Rotman MBA Class of 2015 Aspirants

MBA
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After continuing for long in Rotman CO 2014 thread, I think Rotman’s prospective students for Class of 2015 deserve some exclusivity, so here it is!!As we are in the middle of application cycle, I think this forum might prove to be a great sourc…

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After continuing for long in Rotman CO 2014 thread, I think Rotman's prospective students for Class of 2015 deserve some exclusivity, so here it is!!

As we are in the middle of application cycle, I think this forum might prove to be a great source of information for anybody applying to Rotman this year..
Pardon me if there is another thread for the same, but I couldn't find one!
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Thanks for getting this started, rahulg83.


This is my first post on pg. Some of you may recognize me from the gmat club forums...

I had my interview today with Sheldon over Skype. It lasted for exactly 53 mins. It didn't really feel like an interview per se; more like a conversation. Sheldon is a very nice guy and I enjoyed talking with him.

As far as applications are concerned, I just about made it in time for the Oct 10 R1 deadline. I submitted my application on the 9th of Oct. I got an invite for an interview from Sheldon on the 3rd of Nov. The invitation email stated that they ask behavioural questions designed to better understand how my experiences and talents can contribute to Rotman. A lot of people in the old thread mentioned a video section. In my application there was no video section; just the regular Rotman essays.

My background:
GMAT 680 Q44 V38
B.A Music/Physics (U.S)
Work Ex: 6 years (Music/Entertainment & Media)
Worked 3 yrs in US (Seattle/L.A) moved back home in 2010.
Excellent extra-curriculars

Here are some of the questions he asked me:

1. Tell me about your background?
2. Why MBA?

The rest of the questions were very specific to my application/resume/background/essays.
Sometime in between, Sheldon talked for a while about the Rotman Study Abroad Program, Integrative Thinking curriculum and Rankings. In the end he let me ask him a few questions and then we wrapped things up. He said that I should expect to hear back from them in the third week of November.

Good luck to all applying. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Cheers,
macjas


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Good initiative guys for starting the thread 😃

hope most of the conversations will continue here ...
I am a current student at Rotman so shoot your questions towards me if you want to know anything ..

Regards,
Sj
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We need more life on this thread! Rotman applicants/admits - arise!!

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Hey Guys,


I have also applied for Rotman 2013 intake this year. I submitted the application around 7th Oct however didn't get a completed application email until 15th Oct. Seems like Rotman have a busy application season at the moment. Have not yet received an interview call, but they have informed me that they require about 4 weeks at the minimum to get back.
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So here goes the list once again-@tech3 @dtpmba @c.samal @bomerang @sandyvarman @ajayawanti
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hey, puys,
here are some resources you can use to get an idea of the basics in finance and economics - http://www.khanacademy.org/finance-economics/core-finance

Another interesting link I found was the MBA Gym from Financial Times- http://mbagym.ft.com/

Happy reading!

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@Go_for_it said:
Hey Guys,I have also applied for Rotman 2013 intake this year. I submitted the application around 7th Oct however didn't get a completed application email until 15th Oct. Seems like Rotman have a busy application season at the moment. Have not yet received an interview call, but they have informed me that they require about 4 weeks at the minimum to get back.
Even I submitted app on 07-Oct, but haven't got anything back apart from application complete e-mail...waiting dearly for the IV call..
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I have my interview scheduled over skype on 15th November. Any specific tips guys wanna give here? 😃

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@rahulg83

@rahulg83 said:
I have my interview scheduled over skype on 15th November. Any specific tips guys wanna give here?
Good going! I had been doing some research about questions to expect and found the following:

1) Walk me through your experience
2) Tell me an experience where you interacted with a client.
3) Why MBA
4) Why Rotman
5) Why Canada
6) What are, according to you, key leadership traits ?
7) Tell me an experience where you worked in a team
8) How do you define success after Rotman
9) Are you collaborative in nature or individualistic ?
10) what are your hobbies ?
11) Questions for me ?

Of course people who have recently had interviews may be able to add more. I also wonder if wearing formals for a skype interview is recommended? I had seen someone recommend this for the video essay question. Any comments on that from any one would be welcome...

All the best for the interview!

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@Go_for_it the questions you listed out are pretty much what you'd encounter in the Rotman interview. A couple more from my interview:
1) Tell me about the single toughest decision you had to make. (could be personal or professional)
2) Given that Rotman is a very strong school in Finance, how do you perceive the strength of the other specializations on offer (here's where you show your research. I had read a report on the Top 200 schools worldwide that sort of showed Rotman making progress in other fields as well)

Do dress formal for the Skype interview. Like the website says, an MBA interview is like any other job interview. Top hats aren't mandatory though. :P
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@Go_for_it @sandyvarman Thanks guys for sharing this. Will certainly help me prepare better.
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Hi. I was interviewed yesterday. Was wondering if anyone has received an admit email so far. Hi Macjas what did Sheldon tell you about the next steps. When do you expect a reply.

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how much time rotman guys take to revert once the app is submitted ?


Thanks

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i submitted on the 9th of October. Got the application complete email on the 15th. Interview call came on 2nd Nov.

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Hi guys,

Thanks for creating this forum rahulg83 - high time got something for rotman class of 2015.

I have applied in round 1 of their admissions cycle. Just received an email from Niki Da Silva, Director of Recruitment and Admissions. They have scheduled an interview for 29th November - it says the same that it will be behavioural in nature and will help them get a deeper understanding of my experiences.

I have read interview invites coming from Sheldon Dookeran. Anyone received an invite from Niki? Moreover, do these interviews mean that you have already been shortlisted and closer to the approval cycle or are the adcom decisions highly motivated by these interviews? I have an interview scheduled for 45 mins - guess that should be the average for most of us.

My background:

GMAT 640
Bachelor of Science in Business
Work Experience: 8 years+ till date (Banking)

Worked all my life in Dubai
Decent extra-curriculars

Will be glad to receive whatever help I can.

Cheers!

DS

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The interview is a make or break for Rotman. Though I have read on many forums that interviews are just a formality but I tend to disagree keeping in mind the through breadth of questions they cover and I have seen some high GMAT students being rejected after the interview.

Maybe Sheldon is going on leave or is unavailable. I heard that Sheldon mainly handles India, PK and middle east so incase he is tied up, perhaps Niki has taken over.

You are indeed one step closer to the selection. Only shortlisted candidates are approached for the interview and the interview questions and time though seem standard but the interviewer does grill on your achievements etc making your interview unique compared to others.

The best strategy is to atleast be prepared for questions like Why MBA now? Why Rotman? Achievements. Work profile. future aspirations. etc.

Since you have gotten the interview call then I believe your GMAT will no longer matter. Its upto you and giving it your best shot will surely get you through. Best of Luck. PM me incase you need any help.

Regards.

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I am also surprised that Sheldon has disappeared suddenly :)


I was writing him and he was not responding to my mails. I got in touch with the admissions office yesterday and again i was told that my app will be taken care by Niki

The interviews of rotman used to be too simple till last year, but this year they have started focussing more on behavioral questions including the video essay

my research says that rotman interview takes u a step closer to Admit and i believe their foremost criterion is GMAT unlike other school such as Queens and Ivey that give considerable weightage to experience

Thanks
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Hi,

Anyone here been through the video essay experience. When I had applied, i did not have that option perhaps it wasnt available then.