Tips for the 2024/2025 Queen's Commerce Admissions Essay/Video including last years questions
Queen's Commerce Supplementary Application was completely changed last year (2023/2024) and this year will have the same format which includes two components:
Prepare a google document mapping specific examples of your personal life experiences to each individual rubric requirement
For example, the written response rubric states:
Write out 1-3 stories/specific examples in your life where you took exceptional initiative, going above and beyond when tackling an obstacle. First, reflect on what YOU BELIEVE "taking exceptional initiative" means, reflect on all of the challenges/obstacles you have encountered in your personal, academic, or extra-curricular life experiences, and specifically reflect on instances where YOU made an impact by taking initiative.
Practice writing 300 word written responses in 10 minutes. This can be challenging in itself... and with the added nerves/curve ball essay questions it can be even tougher. Based off of the rubric, write out a set of practice questions and practice writing your response in 10 minutes.
Practice answering video response questions in 2 minutes - record yourself, prep with a family member or friend, and get comfortable with the amount of time you have to speak in two minutes
Print off the rubric or other prep resources, and have them next to you during your written response - this will ensure you are nailing the rubric elements.
You can complete your written response, log out of the Kira Talent portal, and then complete the video response at a late date... just ensure you complete BOTH in advance of the February deadline.
Practice Practice Practice! Below are three of the REAL questions students last year received for the written and video responses. I have also attached last year's rubrics below. Follow tips 1-4 above, practice, breathe, and believe in yourself
-Name a significant challenge you have faced. How did you overcome it and what did you learn?
-Describe a time when you let down yourself or someone else. What did you do to handle the situation? and what did you learn?
-Describe a time when you were doing a task and someone pointed out a personal weakness of yours. How did you overcome it?
-Imagine a situation where you are working in a team environment, and you notice a member’s input is being disregarded because of cultural differences. What would your steps be? And how would you work towards your team’s objective?
-Imagine you are working within a team of diverse backgrounds, how do you ensure that you establish an inclusive community and get the most out of your team members towards achieving your team objective?
-Imagine you’re in a diverse team, and one of the members approaches you to tell you that they felt offended by something you said, due to their background. How would you respond?
