, the admissions committee poses a contextual question and asks recommenders to summarize the strength of their recommendations:
How long have you known the candidate?
Overall Recommendation
Picklist options: “I enthusiastically recommend this candidate to the Tepper School,” “I recommend this candidate to the Tepper School,” “With some reservation, I recommend this candidate to the Tepper School,” and “I do not recommend this candidate to the Tepper School.”
Applicants are then asked to comment in more detail on the applicant’s areas for growth, current strengths, and whether the recommender would choose to work with the applicant in the future. Recommenders are asked to limit their comments on each of these topics to 300 words.
If you were to coach this candidate with respect to how s/he works within a team, what would you advise that s/he does well? What would you advise the candidate to do differently? Provide specific examples that support your advice. (300 word maximum)
If you were to coach this candidate on his/her professional development, in what areas would you suggest s/he focus? What areas are strengths on which s/he can build? Provide specific examples that support your advice. (300 word maximum)
If you had the opportunity to work with this candidate in the future, would you? Why or why not? (300 word maximum) | 
