rotman essay mba

Rotman MBA 2024: Comprehensive Essay Guide and Application Insights

Are you planning to apply for the Rotman MBA program in 2024? Read this comprehensive guide breaking down the Rotman MBA application essays, filled with analysis, insights, and expert tips to boost your chances of success.

Introduction

If you aspire to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto offers an exceptional opportunity. However, getting accepted into this prestigious program is highly competitive, and one of the crucial aspects of the application process is writing compelling essays. In this article, we will delve into the Rotman MBA application essays for the year 2024, analyzing what the admissions committee seeks and providing valuable insights to help you craft outstanding essays that reflect your uniqueness and potential

The Rotman School of Management in downtown Toronto, Canada, is widely regarded as the country’s premier business school. It is affiliated with the prestigious University of Toronto and has a distinguished faculty that ranks among the top 20 in the world for business research, making it the largest in Canada. Students at Rotman benefit from a varied and supportive atmosphere, which is backed up by a robust network of leaders, mentors, and instructors.

The Full-time MBA Program at Rotman is the largest in Canada and has been ranked as the #1 business school in the country by Financial Times. Located in Toronto, a bustling and multicultural city known for its fintech and banking sectors, the Rotman MBA is a rigorous 20-month program, which includes 16 months of academic study and an option for a 4-month paid internship.

The MBA program has a significant global presence, with over 17,000 alumni spread across 90 countries. International students interested in pursuing the two-year MBA program will find the tuition to be $103,001 (CAD $131,120). Moreover, Rotman offers various generous scholarships based on merit for outstanding international candidates, such as the Joseph L. Rotman Scholarship, Rotman Family Healthcare Scholarship, Business Design Initiative (BDI) Scholarship, 30% Club Full-Time MBA Scholarship, and Rotman African and Caribbean Business Club (RACBC) Scholarship.

The Significance of Rotman MBA Application Essays

When applying to the Rotman MBA program, your academic qualifications and work experience are essential, but the application essays are your chance to showcase your personality, goals, and motivations. The admissions committee uses these essays to gain deeper insights into your aspirations and determine if you are the right fit for their program.

Breaking Down the Rotman MBA Application Essays

Essay 1: Our admitted students stand out by doing interesting things with their personal and professional lives — something we describe as the ‘spike factor’; what are the things that you have done in your life that demonstrate Passion/ Grit/ Resilience/ Innovation/ Drive/ Ambition and more? This can cross all or any aspects of life outside of work – hobbies, volunteerism, awards, entrepreneurial ventures, sports and the arts. We believe that exposure to a rich diversity of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building a diverse class of exceptional individuals who will go on to make the School proud as professionals and alumni.

Explain your spike factor (something unique about yourself) that you believe will contribute to the Rotman community and is aligned with Rotman values. (up to 500 words)*  

Optional – Please upload 1-3 of your ‘spikiest’ pictures to the supplemental items section of your application here. Note: Your photos must be uploaded as a single PDF.

The very first tip, would be checking the value system of any school, for Rotman: www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Connect/AboutRotman/OurValues

Rotman is distinguished by its class diversity and its use of various educational methods within the MBA program, encompassing lectures, labs, and experiential learning. More on the insides or Rotman later in this blog so you can understand the curriculum better. As a result, every student not only needs to adeptly navigate the MBA’s structure but also actively contribute to their classmates’ education both within the classroom and the broader Rotman community. This aspect aligns with Rotman’s fundamental vision, offering applicants the opportunity to explore their own values. More importantly, it allows candidates to demonstrate how they can uniquely enrich Rotman’s diverse student body by bringing their distinctive contributions.

The objective of this essay is to present to Rotman who you are as an individual and what sets you apart. While you have the option to focus on any of the characteristics mentioned in the question, it is not mandatory. To begin, reflect on your personal and professional journey to pinpoint the crucial moments that have shaped your life. Examine the bell curve of your career and mark the points that have brought you to your current position. It centres around the concept of the “spike factor,” which refers to a person’s primary differentiator, making them stand out or special. 

The essay encourages candidates to discuss accomplishments and experiences outside of work that showcase qualities like passion, perseverance, innovation, and diversity-related perspectives. It emphasizes that whatever is highlighted in the essay should align with Rotman’s core values of respect, diversity, excellence, and integrity. The essay, not only should you detail these experiences, but also elaborate on how they have influenced your personal growth and life decisions. Make a bell curve of your career path and analyse the “spike points” and describe the profound impact these moments have had on shaping your character and molding the path you’ve chosen to take

Previously, the essay had a word limit of 1,000 words and optional “spike” photos. However, the updated version now requires candidates to upload these pictures. As there are fewer words available, it’s essential to make use of supporting photos to reinforce the main message of the essay. The images should be chosen thoughtfully to create a lasting impression with the admissions committee and provide nonverbal information to associate with the candidate’s profile

Required Video Interview: Required video interview (2 questions) with a timed written response component (10 minutes in length)

In essence, the purpose of this “essay” application is to showcase your ability to think and express yourself spontaneously, both verbally and in writing. Candidates have no luxury of time to prepare extensively, seek feedback, or revise their responses, as is common with typical application essays, including video ones. Rotman’s approach for the video essay and written accompaniment is designed to reveal your true, unfiltered self. The admissions committee wants to see the real you, believing that “what you see is what you (really) receive.”

Although this may sound intimidating, there’s no need to view it negatively. As a prospective Rotman MBA student, you have valuable qualities to offer. Use this opportunity to demonstrate how you would engage in the classroom, excel in job interviews, and contribute to the school’s community. There is no definitive right answer to this question, unlike other MBA application prompts. The goal is to find the right fit for the program, and it’s essential not to pretend to be someone you’re not during your two years at Rotman. So, be genuine and answer the questions honestly, using your natural tone, voice, and vocabulary. Confidence, authenticity, and being true to yourself matter more than the specific content of your responses.

However, we recommend working on reducing filler words and phrases (such as “um,” “uh,” “like,” and “you know”) as early as possible. By doing so, you’ll be less likely to rely on them during the actual video session. This practice will benefit you not only in this application but also in your future classroom experiences and interviews. So, start retraining yourself now to enhance your communication skills.

What should your video essay show?

Your passion and goals.

Your essays should reflect your passion for your chosen field and your clear career goals. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate how your experiences have shaped your aspirations and how an MBA from Rotman will play a pivotal role in achieving them.

Highlighting Your Leadership Skills

Leadership qualities are highly valued at Rotman. Demonstrate your leadership skills through past experiences, team collaborations, and how you intend to make a positive impact on your peers and the business world as a whole.

Emphasizing Cultural Fit

Rotman prides itself on its diverse and inclusive community. Showcase your cultural awareness, adaptability, and how you plan to contribute positively to the collaborative and supportive environment at Rotman.

Addressing Weaknesses and Failures

Everyone faces setbacks in their professional journey. Be honest and transparent about your weaknesses and failures, but focus on how you learned from these experiences and how they have made you a stronger individual.

Demonstrating Research About the Program

To stand out, demonstrate that you have thoroughly researched the Rotman MBA program. Mention specific courses, faculty members, or extracurricular activities that excite you and align with your interests.

Structuring Your Essays Effectively

Organize your essays with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Maintain a logical flow and ensure that your ideas are cohesive and well-structured.

Utilizing Concrete Examples

Avoid vague statements and use concrete examples to support your arguments. Quantify your achievements and provide specific instances to back up your claims.

Showcasing Cross-Cultural Experiences

Rotman values applicants with exposure to diverse cultures and environments. Highlight any international experiences or projects that have broadened your worldview and enhanced your global perspective.

Displaying Emotional Intelligence

Effective leadership involves emotional intelligence. Demonstrate your ability to empathize, understand others’ perspectives, and handle difficult situations with maturity.

Addressing Industry Trends and Challenges

Display your industry knowledge by discussing current trends and challenges. Offer insights into how your skillset will be instrumental in addressing these issues.

Collaborative Spirit and Teamwork

Highlight instances where you’ve worked collaboratively as part of a team and achieved remarkable outcomes. Showcase your ability to work harmoniously with others to achieve shared objectives.

Balancing Confidence and Humility

Exhibit confidence in your abilities without appearing arrogant. Combine self-assuredness with humility to show that you are open to learning and growing.

Avoiding Clichés and Jargon

Steer clear of overused phrases and business jargon. Be authentic in your writing, allowing your true voice to shine through.

The Power of Storytelling

Craft narratives that captivate the reader and provide a deeper understanding of your motivations and aspirations. Storytelling can make your essays memorable and engaging.

Course Curriculum Summary: for a more compelling application by S4G exclusively.

The rigorous Full-Time Rotman MBA program consists of 16 months of academic study and a 4-month paid internship opportunity. The program starts with a core curriculum in the first year that connects Rotman’s special problem-solving and creative technique with the basic business disciplines while letting you concentrate on building certain skill sets through more than 90 optional courses.

First Year: Foundations

The first year of the program, which begins in September, is organized into four core terms that are focused on developing your MBA toolbox in the key functional areas of business and designed to introduce and reinforce a special approach to problem-solving and decision-making. You have the option to use three optional courses in the final term, starting in March, to develop your area of interest and your internship preparation.

• Self-Development Lab (SDL)

Through a series of intense one-on-one coaching sessions and small group seminars, the Self-Development Lab (SDL) has been thoughtfully created to provide you with highly individualized feedback on your behavioral performance, communication style, and overall presence. You will receive advice from professionals, including qualified psychologists, playwrights, and former management consultants, on how to cultivate your interpersonal and self-awareness abilities, which are essential for being a productive collaborative problem-solver.

• Internship Options

The  Flexible Internship Program * offers three internship periods after your first year: May-August, September-December, and January-April.

Second Year: Choosing a Direction

Choice is the focus of Rotman’s second year. You can choose from one of 15 MBA majors to focus on, or you can tailor your MBA education by selecting from among more than 100 optional courses. In order to earn useful executive experience, give back to the Rotman community, and expand your network to include MBA students in the incoming class, you will also have the chance to take on a leadership role in one of Rotman’s student-run industry clubs or the Graduate Business Council.

Businesses must navigate a complicated landscape of ethical, legal, and governance-related concerns. This course focuses on the role that managers have in identifying these problems and finding effective and efficient solutions. An organization established on sound principles serves as a standard by which all stakeholder interests are judged, and ethical behavior starts with management. This course will explore ethical decision-making and its relationship to the fundamentals of good governance through an “active” case study.

• The Joe Weider Foundation Leadership Development Lab (LDL) 

A cutting-edge program called the Joe Weider Foundation Leadership Development Lab (LDL) assists qualifying Rotman students in their second year in developing personally and professionally across a range of leadership-related aspects. The LDL will improve your command of self-management, communication, and interpersonal skills by examining the implicit mental models required to intentionally reframe beliefs and change behavioral patterns in order to more effectively produce desired results. It is based on the sciences of psychology and neurology. 

Rotman Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. 

Application Details  

Application requirements – following are the mba application requirements:.

• GMAT/GRE score
• Academic transcripts
• Two professional references
• Essay + reflection question + Video interview with timed response
• TOEFL/IELTS if applicable (Not required if you’ve graduated from an English-language university)
• Interview (By invitation only)

Application Fees  –  $195 (CAD)

Securing a spot in the Rotman MBA program is a highly rewarding accomplishment that can open doors to exciting career opportunities and personal growth. The application essays are your chance to stand out from other candidates and communicate your unique value. Remember to present a compelling narrative, align with Rotman’s values, and demonstrate your potential to become an exceptional business leader.

Ensure that your essays are well-structured, error-free, and a true reflection of your aspirations and accomplishments. Seek feedback from others to gain valuable perspectives, and above all, be authentic in your writing.

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of breaking down the Rotman MBA application essays, you can confidently begin crafting your responses. Best of luck on your journey towards becoming a part of the esteemed Rotman community!

• What is the Rotman MBA application deadline for 2024?  Rotman’s application deadline for the 2024 intake typically falls in the late summer or early fall of the previous year. Be sure to check the official Rotman website for the exact date.
• Can I apply to multiple MBA programs simultaneously, including Rotman?  Yes, you can apply to multiple MBA programs at different universities, including Rotman. However, ensure that you tailor your essays to each school’s unique requirements and values.
• Are interviews part of the Rotman MBA application process?  Yes, after reviewing the application essays, the Rotman admissions committee may invite selected candidates for an interview. The interview is an opportunity for applicants to further showcase their personality, communication skills, and fit for the program.
• What qualities does Rotman look for in applicants?  Rotman seeks candidates who demonstrate strong leadership potential, critical thinking abilities, adaptability, and a passion for contributing to a diverse and collaborative community. Moreover, they value candidates with a commitment to ethical business practices and a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
• Does Rotman prefer applicants from specific professional backgrounds?  Rotman does not have specific preferences for professional backgrounds. Instead, they value diversity and appreciate applicants from various industries and experiences, as it enriches the classroom discussions and learning experiences.

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• Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

August 22, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

Applicants to the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management must submit one traditional written essay and are invited to attach up to three photos to support the message and claims made in that essay. In addition, candidates are required to complete a two-question video “interview” that involves a short, additional written component—none of which can really be prepared for in advance. Together, the school’s “essays” seem designed to round out the essentially one-dimensional stats and data points provided in the rest of the application to give the admissions committee a dynamic impression of each candidate as a unique individual—basically, to breathe some life into their profile. Read on for our more in-depth analysis of Toronto Rotman’s prompts for the 2023–2024 admissions season.

Toronto Rotman 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Essay: our admitted students stand out by doing interesting things with their personal and professional lives — something we describe as the ‘spike factor’; what are the things that you have done in your life that demonstrate passion/ grit/ resilience/ innovation/ drive/ ambition and more this can cross all or any aspects of life outside of work – hobbies, volunteerism, awards, entrepreneurial ventures, sports and the arts. we believe that exposure to a rich diversity of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building a diverse class of exceptional individuals who will go on to make the school proud as professionals and alumni. explain your spike factor (something unique about yourself) that you believe will contribute to the rotman community and is aligned with rotman values. (up to 500 words)., optional: please upload 1-3 of your ‘spikiest’ pictures to the supplemental items section of your application. note: your photos must be uploaded as a single pdf..

“What makes you you ?” “Introduce yourself.” “What will you contribute to our community?” This prompt appears to be Rotman’s twist on these kinds of essay questions, and it uses the interesting angle of the “spike factor” as its framework. We assume that if you are targeting Rotman for your MBA, the “spike factor” concept is already familiar to you, but if it is not, you will clearly need to do some research before you can craft an effective essay response. In short, the concept was originally developed by (and subsequently borrowed from) McKinsey & Company to refer to an individual’s primary differentiator, what makes them special or sets them apart. It could be something they do, an aspect of their personality, a unique or particularly impressive ability, a compelling background or upbringing—the options are understandably personal and practically limitless.

The prompt specifically mentions passion, grit, resilience, innovation, drive, and ambition, so when you are considering options for this essay, you might want to focus—at least at first—on stories that align with and demonstrate one or more of these qualities. However, the prompt also says, “and more,” so these are obviously not the only traits or values that would work here.  You want to share stories and aspects of yourself that are the most revelatory of the unique person you are, so that should be your core goal. 

A good way to identify your best options for this essay is by making a list of things you believe are notable about you. Ask for input from your friends and family members, who might mention or remind you of qualities or incidents you had forgotten or simply take for granted but that others value and find interesting. Then, home in on the option(s) that best reflect(s) who you are as an individual today and that you can clearly tie to aspects of Rotman’s culture, community, and/or academic and experiential offerings. So again, you need to make sure that you are not just showcasing traits and achievements that you think are compelling or singular. Those aspects also need to clearly fit well with the overall Rotman MBA experience and position you to bring something distinctive to the school’s community.

Rotman has gone back and forth in recent application seasons with whether or not uploading “spike” photos with the essay was optional or required. This year, including photos is optional, and because you do not have all that many words with which to make your case in your essay, we strongly encourage you to submit supporting pictures—and ideally, to submit three . You generally want to take advantage of any opportunity to build or strengthen the admissions committee’s impression and knowledge of you. Take time to identify strong options that clearly reflect and validate whatever you are claiming in your essay. You do not simply want to upload artistically appealing pictures (unless, perhaps, you are claiming to be a skilled photographer); you want the photo(s) to substantiate and thereby reinforce your core message. Consider the mnemonic technique in which one creates a mental image to help them more readily remember certain facts and numbers. If selected wisely, your spike photos will help create a deeper and longer-lasting impression with the admissions reader by giving them corroborating nonverbal information and a kind of visual “anchor” to associate your profile with.

To learn more about Rotman’s academic program, unique resources, and other key features, we invite you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Rotman School of Management International Program Guide .

Required Video Interview: Required video interview (2 questions) with a timed written response component (10 minutes in length)

The video interview component is a required part of [the] rotman admissions process designed to give all candidates guaranteed “face time” with the admissions committee and showcase your personality, characteristics, passions, and values., when this video component of the rotman application was introduced in 2012, an admissions blog post clarified that it was “not an introduction of a video creation contest—we are interested in the content of your answers and not how well you can produce videos.”.

Within the Rotman application, the admissions committee provides this further clarifying information about the questions candidates will receive for the videos and accompanying written portion: “Both questions are personality/values based and are designed to be answered without any advanced preparation and will only take a few minutes to complete. The written question is designed to simulate the typical email communications you will create as a Rotman student.”

When the written component was added in 2015, a blog post clarified the reason behind its addition: “We were missing an opportunity to see the more casual and real-time style our students use most frequently to write emails communicating with team members, professors, etc. and a style that they will carry forward in their careers.” 

Very simply, this application “essay” is all about demonstrating how well you can think and express yourself on the spot, both verbally and in writing. For typical application essays (including video ones), candidates can take time to consider their options, prepare and compose their potential submissions, ask others for input and/or feedback, revise or practice, and even start over from the beginning and try a completely different approach or use totally new content. Rotman’s video essay and written accompaniment completely preclude all of this, leaving you nowhere to hide, so to speak. They demand your natural, authentic instincts and nature. The admissions committee is basically banking on the idea that “what you see is what you (will truly) get.”

However, we encourage you to not see this as something bad or scary. You undoubtedly have much to offer as a potential Rotman MBA student, so view this as an opportunity to show the admissions committee what that looks like in action—how you will act in the classroom, in job interviews, as part of the school’s greater community. We simply cannot say this enough: as with all MBA application essay questions, there is no “right” answer. You either mesh with a program or you do not, and you definitely do not want to have to fake being someone you are not for two years, so just be yourself. Answer the school’s questions honestly, in your usual tone, voice, and words. Be confident, relaxed, and true to yourself. The content of your responses will not count as much as your presentation and authenticity.

That said, we recommend starting to work on minimizing your use of filler words and phrases (e.g., “um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know”) right away so that you are less likely to depend on or default to them when the time comes for your actual video session. This will serve you well in the classroom and in interviews down the road, too, so you might as well begin retraining yourself now.

2023-2024 B-Schools Outside the Top 15 Business School Essays International Business Schools MBA Essay Tips Rotman School of Management

Tags: business school essay Canadian business schools international program guides international programs MBA application essays Rotman School of Management video essay

Upcoming Events

• Mar 26, 2024 Your 2024 MBA Application Action Plan (Online)
• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Mar 25, 2024 Dartmouth Tuck (Round 3)
• Mar 25, 2024 London Business School (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Texas McCombs (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Vanderbilt Owen (Round 4)
• Mar 28, 2024 Berkeley Haas (Round 4)
• Apr 1, 2024 Penn State Smeal (Round 4)
• Apr 2, 2024 Penn Wharton (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Columbia (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Northwestern Kellogg (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Virginia Darden (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Chicago Booth (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Michigan Ross (Round 3)
• Apr 8, 2024 MIT Sloan (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Stanford GSB (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Yale SOM (Round 3)
• Apr 10, 2024 Cornell Johnson (Round 3)
• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
• Apr 29, 2024 UNC Kenan-Flagler (Round 4)
• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

• Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
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• Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
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• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
• Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
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• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
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• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
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Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

The Rotman MBA Video Essay Questions – And How to Successfully Answer Them

Sep 21, 2023

Why does Rotman require a video essay?

How does the rotman video essay work, which types of questions are asked, the difference between a good and great rotman mba video essay.

• Get expert help

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on October 14, 2022. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

For an increasing number of students worldwide, Rotman School of Management is at the top of their business school target list. 

However, with impressive recruiting statistics, a visa program for MBA graduates, and the Creative Destruction Lab , the competition to join Rotman’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever. 

Driven by their interest in attending one of the world’s most diverse business schools, many applicants dedicate countless hours writing Rotman’s admissions essays only to fail to fully prepare for the video essay component of the application. 

This is a huge mistake. 

The video essay is an essential part of the Rotman application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Rotman community. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Rotman video essay works and have shared a list of Rotman MBA video essay questions to ensure you put your best foot forward! 

When we first started working with Rotman applicants many years ago, the video essay component had not yet been introduced. However, since its launch, the video essay has quickly become a critical part of the application. 

That’s because it gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the Rotman community. In their words, “Ultimately, our goal in introducing this new component is for our admissions committee to make better decisions about which candidates are the strongest match with the Rotman program.”

With that in mind, it’s extremely important to make sure you fully understand this component of the application. 

The way the video essay works is very simple. 

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform. 

After signing in and starting the session, you will get two spoken questions in total, one at a time.

After receiving each question, you will have 30 seconds to think and 90 seconds to answer. There are no opportunities to redo the question , and you only get one chance to speak and provide your answer.

Then, you will receive one written question. You will receive a prompt and will have 10 minutes to answer. You’re expected to write about 250-500 words. The prompt for the written answer is meant to test how you would communicate in writing in a real-life business or educational context. 

The questions are random, but we’ve included a list of questions previous applicants have received below, so you can practice! 

Technical requirements

To complete the video interview, you need a microphone, camera, and strong internet connection. Though the platform states you can complete the video essay on your mobile device, we have found that this does not consistently work. 

Furthermore, given past applicants’ issues with the iPad version of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer . 

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here . 

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your video essay response within two weeks of submitting your application. This can be no later than 2 weeks after the deadline for your target round . However, you should attempt to submit the video essay sooner, since your application will only be reviewed after your video essay is complete. 

Once you submit the application, you will gain access to the Kira link to record your video interview. Don’t wait to submit your application last minute, however, since you will not receive extra time for your video interview! Find Rotman’s most current application deadlines here.   

Rotman asks 2 video questions and 1 written question. We have provided real examples of questions applicants have received for both types of questions below. 

Video questions

The Rotman MBA video essay questions allow the admissions committee to learn additional information about you that wasn’t included in your essay and are meant to simulate a “live” conversation with someone from admissions. Rotman has two question banks (each has a particular topic) and you will receive one question from each bank. Rotman calls these “first date questions” and believes they can be answered with no previous preparation. 

To do well in these questions, it’s great to draw on examples , and to be clear and to the point. 

Sample questions 

• Who is your mentor outside your family and why?
• What is your mobile wallpaper and why that image?
• Apart from money, what else would keep you in your current organization?
• What is your favorite emoji and why?
• What is one good thing that you have done in your life?
• What is one good habit and what is one bad habit of yours?
• If had to delete all apps but 3 from my phone, which ones would I keep and why?
• Would you rather be perfect and late or good and on time?
• If got a chance, what subject would you teach?
• Out of the 4 seasons, which do you like the most and why?
•  If you had an extra hour every day, what would you do with this time?
• Who is your role model outside of your family?
• What is one good habit and one bad habit that you have?
• Tell us about a failure. What did you learn from it?
• If you had no financial downsides from quitting your job, what job would you prefer to be doing?
• If you wanted to stop aging, at what age would you stop and why?
• If you could be a clothing brand, which would be and why?
• Tell me about something that you’re good at.
• Which of the following aspects of your life are you most in touch with: emotional, spiritual, or physical?
• If you could have anyone over for dinner, who would it be?

Written question

Unlike many other schools, you will also be required to complete a written question for the Rotman Video Interview. According to the admissions committee, “The question will begin by providing some context to help explain why it is relevant for a Rotman student, and our applicants will have a total of 10 minutes to read and reply to the question.  This is not videotaped but is delivered ‘live’ with one opportunity to write/edit/submit.”

Once you receive the question, you will have 10 minutes to complete your answer. You should expect to write about 500-1000 words. We suggest leaving yourself 2 minutes at the end to proofread and edit, since we all make typos! 

TOP TIP: Remember there are no right answers to this question. Rotman simply wants to see how you communicate in writing and how you structure your thoughts. As long as you answer the question and have a clear flow from idea to idea, you’ve done a great job! 

Sample written response questions 

• Write an email to a hiring manager you met at a recent networking event requesting a follow-up meeting.
• Write a blog post telling incoming students why you chose to apply to Rotman.
• Write a LinkedIn post sharing your 1 st -year experience and what you see ahead for your 2 nd year.
• Write an email to a Rotman alumnus/alumna asking for his/her time for a coffee chat.
• Write a paragraph introducing yourself to the adcom.
• Write a blog post for incoming students who are just starting their Rotman MBA.
• Write a letter of resignation to your office telling them about your MBA plans
• A year has passed since graduating from your Rotman MBA. Write a LinkedIn post summarising your past and what you look forward to doing in the future.
• Write a letter introducing yourself to your career coach and scheduling your first appointment.
• Which of the student club(s) would you like to join as an active member and why?
• Write an email to a Rotman student ambassador asking them questions to learn more about the MBA program. 
• Write about your favorite club during your Rotman MBA. 
• Write an email to a second-year Rotman student whose career path aligns with your own.
• Write an elevator pitch introducing yourself to a recruiter. 

Given the importance of the video essay in your University of Toronto Rotman application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay, but that you have a great video essay. 

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 5 tips here to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Rotman. 

Make sure you get into the Rotman MBA

You have stressed about every aspect of your Rotman application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Rotman. 

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Rotman while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

That’s why 98.9% of our clients pass into at least one of their top choice business schools, like our client Carlos, who recently secured admissions to Rotman with a $25k scholarship.

“For anyone who’s applying to top business schools and wants to create a brilliant MBA application, get thoughtful feedback and guidance during the application process, and work with a friendly team of MBA application experts, look no further: I’d highly recommend working with Ellin & her team, as they deliver an incredible value through their unique personalized service. 

I was blown away by the quality of the service in general and the amount of value that she added to my application. I can confidently say that working with Ellin was one the best choices I made during my application process, and it made a huge difference to ultimately getting accepted at Rotman.” 

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of interview experts today! 

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Rotman School of Management Essay Analysis 2021

If you have decided to get an MBA, you would have definitely gone through the long list of B-schools across the world that you can possibly apply to, right? And if Rotman School of Management in Canada is a B-school that you are considering, you might want to learn how to tackle their MBA application essays to get an MBA admit.

In this article, we will discuss the Rotman application essay questions in detail and also provide you with tips on how to showcase your profile to the admissions committee at the B-school.

So, keep your pen and paper handy because you will have a lot of relevant points that you might want to note down.

But before we get into the Rotman essay analysis part, here are a few points that you need to know about the Rotman School of Management.

Getting things straight

If you are looking to do an MBA in Canada, you should know that the Rotman School of Management has set itself apart from the rest of the B-schools there. While other B-schools like the Schulich School of Business and Ivey Business School are great, Rotman has clearly made its mark as the top B-school in Canada.

Imparting knowledge the right way

The Rotman School of Management believes in “integrative thinking” and you will come across this term even on their website.

What does this mean?

All institutions focus on your ability to understand data and on your ability to utilize your intellect when it comes to decision-making. There is nothing wrong with it.

But at Rotman, they believe in using your intuition, creativity and quality when it comes to making a decision. They believe that you need to bring your human part into the whole process.

And with the world that we live in right now and the kind of risk management and decision-making that we all have to do, this way of thinking makes total sense.

What Rotman is looking for

At Rotman, the admissions committee is looking for a well-rounded candidate. “Well-rounded candidate” is an ideal candidate at most of the B-schools.

But what is it that Rotman looks for in a candidate that helps them make the admission decision?

The admissions committee at Rotman looks for candidates who are committed to lifelong learning. While your high GPA and GMAT score showcases your academic potential they are also very keen to know about your leadership potential and the kind of impact that you have created so far.

One of our students, Akshat, who got into Rotman School of Management in 2019 mentioned in one of our live sessions that there is no direct correlation between a candidate’s GMAT score and the MBA admit. He said that he had a batchmate who had a GMAT score in the range of 600-650 and that he also knew of someone who had a 700+ GMAT score but did not make it to the MBA program.

So, when it comes to getting a Rotman MBA admit, you need to understand that there are a lot of factors that could make or break the deal.

What’s in it for you

If you do your MBA at Rotman School of Management, the program will definitely aid in transforming your leadership potential to suit the North American market. This is exactly what they say.

So, if you are looking to be a part of the workforce in Canada, which has a strong economy and offers a good quality of life, Rotman might be the best option for you.

As the B-school is located in Canada, every international student is eligible for a three-year work permit. And this actually makes life a lot easier for students who are investing time and money in their MBA programs.

Moreover, Amazon, Google, Accenture, AtKearney and Bain and Company are among the top companies that hire graduates from Rotman.

Now, let’s look at the actual essay that you need to submit to Rotman while submitting your MBA application.

Rotman School of Management MBA Essay 2020-21

When it comes to the MBA essays, there are three components that Rotman has asked for. While one of them is an essay question, the other two are questions that need to be answered in different formats. You will understand it as you keep reading this article.

Rotman Essay Question

Our admitted students stand out by doing interesting things with their personal and professional lives — something we describe as the ‘spike factor’; what are the things that you have done in your life that demonstrate Passion/ Grit/ Resilience/ Innovation/ Drive/ Ambition and more?

Word limit: 1000 words

It says that you can write up to 1000 words and it goes on to say, “This can cross all or any aspects of life outside of work – hobbies, volunteerism, awards, entrepreneurial ventures, sports, and the arts. We believe that exposure to a rich diversity of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building a diverse class of exceptional individuals who will go on to make the School proud as professionals and alumni.

Explain your spike factor (something unique about yourself) that you believe will contribute to the Rotman community and is aligned with Rotman values.”

Before you start writing this essay, we would suggest that you think about the question and understand it very well. And then you should try to figure out what that ‘spike’ or ‘wow’ factor is.

Basically, what Rotman is looking for here is your unique selling proposition (USP). And you need to find that USP before you start drafting the essay. You need to find out what is different about you and what is unique about you .

When it comes to identifying your spike factor, there are mainly three areas in your life that you might want to revisit and check closely until you find it:

• Academics/Background
• Work Experience
• Extracurricular activities

These are three areas that will help you figure out the spike factor. You could have done exceptionally well when it came to academics. Or, if you were someone who was not great at academics, you might have performed really well when you started working. If it is not even that you might have some talent that makes you different from the crowd.

Once you identify your spike factor, all you need to do is back it up with facts to prove why it is what makes you different from the rest of the applicants. Why do you think that this factor makes you unique?

But to complete your essay, you need to tie this factor to the two main points that they have mentioned – How your spike factor will contribute to the Rotman community and how it is aligned with the Rotman values.

For this, you need to know what the Rotman values are: Diversity, Excellence, Integrity, and Respect.

Let us give you an example of a Rotman candidate here so that you understand what exactly you need to focus on while completing the essay. The candidate was someone who was very interested in figuring out new mobile apps and reviewing them. He even maintained a blog and social media channels to post his app reviews. And some of his tweets got numerous retweets and engagements. He is like a productivity junkie!

Why will he portray this as his spike factor? To understand this, you might want to look at his background and work experience.

He was someone who did fairly well in school but was never in the top 25% of his class. And then he went on to become a software engineer. He must have probably been promoted to a second level but that was not too significant to be a spike factor.

He identified his spike factor from the extracurricular activities that he consistently pursued. And this factor is sure to be different from the rest of the candidates’.

Now, how did he tie this identified spike factor to Rotman and its values?

Firstly, he explains how a lot of the things that we do on a day-to-day basis are driven by apps. And then he speaks of how Rotman has so many student-driven clubs and how he could add the technology factor in them to make them more efficient. That was the kind of contribution he wished to make.

He chose the Rotman value, excellence, and said that he is always someone who tries to make something better. And he strives to punch above his weight to make things the best. And that is how he tied his spike factor to one of the Rotman values.

Remember, you have 1000 words. But this does not mean that you keep writing. Stick to what you want to say, create a great story, and then complete it.

Rotman Question(Optional)

Please upload 1-3 of your ‘spikiest’ pictures to the supplemental items section of your application here. Use the essay to tell us why you have chosen these particular images to illustrate your ‘spike factor’

Note: Your photos must be uploaded as a single PDF.

Though Rotman has mentioned that this is optional, we are going to tell you how to go about this question as well.

This is a section where you want to showcase your creativity.

You have already figured out your spike factor. By adding pictures to show it, you are just adding more colour to the important points you mentioned in the essay. These pictures will prove your essay to be true.

Let us go back to the example of the candidate who reviewed apps. In his case, he could provide pictures of one of his tweets that went viral or pictures that show the traffic that he drove to his blog. He could even provide a picture of him receiving an award from someone in case it is related to the spike factor that he mentioned!

So, this section is all about creativity. And even if you don’t have a picture where you are receiving an award, it’s fine. You will still be able to find pictures that will add value to your essay.

Rotman Video Essay Question

Required video interview (2 questions) with a new timed written response component (10 minutes in length) 

It goes on to say, “Example of timed written response: Often prospective MBA candidates build strong relationships, primarily online, with the admissions office. We encourage candidates to follow-up with the admissions team members they meet representing Rotman around the world.

Craft an email to the Rotman representative that you met at a recent MBA Fair reiterating your interest in the School and desire to stay connected.”

Every Rotman candidate has to appear for this component. You cannot complete your application without it. And what you need to make note is that you will not be provided the questions prior. You will have to think on the spot for maybe about 30 seconds and then provide the answer.

It is not necessary that everyone is great at speaking or writing in English without practice. And this is exactly what Rotman wants to test. They want to see how you will manage the situation and how well you will do it.

We would suggest you take the video component when you are sure that there will be no disturbance in the background. Then you take a deep breath, place yourself in the centre of the screen of your system or laptop and have the light source in front of you. You can even practice this a few times before you go for the actual video component.

Now coming to the timed written component, if you look at the example that they have given here, they are trying to check your communication skills.

They want to know how you will communicate given a situation like this. And writing an email is something that you will definitely have to do in a corporate world!

So, plan it in advance. Plan the basic structure so that you don’t miss anything out.

Given the example, you start your email by thanking the person for their time. You build your email introduction using that. In the body of your email, you could say, “As discussed…” and then mention why you are interested in Rotman and what makes you unique. Also, don’t forget to mention what value you would bring to the B-school and why Rotman is the right choice for you.

This is broadly the Rotman essay itself except that it is in a different format. In your actual essay you had to speak about your spike factor and you were not given an opportunity to tell them “Why Rotman”. This is the chance for you to talk about that.

Once you have made the point, thank the person again in the end and probably even mention that you will send a connection request on LinkedIn.

Remember: Use the first 30 seconds to take a deep breath and to think about what you will write. Put down all the points so that you don’t forget anything. Spend the next three to three and a half minutes typing it out and ensure that you have at least two minutes to proofread it. This is very important because you never know the kind of mistakes you would make when you are under pressure.

So, if you’re applying to Rotman and feel that you need expert guidance to brainstorm and help you bring out your story through the one essay, feel free to reach out to us.

Before you leave, if you are looking to apply to Rotman, you need to know the deadlines, right?

So, here are the Rotman School of Management MBA application deadlines.

Rotman School of Management MBA Application Deadlines

If you really want to get into Rotman, you might want to keep these deadlines in mind. Moreover, with these deadlines, you can now plan your MBA application process better.

Round 1 October 5, 2020 

Round 2 January 11, 2021 

Round 3 March 8, 2021 

Round 4 April 26, 2021

So, here we leave you with the most important points and dates that will help you get into Rotman.

If you would like to watch what our GMAT and MBA Expert, Arun Jagannathan has to say about writing your Rotman essay, you can watch the video here .

And as mentioned earlier, if you feel that you need more help in drafting your essays or reviewing your application or let’s say, even brainstorming your ideas, you can always reach out to us.

You can click on the image below and get in touch with our expert.

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

June 15, 2020

Toronto Rotman MBA: The Spike Factor [Episode 299]

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Interview with Imran Kanga, Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management [Show Summary]

Toronto Rotman wants to see a “spike factor” in its applicants. What is a spike factor? What’s Toronto Rotman’s spike factor(s)? How can you show a spike factor. What else does Rotman offer? What are its 3 other criteria for acceptance?  All questions covered and answered in this informative podcast interview with Toronto Rotman’s MBA admissions director, Imran Kanga. Pull up a chair!

All About Toronto Rotman and the Spike Factor They Seek in Applicants [Show Notes]

It gives me great pleasure to have for the first time on AST Imran Kanga, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program at the Rotman School of Management, at the University of Toronto . Imran attended Ridley College for his bachelors and earned his International MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business in 2010. But he wasn’t finished at Schulich when he got his MBA. Upon graduation he became the Assistant Director of Marketing and Recruitment for the Schulich School of Business in India and managed the Schulich MBA program there. In December 2018 he became Director of Recruitment and Admission for the University of Toronto’s Rotman School .

Can you give us an overview of the Rotman MBA program, focusing on its more distinctive features? [2:11]

It’s a two-year, fulltime MBA. The first part is the core component, where students learn the basic business fundamentals and foundations. The second part allows students to choose from 15 concentrations, and some are quite unique to Rotman in areas like investment banking, business design, and innovation. It’s not required, but students have opportunity to specialize if they like in the second year. In terms of other unique initiatives, we have the Creative Destruction Lab, Design Works Lab, and Self Development lab that allows students to develop their leadership presence. We also have a flexible internship program. Students are required to have an internship, but can choose to do so not just in the summer, but the fall and winter are options as well. Employers like the flexibility to get students on board when they have a requirement for it, not just over the summer.

In January Bloomberg Businessweek proclaimed “Canada Says, ‘Give Me Your MBAs, Your Entrepreneurs.”  Not quite the Statue of Liberty , but the article points out that in three years Canada has experienced a 60% jump in international students studying in Canada. Furthermore, more than 65% of foreign-born adults in Canada in 2017 had a post-secondary degree. How does the Rotman MBA fit into this picture of Canada welcoming the talented, the educated, and yes the entrepreneurial yearning to breathe free opportunity? [6:14]

Canada has come to the forefront in terms of being a preferred destination for international students, which is very much in line with the government’s goal to recruit top talent from across the world to study and then live here. Rotman has experienced tremendous growth, consistently more than 30% year over year. This allows us to be much more selective but also adds a lot of diversity to the class because applicants are coming from countries that otherwise might traditionally apply to schools in the U.S. or U.K., so it is a tremendous opportunity for us, and enriches the experience for our students. Post-graduation students can live for three years in Canada on a work permit, which is also a great incentive.

Can you talk about the three labs you mentioned earlier? Can students do all three? [10:03]

The Self Development Lab is a space where students can go to develop their communication skills, leadership qualities, and presentation skills. It is a very high tech space that can detect things like nervousness, anxiety, how tired you are, or even how many times you say, “uh” in a conversation. It is available to students throughout the two years they are in the program.

The Creative Destruction Lab is a two-part course. Students have to take an elective in year one, followed by a year-long course in the second year. The lab itself is really a venture accelerator. We invite tech startups at seed stage and help them scale up. It is a partnership with the government (they provide grants), and there is some really great work coming out of this lab, in areas like space, quantum computing, AI, and fin tech. The lab provides mentorship to entrepreneurs and founders of these startups, funding, partners like VC firms, and access to management talent.

Business Design Lab is focused on business innovation and design. It has more to do with technology and how businesses are transformed with technology, and leans more toward the academic and research side. Students are selected to be a part of the lab in their second year.

In terms of what’s new in our lab space, TDBank is giving us $4M for Fin Hub, which is another lab focused on new and emerging areas of finance like fin tech, block chain, cryptocurrencies, and AI. Our faculty are thought leaders in this area, and we are really excited about this new opportunity.

Let’s turn to the application. Your site says that you are looking for four qualities: Intellectual Horsepower, Experience and Impact, Communication and Presence, and the Spike Factor. I’d like to focus on the last element, because I think the first three are easily understood. What does the Spike Factor mean to you? How would you describe it? [17:31]

The Spike Factor was initially developed by McKinsey to differentiate their candidates, and we were very excited to incorporate it into our assessment. It gives applicants the opportunity to share why they stand out – what makes them unique and really shine . It could be that they have participated in a lot of extracurricular activities, are part of community initiatives, are artists, musicians, have had cultural immersions – all of these factors could constitute a Spike Factor. For us it is important because it gives a different perspective on what the student brings to the class – what is something really unique or special about this candidate that would add a lot of value.

Rotman’s application includes a resume, a traditional essay, a short “reflection question,” a timed written reflection, and two videos before a by-invitation-only interview. What do you learn from these different elements? Why do you need each element to have a holistic picture? Why does Rotman include the following elements in its evaluation? [22:29]

Each element you mentioned links to one of the four components we were talking about. The resume speaks to experience and impact. The traditional essay goes to fit – why do you want an MBA and why Rotman. That shows us the student has done the research and knows what the program is about and what to expect. The reflection question asks students to list out 3-5 qualities that they see in themselves. This is for students to show their self-awareness, and that they can take a step back and assess their strengths and weaknesses, which is important to do before getting into the application. During the interview these qualities can be validated. The timed essay and video essay are meant to provide us with an authentic version of an applicant. The time-written essay gives a sense of who they are, and the answers don’t have to be lengthy. Can an applicant write a short paragraph and communicate ideas clearly? The video essay gives a sense of whether they can communicate ideas in a short period of time, think on the fly, and come up with clear and concise answers. We aren’t looking for perfection, but potential.

What distinguishes applicants who get interview invitations from those who don’t other than stats? [28:31]

We look at all the components of the application and one is not rated over the other – it is holistic. Applicants have to have done well overall in the application – someone with a 770 GMAT but lacking elsewhere is a red flag for us. We invite people who are strong across all the factors in the application, and stand out.

What can those invited to interview expect? [30:16]

Our interviews are done in person if possible. We do have admissions reps traveling around the world so that is our preference, but if not, we do Skype interviews. They are about 45 minutes and we are trying to dig a little deeper into the student profile – work experience, extracurricular activities, their entire application, and future aspirations.

What advice do you have for applicants sitting down to fill out their Rotman application and hoping to matriculate in Fall 2019? [31:17]

I would caution against international students applying in the final April round because it most likely isn’t enough time to get visas set and things like that.

What advice would you give to someone thinking ahead to a 2019-20 application? [32:36]

It is never too early to start thinking ahead. Start narrowing down the schools you want to apply to . If you have narrowed down to Rotman, do your research. Reach out to alumni, students, and faculty. We’d be happy to connect you with people who can tell you about their experiences and are available to answer any questions. Also take a step back and reflect on yourself, and then plan ahead by taking the GMAT or GRE and thinking about the application itself.

What do you see coming down the pike for the MBA program at Rotman? [35:24]

Given current trends I think we will see a lot more highly qualified applicants getting into the program. The MBA market is also shifting to a slightly older audience. Our dean was just reappointed for another five year term, so I expect to see a continued focus on relentless innovation. I can see a lot more labs and partnerships. I see a lot more diversity in the program as well.

Related Links:

• Toronto Rotman MBA program
• Toronto Rotman Application Essay Tips
• “Canada Says, ‘Give Me Your MBAs, Your Entrepreneurs”
• Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting Services

Related Shows:

• The Toronto Rotman MBA Program: Where Application Volume is Soaring
• Innovative Education in NYC: All About Cornell Tech
• What’s New at INSEAD?
• How to Get a Georgetown MBA?

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In the heart of downtown Toronto, the Rotman campus is steps from the country’s dynamic commercial and financial hub. The school itself is known to be one of the best business schools globally and pretty sure the best Business school in Canada! With classes comprising globe trotters, professional athletes, and amazing leaders, you are going to get quite a lifetime experience two-year program. Here is a sneak peek into the amazing life at Rotman. Stay tuned!

This article will focus on various aspects of pursuing an MBA at Rotman School of Management, starting with the World rankings of its MBA program, the acceptance rate, diversity, class profile, Types of MBA Offered, MBA majors & Specialization, Top Careers, and career development resources offered by the University and most importantly what does ROTMAN look for in an applicant? 

In the latter half of the article, we will also focus on the admission process & admission deadlines, tuition fees, financial help, scholarships & awards (also especially for Indians). The article also discusses Job Opportunities, top Recruiters, and the Average Salary Package. 

Here is the Snapshot of the article:

ROTMAN MBA RANKING

Rotman Business School is renowned as one of the top-notch schools in the MBA world, and many regard it as the best B-school in entire Canada. The table given below will help us understand how the MBA program of Rotman ranks among Canada and the world.

ROTMAN MBA ELIGIBILITY

No one or two factors can be most heavily weighted in the application process. At Rotman, a holistic approach is followed, looking at all elements of an application and weighing each according to the individual’s total file. However, some common factors make up the minimum eligibility criteria which are given below:- 

• A minimum GPA of 3.0-grade point in the final year of a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university. (If you have studied outside Canada, use the International Degree Equivalencies site to calculate your GPA.)
• A GMAT / GRE score is to be submitted with a minimum score of 550. However, admission begins at scores above 600, and a score of 650+ is essential to be considered for distinguished awards.
• GMAT requirements are waived for all applicants who have passed the CFA III examination.
• A minimum of two years of experience is required. While on average, applicants generally have six years of work experience. 
• Two written essays
• Letter of References – LOR preferably from your current and previous employment supervisors.
• For English language proficiency, one of the following:
• UG or graduate degree from any recognized English-language university.
• TOEFL iBT – score of 100 overall, with a minimum of 22 on speaking and writing.
• IELTS score of at least 7.0

But at the same moment, it’s also critical to understand that fulfilling the minimum criteria guarantees only consideration for admission to the program and not a successful selection. Successful entry usually depends upon both factors, your application and the comparative applications of the other candidates. 

ROTMAN MBA ACCEPTANCE RATE

As the rankings itself define, Rotman is one of the most prestigious B-schools not just in Canada but in the world; hence it’s quite obvious that its admission standards are very rigorous in terms of GMAT/GRE, Past academics, GPA, extracurriculars, and whatnot. As a result, the competition heats for admission into the Rotman MBA program.

However, even though it’s a top-notch B-School, Rotman business schools’ acceptance rates are much higher than other top-class MBA Schools. The acceptance rates are around 70%; hence, you have a good chance to enroll in the School’s MBA program.

Rotman’s latest class of 2021 profile showcases that around 295 students were admitted into its full-time MBA program, with 58% being international students with an average GMAT of 669.

ROTMAN MBA CLASS PROFILE

– Total Students – 295

– International Students – 58%  

– Domestic Students – 42% 

– Female Candidates – 125. Total 42% of the students’  

– Male Candidates – 170 Total 58% of the students

– Average GMAT- 669 (90% of the students had a score range from 560 -740)

– Average AGE – 27 years. Range 22 – 36

– Average years of work experience – 5. Range 0 – 13 

– Average undergrad GPA – 3.5

WHAT DOES ROTMAN MBA LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICANT?

Rotman MBA’s mission is to be a catalyst for positive change: rooted in transformative learning, informed by original insight, and inspired by the biggest challenges in business and society. Rotman MBA has distilled their shared beliefs down to four fundamental principles (mentioned below), and they are looking for the same values and shared beliefs in their applicants. 

– Diversity: willingness to embrace difference creates more successful enterprises and a more equitable society

– Excellence: For Rotman MBA, excellence is ultimately defined not by one’s stringent measures but by the value one creates for others in transforming how they think, do business and work to meet society’s changing needs and aspirations.

– Integrity: encouraging and enabling everyone to contribute their best 

– Respect : count on one another to act with civility and sensitivity.

HOW CAN ONE MAKE THEIR MBA APPLICATION STAND OUT FOR ROTMAN MBA? 

– Showcase academic Brilliance: Rotman MBA Program expects you to be an extraordinary performer in your GMAT test along with having a high GPA during your graduation. Unfortunately, just a high score isn’t sufficient to secure your spot on the list, but it would make the adcoms curious about your candidacy; since your high score casts an example of a hard worker with a highly reputed academic record which in turn increases the interest of adcom in you.

– Focus on Your Rotman MBA Application Essays: One may say that Rotman MBA essays are one of the most important aspects of the entire application process. Being a top-notch B-school, it’s true that Rotman MBA is not short on applications with robust profiles. Hence, the Rotman MBA Essays you write are one of the best chances to showcase your strong character, presence of mind, and perfect chance to demonstrate your unique voice. Craft your Rotman MBA essays in a way such that each essay has an amazing story. Yet, all are interlinked into a complex web that demonstrates persistence, work ethic, creativeness, and even errors you have made and how did you cope with them.

Suggested Reading: How to frame practical post-MBA essays?  

Strong Post MBA goals essay Sample

– Bring Diversity : The competition at Rotman is going to be rigorous! Hence, you must prepare yourself in such a way that it leaves a mark on the minds of adCom to help you rise above the crowd. To do so, make sure you can convey your expertise,  uniqueness, experiences, how you will contribute to the School community, and what kind of diversity in terms of ideas, perspectives, background, intellect, etc., you are bringing in through your application.

Suggested Reading: MBA for LGBTQ+ Applicants , Reaching Out MBA

– Extracurriculars are Important! 

First of all, understand why extracurriculars are important? Extracurricular define a person’s character! It segregates you into how good you are academically and your overall personality. Hence it would be best to use examples of your past excellence in any club activity or sports that would give you a chance to showcase examples of your leadership and the contribution you have made so far out of your academic profile. Always remember to have quality over quantity! Any other Top B-school does not care how many things you participate in; rather, they want to see how much of a good participant you are! Therefore, they majorly focus on characteristics like deep dedication and excellence in fields you are passionate about.

Also, “always make sure to take part in Volunteering activities whenever you get a chance.” As it’s a very smart and clever way to show that you are not only a business-minded attitude but also a person full of generosity and with a good heart which is a great way to impress the adcom and cement your spot in the minds of adcoms. Moreover, there are countless ways to volunteer in a community; make sure you use such examples to strengthen your application.

To know more, read the role of extracurricular activities for your MBA application.

ROTMAN MBA COURSES

1) Full-Time MBA

The Full-Time MBA at the Rotman School was ranked 1st all over Canada in 2019 by Financial Times rankings. The MBA is specially designed to let you master business fundamentals while at the same time providing you with experiential, hands-on learning opportunities to learn & grow as a global leader. An MBA from the University of Toronto’s Business School of Management, Rotman provides more than just raw business knowledge, it gives you the agility and confidence you require to transform your future. Master the business fundamentals to fulfill your potential dreams with Canada’s leading full-time MBA program.

2) Morning MBA and Evening MBA

Canada’s leading B-School, Rotman attracts professionals who are ambitious and looking to advance their career by undergoing an MBA. The school brings them together with respected researchers and global business leaders advancing the new frontiers of management thinking.

Key highlights

• The program is offered either before or after the business hours
• Rotman Morning and Evening MBA program allow you to learn and immediately apply that knowledge at work.
• At Rotman, extraordinary people gather to rethink the common assumptions, innovate new models and optimize outdated models and redefine generic expectations. 

3) Global Executive MBA for Healthcare & the Life Sciences

This exclusive healthcare and life sciences-focused MBA program intertwines together hands-on experience with practical education and thought leadership.

Course duration- 18 months in 4 countries the program helps you gain the leadership edge you need as an expert in industries where the frontiers are always modernizing & advancing.

Specially designed for working professionals, and offered by one of the globally recognized universities, this 18-month program will alter your way of thinking, and help drive life sciences & healthcare innovations internationally.

Centered on the full sector, the MBA program is designed to link traditional silos of life sciences and health & healthcare and educates one about why and how can you create patient value and system strength as well by integrating across the boundaries within & across organizations, across regions and countries.

4) Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA

Hosted in several international business hubs, a truly global, distinctly personal MBA program, the Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA is hosted by two leading business schools,

Key program highlights

• The course Spans a total of 18 months and on four continents.
• It’s a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) hosted by Rotman in partnership with SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy.
• The MBA program allows you to form networks with thought leaders and develop your unique career strategy, and help broaden your impact as a global leader.

5) One-Year Executive MBA

Gain a robust business training program to transform your career. With New Innovative courses, leadership skills, and globally recognized faculty, it’s time to accelerate your career to the next level at Canada’s leading business school.

• Earn an Executive MBA degree in just 13 months.
• A Transformative journey to become a leader through Rotman integrated leadership framework .
• Learn from thought leaders who are at present shaping the future of management.

Broaden your business skills & knowledge and develop a powerful network of peers for life.

ROTMAN MBA MAJORS AND SPECIALISATION

1) Brand Management: If you have a knack for brands and marketing, here is the art and science for it. The Rotman MBA in brand management allows students to select courses from various marketing areas such as advertising, internet marketing, and international marketing. In the process, you will understand how customers make decisions and how to influence them, analyze markets and competitors’ strategies, create successful advertising and promotional strategies, and develop and manage a brand successfully.

Students of Rotman MBA have to choose four out of the thirteen core courses available related to marketing, branding, and pricing. In addition, there are case competitions for the same, and Rotman Full-Time MBA Program provides a unique opportunity for students to integrate and apply management knowledge gained within the program through a 4-month internship.

2) Consulting: You will learn to analyze cross-functional business problems and justify your recommendations, applying appropriate frameworks and a diverse set of quantitative and qualitative tools. Specific topics covered are the consulting industry, problem-solving methodologies, the management of change in organizations, advanced issues in strategic direction, and the development and presentation of proposals and reports. In addition, there are clubs, case competitions, and internship programs for the same.

To know more about MBA in Consulting, click  here.

3) General MBA: All Rotman MBA students complete the same common core courses in the program’s first year. Once the common core courses are complete, students can greatly customize their General MBA to best prepare for their career objectives and suit their personal preferences.

To name others, there is Health Sector Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Investment Banking, Process and Supply Chain Management, Real Estate, Social Impact, and Sustainability to choose as Specialization. You can have a look  here.

ROTMAN MBA CAREERS

Full-Time MBA Employment 2020 by Function

• Accounting/Finance – 31.1%

• Strategy – 25.8%

• Marketing/ Sales – 13.9%

• Other – 11.2%

• General Management – 7.9%

• Legal Services – 6%

• Operations – 3%

•Business Designs – 1.1%

ROTMAN MBA DEADLINES

The current application cycle for the Full-Time MBA Class of 2024 at Rotman, starting in September 2022, opens on August 9th, 2021. 

The new application portal will be launched after August 9th so that interested candidates can create profiles and start their applications.

ROTMAN MBA ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Applicants are required to submit transcripts for an undergraduate degree, GMAT or GRE score, two requests for references, one written essay, a video interview, and a timed written response.

In addition, students who do not speak English as a first language or graduate from an English language university must submit TOEFL IBT or IELTS scores or an acceptable grade from the University of Toronto English Language Program.

ROTMAN MBA FEES

The below table enlists the estimated tuition fees for the Full-Time MBA Class of 2024

The Rotman MBA fees charged for each session of registration have three components:

• 1. Academic Fee

2. Rotman ancillary fees

3. University incidental fees

The estimated annual Rotman MBA fees for the Full-Time MBA Class of 2024 starting in the September of 2022 are listed below in Canadian dollars (CAD) and USD: 

1. Full-Time MBA academic fees

The Rotman ancillary fees amount to approximately CAD 650 for the 1st year of the MBA program. Any finalized amounts will be updated and found on your fees invoice (available in mid-July).

The University incidental fees amount to approximately CAD 1,600, covering the terms from September – end-April and including student society fees and campus fees. 

Apart from the University incidental fees, the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) fee will automatically be added to fees invoices for International Students only.

Typical living expenses

The following expenses are an estimate of the minimum funds a single candidate will require for the first 12 months in Toronto: Since Costs will vary for each individual and based on residency in downtown Toronto, the below estimate provides an average of the expense. 

• – Textbooks-CAD $2,000
• – Laptop-CAD $1,600 – $2,000
• – Accommodation-CAD $8,000 – $14,000
• – Food-CAD $4,000 – $5,500
• – Personal expenses:-CAD $2,000
• – Public transportation:- CAD $1,300
• – Health Insurance (UHIP) for International students:- CAD $756
• Total CAD $19,656 – $27,556

Other than the fees for a full-time MBA, the table below reflects tuition for combined degree programs offered by the School.

JD/MBA academic fees

FINANCING AND SCHOLARSHIP AT ROTMAN

Deciding to pursue an MBA is a major responsibility, a significant investment in yourself and your future. Thus, plenty of grants, fellowships, loans, and government help accessible to fund your schooling at Rotman and assist your aims and goals. For all the underneath scholarships, you don’t have to present an additional application, yet we recommend you fill the applications by Round 1 or 2

• SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS AT ROTMAN

A range of accessible grants is available based on your accomplishments, merit, and monetary need. Here we provide you with the details of some (you don’t need a different application except if explicitly expressed) that might be valuable for you:

1. Joseph L. Rotman Scholarship: This grant is the biggest and most prestigious entry grant accessible for the full tuition cost value and is granted to two excellent MBA candidates every year.

2. 30% Club Full-Time MBA Scholarship: this scholarship offers half tuition fees to a female candidate supporting the Rotman School’s Initiative for Women in Business. Any female candidate who has exhibited exceptional academic and professional accomplishments is eligible for the scholarship. Moreover, the grant beneficiary will likewise have the opportunity (non-transferable) to sign up for the Athena Program or an identical Professional Development program presented by Rotman’s Initiative for Women in Business, as long as three years after graduation.

3. Ontario Graduate Scholarships: Awarded to candidates signed up for full-time studies who have gotten a first-class standing. An Ontario Graduate Scholarship at the Rotman School of Management is held for one year and esteemed at $10,000 to $15,000 each year. You can get insights concerning qualifications, conditions, and application forms here .

• ENTRANCE AWARDS AT ROTMAN

The Rotman School awards entrance grants, fellowships, and scholarships to around 33% of students every year. The awards are totally offered in view of outstanding merit and ordinarily range from $10,000 to $90,000 (all candidates are considered). Below are a few examples of exquisite scholarships that we have selected for you:

1. David J. Skurka Entrance Award to be granted to an enrolling Full-Time MBA candidate with preference given to someone intrigued by finance and intends to seek after a career in financial institutions with sections made on the basis of academic merit.

2. Diestel Family Scholarship – awarded to an enrolling Full-Time MBA candidate with special inclination or preference given to an international candidate with an exhibited interest in a business venture or entrepreneurship from a business family background.

3. Gordon M. Watson Entrance Scholarship granted to a candidate who has experience in the fields of 

•Finance, 

•Investment banking, or 

•Security 

and who has successfully finished the Canadian Securities Course?

4. Harvey Botting Entrance Scholarship: Awarded to a candidate responsible for making a critical contribution to the society through volunteerism, active local area contribution, and who has exhibited leadership in their work experience.

5. J. Spencer Lanthier Award in Accounting given to an entering MBA candidate with a foundation in accounting.

There are a lot more in various backgrounds for various candidates.

ROTMAN MBA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIANS

J.N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians – The J.N. Tata Endowment offers loan scholarships for higher studies abroad only. The loan amount (ranging between Rs.1,50,000 and Rs.6,00,000) awarded to each scholar is determined by the norms laid down for the purpose and does not cover the full cost of studies. Therefore, all applicants do not necessarily qualify for the maximum amount. In addition, selected scholars may also be eligible for a gift scholarship from the Jamsetji Tata Trust and a Travel Grant from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, based on the sole discretion of the concerned Trustees. A gift scholarship can amount to a maximum of Rs.10,00,000.

Aga Khan Foundation – The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies to prepare them for employment, primarily within the AKDN. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses.

BANK LOANS : Over the past few years, Rotman MBA students have been successful in taking out education loans from  

• Bank of Baroda , 
• Bank of India , 
• State Bank of India

EDUCATION LOAN :

• HDFC Credila  – Over the past few years, many Rotman MBA students from India have successfully taken out an educational loan with this educational loan company. The company provides customized education loans with unique benefits like no margin money requirement, flexible co-borrower norms, unsecured/secured loan options, attractive tax benefits, etc. and the possibility of loan approval even before admission confirmation, enabling students to be much better prepared with their funding options to pursue higher education.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCING OPTIONS

FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Rotman provides several fellowships, scholarships, and teaching and research assistantships for eligible International students. Other than that, there are also some other loan and financing options at Rotman for international students mentioned below:

INTERNATIONAL LOANS : Any international students enrolled in the Full-Time MBA program are eligible to apply for a loan with either

• The Bank of Montreal (BMO) or
• The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

As part of the Rotman Professional Student Loan Plans.

• Any international students will be considered eligible with cash collateral or a qualified Canadian resident co-signer.
• However, International students can also be considered for a non-cosigned BMO loan for up to 100% of their tuition fees with a Standby Letter of Credit (a letter which to guarantee the payment of the BMO loan amount if the student should end up not repaying it)—issued from any BMO-approved bank in the home country of the candidate.
• Also, International students are eligible to apply for a non-cosigned loan from Prodigy Finance . However, Rotman has no formal agreement with the firm. Still, the firm has indicated a willingness to entertain loans up to the entire tuition fee for any international students attending the Business School.

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS:  

Several fellowship programs are available for a vast range of communities with diverse interests.

For example, there is the Forté Fellows Program , created with the sole purpose of increasing and supporting women enrolling in MBA programs.

Then there is the Reaching Out LGBT MBA Fellowship , the recipients of this fellowship will receive $10,000- $20,000.

Not just based on communities, there are several more fellowships based on your interest and talents. The CDL fellowship program is specially created to unlock the entrepreneurial ambitions of candidates of Full-Time MBA students (up to 20 incoming students). A minimum award of $20,000 is awarded to all fellowship recipients.

Suggested Reading: Reaching out MBA , MBA for LGBTQ+ applicants

SO, WHILE ROTMAN TAKES CARE OF YOUR FINANCE, YOU GET YOUR PC, AND LET’S GET STARTED TOGETHER WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS!

STUDENT CLUBS AT ROTMAN MBA

1.        Executive Dinner Club: Imagine how good it sounds to have a great dinner and make strong relationships! That’s exactly what this club is all about! This is one of the most fun and unique club for students. The club connects Rotman students with several business executives over dinner.

• From September to April, RED hosts dinners with executives from a vast range of industries, allowing students to learn in-depth about the industry and the executive’s unique career experiences as well.
• A RED (Rotman’s Executive Dinner) dinner is comfortable yet sophisticated. Students don’t need to rush through their elevator pitch, compete for attention, or try and keep an eye on everyone present in the room to cover their networking checklist. Instead, all such connections happen naturally at RED and help lay strong foundations of lasting business relations.

2.       Engineers in Management: are you a techie new to management or someone who wants to switch careers but is unsure what to choose? By joining REIM (Rotman’s Engineers in Management), you get exposure to professionals who made their way through a path similar to yours, and hearing their stories would enhance your decision-making that will affect your career going forward.

• Joining REIM will provide you with knowledge and enhance your ability to make meaningful connections, get remarked in the job applications, and ace your interview.
• 3. Energy and Natural Resources Association: This world is in desperate need of sustainable leaders. Here at Rotman, the Energy and Natural Resources Association club connects, supports, and advises producing MBA graduates duly interested in pursuing a  career in the 21st century Natural Resources, Global Energy, and Heavy industries sector. In addition, the club helps provide a richer learning experience and develop their knowledge.

4.       Finance Association: If you are someone who gets the thrill while crunching numbers and has a long last dream of becoming the next Chief Financial Officer of any of the BIG 4 companies, welcome! Here is Rotman’s Finance Association club to bridge the gap between theories taught in the classroom and finance-based careers. The club offers MBA students potential insights into many exciting facets of finance-based professions globally.

Apart from these, there are countless more “progressive” clubs at Rotman, to name some others. There are  

• Women in Management Association,
• Sports Business Clubs,
• African & Caribbean Business Clubs,
• Golf & Ski Association, and so on.

Name a word, and voila! Here is a club.

MBA ESSAY, LOR AND VIDEO INTERVIEW TIPS AT ROTMAN [2020-21]: 

 ESSAY 1:

a)       Explain your spike factor (something unique about yourself) that you believe will contribute to the Rotman community and is aligned with Rotman values.

b)      How will your spike factor help you succeed as an MBA student and beyond? (up to 1000 words)*

Okay, to tackle this question; let’s break this question into parts to understand the most relevant content for this essay-

First of all, let us understand about SPIKE factor- as mentioned in the question, the SPIKE factor means interesting and unique characteristics.

It’s the quality you have exhibited your entire life (sometimes even without knowing). It can be as simplistic as something like empathy or being ambitious.

Why do we call it “spike”? The adcom expects candidates to craft their story around this factor. Craft it in a way such that it encompasses your quality & skill and brings a smile to the reader’s face.

Make sure the story is backed with examples throughout your life, along with a good blend of both your personal and professional life. ‘The example taken should bring huge impacts in your life or maybe people’s lives, or maybe in thousands of others.’

Now, how to use it in reference to the question?

Understand that the SPIKE Factor “must contribute to the Rotman community,” and for someone to link it to the Rotman community, one must understand its

• Environment,
• Student communities,
• Clubs,  
• The background of the admitted students,

And everything else that you can find. Next on, make sure it is aligned with the four major values of Rotman Business School. Moreover, make sure your spike factor complements your MBA specialization along with future goals & aspirations. 

Now, let me address one of the most prevalent concerns of people about the SPIKE factor: Do I have it at all ?

Now that you fully understand the spike factor let us address the above concern.

Do you have it? Yes, you do. One Just needs to dig deeper, surely easier said than done, but it’s important to understand the greater purpose of your actions.

How can you “dig deep”? Question yourself.

Let us understand it in depth by taking an example:

Why are you doing an MBA?

Introspect. Maybe you want to reach a certain position in a certain industry. Fine, consider it as accomplished.

Now, what next?

How does attaining such a position make any difference to you?

Does it in any way make you happier than before?

Maybe you are currently working “X hours,” and then you will be working the same hours or even more; perhaps you have more resources now, but you still will only have 24 hours a day.

Understand this; your aim shouldn’t be to earn greater resources and increase your assets. Instead, try to see the greater purpose behind each of your actions, and then only can you understand that “one quality” that has always been there, something unique of you and something you have exhibited all your life.

Be totally honest with yourself and jot down everything you come across about yourself. Crafting a story is never that difficult once you glide past the hard work of finding yourself.

Knowing and understanding yourself is the most critical aspect of making it to any school.

This is exactly where a consultant comes into play. Our services have never been about crafting a story but about getting the best out of you and making you aware of yourself as an individual by questioning you for everything you have not done till now. 

LOR – Letter of Reference,

First of all , let us understand the very purpose of LOR. A LOR is drafted to provide a strong premise for your essays.

Rotman MBA program has 5 questions for your recommenders to answer. Hence, choose your recommenders carefully, who can be specific with examples, and share knowledge about your achievements, contribution, background, and impact on the organization.

Restrict yourself from choosing your recommenders based purely on the title. Think and introspect properly before making any decision.

Below are the questions asked by Rotman Business School from the recommenders in LOR.

1.       How long have you known the candidate, and in what capacity?

2.       List 3-5 characteristics /attributes that best describe the applicant.

3.       Of all the qualities listed above, in which areas have the applicant distinguished themselves the most?

4.       What would you consider the candidate’s primary area for improvement or growth?

5.       How would you rate the applicant’s potential for becoming a successful business leader?

Great, now that the questions part is sorted out, it wouldn’t be so hectic for you to choose recommenders who can properly answer these specific questions.

One last tip! Try to exhibit your ability and desire to progress professionally, aligning with a mission of overall company growth with a strong sense of personal direction so that you can achieve every chosen career objective.

VIDEO INTERVIEW TIPS:

Before diving deep into the tips, let us first assess the INTERVIEW PROCESS.

• Each candidate will be asked two taped questions followed by a real-time written response (no video with this component.). However, you will have an opportunity to test the technology.
• Both taped questions are values-based/personality-based and designed so that no advanced preparation can be done, and each of them will only take a few minutes to complete.
• The written question is designed to openly assess the regular email communications you will generate as a Rotman MBA student.
• Once your MBA application has been submitted successfully, you will receive an invitation from the School via email to complete your video interview within a time span of 2 business days. 

Well, for Video Interview, the best tip would be to have a mock interview with an experienced consultant so that you can know every detail about your pros and cons in an interview.

You need to acknowledge that there will always be an element of surprise for you in an interview; hence it’s important that you “KNOW YOURSELF FULLY.” Know each detail about yourself and be completely aware of your actions and consequences.

This will definitely help you tackle those elements because if you have fully introspected and are self-aware, you will be able to connect dots from every part of your story in your mind and are more likely to answer every question with full confidence.

There should be an answer for every question in your bag, and something like this can only be achieved when you ask yourself “why” at each stage of introspection. 

WHY ROTMAN?

– BUSINESS DESIGN IN ACTION

The School follows a unique Business Design approach to help you learn how to tackle complex business challenges using different techniques and tools of this exciting discipline. The design approach focuses on developing innovative user experiences, exploring disruptive strategies, and following various activities to inculcate your customer’s needs at the core of your business to win in competitive markets. 

– ROTMAN’S DESIGN WORK

Rotman Designworks is the School’s strategy and innovation lab for candidates. Apart from that, it also hosts a fascinating design challenge for which teams from business and design schools across North America are invited to participate in numerous activities for business design plans.

– CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB

Created with an aim to spark the minds of all the techies out there, the program is specifically designed for MBA students who want to pursue startup experiences by knowing & learning to evaluate and build early-stage tech businesses. The Ventures accepted into the program have backgrounds in 

• * Artificial intelligence, 
• * Quantum computing, 
• * Cleantech, and 
• * Health. 

Students are paired with different early-stage technology companies that are looking to scale their idea into high-growth companies. 

Every two months, students and ventures are called to join an intensive full-day session with the Fellows and Associates, who are an elite group of successful angel investors, partners from leading venture capital firms, and entrepreneurs focused on the objective setting.

Moreover, interesting case studies are given where students have to discover the facts themselves and figure out the most valuable ones instead of just reading a 30-page case that comes with a fact set. This develops a keen awareness of the messiness of the real world.

FULL-TIME MBA EMPLOYMENT 2020

  full-time mba employment salaries by industry (cad) 2020 , recruitment at rotman.

More than hundreds of companies visit Rotman to hire their MBA graduates, some of these companies are one of the most prestigious brand names in the market, including BlackBerry, Amazon, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, etc. the below table just gives a mere insight into some of the top companies that visit Rotman Business school for the year 2020. 

However, For more details on Full-Time MBA Employment Rates, MBA Employment Salaries by Industry (CAD) Companies hiring from Rotman in 2020, and many others, you can click the link here to download  Rotman’s Employment and Salary Report 2020-2021

Companies hiring from Rotman in 2020

– BlackBerry

– Acceleprise

– Alibaba Group

– Bloom Burton Securities

– Facebook

– Amazon

– Able Innovations

-Johnson & Johnson

-BluEarth Renewables

There you go! All the above paragraphs would help you understand every aspect of the Rotman School of Management MBA program. 

Make sure you surf through the article once before applying to the MBA Program at Rotman. Before applying for a specific MBA program, an applicant needs to know about the scholarships, funding schemes, employment stats, etc.

In any case, if you need more in-depth information about any particular aspect of the application process, interviews, and course structure, feel free to hop on a 45-minute extensive 1:1 call with our team of experts. We will provide you with previous questions samples, application samples, LORs, testimonials and guide you stepwise so that you can develop a unique Resume with clarity, precision, and creativity.

We at MBAandBeyond follow a stepwise procedure to ensure maximum efficiency, quality, and interaction to make sure we make every minute worth it! Furthermore, we at MBA and beyond are determined to guide you through your entire application process, ensuring the best offers from top Business schools. 

Always remember that “at certain moments in our life, we need advice and help from other people to thrive in life.” Happy learning! ☺

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Rotman MBA essay and the Spike Factor Challenge

You’re in the middle of your MBA application and are just about to enter the Rotman MBA essay’s most crucial part. Rotman will ask you to list down 1-3 of your spike factors (something unique about yourself) that will contribute to the Rotman community and are aligned with Rotman’s values of diversity, excellence, integrity, and respect. What makes the Rotman MBA essay different and more exciting than all others is the question and, more importantly, what you’ll have to do before even starting this essay. If you approach this essay well, it will not only help you in the application stage, but in the interview stage too.

The Rotman School of Management MBA application is an in-depth and comprehensive approach to understanding an applicant’s potential fit at the B-school. The admissions team wants to be sure that any admitted candidate is a good fit in terms of values and can impact the school. These are figured out by examining each candidate’s spike factors — elements of their background, accomplishments, and traits that project a future sense of quality and value for the B-school and its student community.

How to think about your Rotman MBA essay and the spike factors within it

The Rotman MBA admissions committee is looking for a few things when reading an MBA application. They want to know about your background, what drives you, and how you’ll add value to the incoming class. They also want to see how you will align with Rotman values, but this isn’t something you should force-fit into your essay at all. Usually, the ‘spike’ is challenging to identify, and aligning that spike to Rotman values is even more challenging. Here is how you can begin to think about your spike factors.

Background: Think about your upbringing and how that has shaped who you are today. Did you grow up in a small town or a large city? Are there any environments that have influenced you? Did you experience a dramatic change in family life growing up? While you may not talk about these experiences directly in your essay, identifying your values will make it easier to determine what makes you tick and what drives you. Most achievements/spikes are really based on that.

What differentiates you?  The admissions team wants to know why they should choose you over all the other candidates. Your GMAT and GPA are irrelevant here. What matters are the experiences and the actions that have led you to be who you are. These spikes can be personal (e.g. some unique experience you had / how you helped someone in need / how you demonstrated integrity under pressure), academic (student leadership or some achievement or accomplishment in sports, music, or the arts), or social (significant volunteering or some other social effort).

On the other hand, be aware that every accomplishment does not constitute a spike. For example, completing a demanding project at work, traveling to a novel destination, or mentoring a colleague are all okay to think of, but they are not all that rare, and should not be used.

Passion and drive:  The last puzzle piece is your drive and your passion. What led you to take up the spikes that you will talk about? Usually, spikes driven by passion and genuine interest are better to talk about than those driven by pursuing a tangible goal (e.g. better grades). As a school that profoundly values innovation and new thinking, Rotman is particular about choosing applicants who demonstrate their ability to embrace change, manage risk, and build value.

Rotman values diversity, excellence, integrity and respect.

As you’re getting ready to start thinking about your spike factors, it’s worth putting more thought into your values. Some of these values may be deeply rooted in your psyche. Some may have become very important for you since business school. Values often seem entirely arbitrary and unimportant, but they can provide a tremendous source of energy to propel someone through several years of hard work.

The Rotman MBA program is more than just a collection of courses, modules, and lectures; it is an opportunity to tap into the core values that define the University of Toronto and its world-class business school. There is no better way to learn and grow as a business professional than to continually revisit those values and reflect on how they have shaped your thinking, behavior and leadership. Ultimately, if these values are within you, they will also reflect in the Rotman MBA essay.

Approaching the Rotman MBA essay

The exact essay topic that Rotman asks you to tackle is:

Explain your spike factor (something unique about yourself) that you believe will contribute to the Rotman community and is aligned with Rotman values. How will your spike factor help you succeed as an MBA student and beyond? (up to 1000 words)

Begin with first deciding the number of spike factors that you want to talk about. While many people do just fine by mentioning just one or two, you can go up to 3 if you feel you have the examples and the substantiation to back them up. Remember, it’s not about quantity but quality. When thinking of these spike factors, make sure that you are really selecting aspects that differentiate you from other applicants and would catch the eye of the admissions reviewer. This is also the right time to speak to Rotman students and understand the school and its activities.

Remember, it is not about directly addressing Rotman values but showing that you have the drive, character, and skills to succeed as a student at Rotman. Once you begin creating your essay, review and refine it often. Sometimes, we are the worst judges of what makes us great. Getting opinions from friends, family, and professionals is essential at this stage because they will help you verify that what you see as a spike is really spike. Think about how your spikes correlate with Rotman values, but do not create a link where there is none.

Rotman wants students that broadly embrace its own values and mission. They are not looking for applicants who go over the values and then manufacture spikes that seem aligned with those values. The difference is easy to determine.

Finally, keep in mind that your spike is not about outstanding achievements or monumental accomplishments. It is about the story. It is about the values and the character that led you there. Substantiate the achievements to make them meaningful, but look for the spike in your values, not in the numbers.

Wait – the spike(s) are not the only thing in this essay

One crucial aspect that most applicants forget is the last bit of the Rotman MBA essay question – how will your spike factor help you succeed as an MBA student and beyond?

This is what we would tell you:

Many applicants struggle with the last part of the Rotman MBA essay question. While they can answer the first part (what is your spike factor?), they can’t figure out how to answer the second part – how will that unique aspect help you succeed as an MBA student and beyond?

Here is how you should plan to answer this part.

Write down all the skills you have developed because of that unique quality. For example, if your spike factor is music, you may have developed leadership skills, a sense of discipline, and perseverance. Perhaps you have become more organized or even more patient. Whatever it is, write down all the skills you have developed because of your spike factor.

Now think about how these skills will come in handy in B-school. For example, a sense of discipline and perseverance can help make sure that you do well in an MBA program as it involves a lot of hard work. A person who has these qualities will be able to work hard even if there are tough times at b-school. If you had to pick one skill from among those mentioned above, make sure that it aligns closely with your B-school goals (see what we are getting at here.

What about the pictures?

Rotman also asks you to upload 1-3 of your ‘spikiest’ pictures. While it goes without saying that you should try and choose the most representative and powerful images to convey the spike you are talking about, Rotman understands that not every applicant goes through life taking pictures of their top moments. So, take it easy, and feel free to go with pictures that may not make it to your local photography competition but that do an excellent job of representing the spike you are writing about.

Should you take ‘inspiration’ from a sample Rotman MBA essay online?

Let us say it out loud – we have seen some of the sample essays available online, and they are poor examples and dangerous. They may lead you to think that there is only one, specific way to approach the essay, while that is not true. Also, some of the ‘spikes’ used in these essays are ones we do not agree with at all.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen hundreds of essays from all walks of life. Anyone specific essay format that anyone lists will not be the magic wand for your essay. It’s more about sharing what passions and stories you want to tell us about yourself. Ultimately, our advice: craft your narrative in a way so that your life is exciting and full of impact. If you can do this, we guarantee an essay has never been so much fun to write!

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Admission requirements

We look holistically at candidates, giving equal weight to grades, professional achievements, interpersonal skills and leadership potential.

Admission criteria

Our admission decisions are holistic: we are looking for unique people, not profiles. Although there is no model application, successful candidates share some qualities that help make them stand out. We believe that exposure to a rich variety of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building diverse classes of exceptional individuals.

Intellectual ability

• Strong academic performance
• Awards and scholarships

Work history

• Progressive experience
• Community involvement

History of impact 

• Professionalism
• Admission interview

Leadership potential 

• Resilience and grit 
• Unique accomplishments

The following basic criteria are used in assessing applicants. Due to the competitive nature of admissions to the program, successful candidates tend to exceed the minimum requirements. 

New GMAT/GRE waiver information for applicants entering in Fall 2024 . Please see "2. GMAT or GRE score" below for more information.

Prospective students apply through the Rotman portal , which walks applicants through the below and provides forms to fill out for several criteria. To see more details, you can start an application , save it, and come back to it later.

1. Undergraduate degree

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the final year of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
• If you studied outside Canada, use the  International Degree Equivalencies  site to calculate your GPA.
• Unofficial transcripts may be submitted initially; if an offer is extended based on these, it will be conditional. For the offer to become final, official transcripts must be submitted by a specific date before class activities begin in August.

2. GMAT / GRE score

• Applicants must obtain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test). Test results are valid for five years.  
• There is no minimum  GMAT  requirement.  
• For average GMAT score and undergrad GPA, please see our  class profile .  
• Valid GMAT or GMAT Focus tests will be accepted.  
• You can register for GMAT at mba.com and familiarize yourself with the test by viewing these free  sample questions  and  practice tests , though we do not endorse any particular GMAT prep source and we encourage you to do your own research.    
• Official score must be sent. The test score codes for Rotman’s Morning & Evening MBA programs are: GMAT: BTD-KS-99 GRE: 8696  
• Passed at least the Level II examination of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, or equivalent designations in other jurisdictions at the discretion of the Academic Director.  
• Passed the Common Final Exam (CFE) (or former UFE) for a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, or equivalent designations in other jurisdictions at the discretion of the Academic Director.  
• Attained the professional designation in Engineering (PEng) or in Actuarial Sciences (ACIA or FCIA), or equivalent designations in other jurisdictions at the discretion of the Academic Director.  
• Graduated their first entry undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto with high distinction (cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher), subject to final approval by the Academic Director.
• Please send confirmation of your professional designation via email to  [email protected] .

3. Work experience

• Two years of experience is required. 
• On average, applicants have six years of work experience. 

4. References

• Preferably from workplace supervisors from current and previous employment.
• No need to request a letter; applicants provide contact information via a form on the portal.
• Two written essays
• One essay should be approx. 250 words in length and the other 500 words. Topics are provided on the application portal. Time permitting, our admissions team is happy to review your essay before you submit your application.

7. English language proficiency

• Undergraduate or graduate degree from an recognized English-language university
• TOEFL iBT (internet based test) score of 100 overall, with a minimum of 22 on speaking and writing
• IELTS score of 7.0

TOEFL code: 8696

6. Interview

• All candidates will be interviewed before they are offered admission to the program. Interviews are by  invitation only .

Please note there is an application fee of CDN$195.

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Connect with our admissions team well before you start your application so we can help you showcase your best qualities, regardless of your academic or professional background. Sending us your resume for an informal pre-assessment is a great way to get the conversation started.

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