UPDATE: This article was originally posted on February 5, 2020. It has been updated with 2024/25 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.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Rotman admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your Rotman interview your best shot.
How the Rotman Interview works
Making sure you shine during your Rotman interview is no easy task.
Rotman interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and based on your whole application.
During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are and how interested you seem in the Rotman program.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Rotman in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of Rotman’s admissions committee.
Rotman prefers conducting in-person interviews whenever possible, but they will continue doing virtual admission interviews if they are unable to meet our international applicants in person.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
Yes. The interviewer will have read your entire application. Past reports indicate that interviewers develop specific questions based on your application, so make sure to take the time to review what you presented.
How long will the Rotman interview last?
30 minutes
Who is Rotman looking for?
Source: Rotman’s website
“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.” Rotman Admissions
This year, Rotman’s admissions team selected 284 students for the honor of joining their prestigious MBA program. With a focus on academic and career excellence as well as on diversity, Rotman admits to the Class of 2025 had an average of 5 years of work experience and GMAT scores of 673 (slightly down from 674 last year).
Nonetheless, Rotman looks beyond demonstrated brain power and seeks to compose a diverse class of leaders from around the world.
Trends in recent Rotman MBA interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Rotman highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Behavioral and Situational Questions: There is a noticeable trend toward behavioral questions that test candidates’ problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Examples include dealing with team conflicts, making difficult decisions under pressure, and navigating ethical dilemmas.
Focus on Values and Motivation: Rotman interviewers increasingly emphasize understanding the candidate’s values, motivations, and long-term aspirations, which helps gauge their fit within the Rotman community.
Adaptability to Challenges: Given the evolving business landscape, there is a growing interest in how candidates adapt to unexpected changes or setbacks. Expect questions that explore resilience and flexibility in the face of adversity.
How can you prepare for your Rotman interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Rotman interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Rotman interviews.
What questions are asked in the Rotman MBA interview?
The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your Rotman interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview.
STARTING UP QUESTIONS
- Tell me about yourself. (Expect follow-up questions)
- What are the highlights of your CV?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
- Why did you quit your previous job?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Rotman?
- What will you bring to Rotman?
- What excites you the most about Rotman?
- Why are you interested in a Canadian MBA program?
- What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Tell me about a time you had to handle a conflict.
- Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation.
- Tell me about a time you faced a challenge as a team. How did you handle it?
- What is your leadership style? Can you give me an example?
- What do you think are the three most important qualities a leader must possess? Why?
- Tell me about a time when you fostered diversity, equity, and inclusion in your team.
- Imagine you are leading a team that is unable to reach a consensus. How would you handle this situation?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- How would your friends describe you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What motivates you in your work and personal life? Can you share an example of when this motivation helped you achieve a goal?
- Can you share a story about a time when you faced a significant failure or setback? How did you recover, and what did you learn?
- Tell me about a time when you were pushed to your limits at work.
- Tell me about a situation where you had to make a difficult decision under time pressure. How did you handle it?
- Describe a time when you had to pivot quickly due to a sudden change in a project or assignment. What was the situation, and how did you adapt?
- If someone is not performing as you expect, how do you handle the situation?
CLOSING
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? / Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- Questions for me?
We have found that answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading lists of interview questions for most candidates.
We highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from Rotman, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”
The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop for interview success. Click to join!
If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the Rotman interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you haven’t prepared an answer for
Despite your most diligent preparation, you will almost always receive a question you had not prepared.
First, stay calm and take a deep breath. You have already made it this far in the process, and one question will not trip you up!
Second, make sure you directly answer the question the interviewer asked you. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you had to deal with a difficult manager, make sure to tell a story about a difficult manager and how you handled the situation.
If you’re having trouble thinking of an answer or an example to support your answer, however, take a drink of water to give yourself a few more minutes to think. If you really can’t think of an example from your personal or professional experience, you can use a hypothetical answer about how you would act in a certain situation.
Finally, assume that the interviewer is testing how you think on your feet and respond to questions you didn’t prepare in advance. Though your answer might not be as polished as if you’d had weeks to rehearse it, smile and confidently respond to show you can handle any question they throw at you.
Effectively tell your story during your Rotman interview
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics.
Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer.
This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview. That’s why 98.9% of our complete consulting clients get into at least one of their target schools.
Not only can you take advantage of our development process through multiple sessions – you can also benefit from a single session! If your budget is tight, our interview experts can focus your session on a single aspect of the preparation process, from workshopping your answers to providing mock interviews.
Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert. Our interview packages sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
