Niki da Silva on MBA Video Essays

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A new era has dawned in the land of MBA admissions. Fewer essays. Shorter word limits. And mandatory video essays – introduced to the admissions scene by Rotman, Canada’s leading MBA program.

Want to know more about how the video essays came about, how they work, and most importantly – how to ace them?

Listen to the full recording of our very enlightening talk with Niki da Silva, Director of Admissions at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School to find out.

00:01:05 – The background of the video essay and the three types of video questions in the Rotman application.

00:05:59 – What made the trendsetters start the trend?

00:08:20 –What the adcom wants to learn about applicants through the video questions.

00:12:39 – This guy nailed it: Niki’s favorite video essay.

00:14:31 – What not to do when taking your videos.

00:16:23 – Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most beautiful candidate of them all?

00:18:30 – Important advice for candidates: reframe and relax.

00:21:01 – The Rotman approach to MBA education & value system, reflected by the introduction of the video question.

00:23:37 – “Design Thinking.” What exactly is it & how in the world does it apply to finance?

00:29:26 – Tips for applicants to Rotman.