Toronto / Rotman MBA Recommendation Questions

The Toronto University Rotman School of Management MBA application requires two professional recommendations, preferably current and/or previous supervisors. Self-employed applicants or those employed with a family business should avoid obtaining endorsements from subordinates and seek out professional peers instead. The Rotman MBA recommendation consists of a series of short answer questions and the opportunity to provide a long-form overall recommendation. The MBA recommendation questions for the current admissions season are available below.
2024-2025 Rotman MBA Recommendation Questions
Recommender information, relationship to the applicant
How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
List three to five attributes or characteristics that best describe the candidate (single words only, no sentences please).
Of the qualities listed above, in which areas has the applicant distinguished himself/herself most?
What would you consider the applicant’s primary area for improvement or growth?
How would you rate the applicant’s potential for becoming a successful business leader?
MBA Applywire
I am originally from the UK (now a permanent resident) and went to community college (3.6 gpa), then transferred to a top 25 undergrad and severe health issues due to a disability causing me to get a 3.1 gpa. I then stayed there and did a master’s in finance with a 3.8 gpa. I am very passionate about giving back, especially about the homelessness epidemic. Before college I spent a year in Switzerland volunteering at homeless shelters. During college I led a campus ministry with a focus on helping the unhoused. After my experience with my disability, I started a nonprofit that has consulted with several shelters and foodbanks to help those with similar health issues as myself. I also personally raised capital to purchase and preserve an affordable multifamily property. My career has been in real estate since I graduated, but I have job hopped. My first job was 5 months, then I moved to be closer to family. My next job was for 7 months, but I quit as they were taking actions to make housing unaffordable for first time buyers. My next job was in acquisitions but I was laid off with about half the company due to the rising interest rates that affected the industry. I have been at an impact real estate private equity firm for almost 2 years in an acquisitions, development, and asset management role with a promotion. All my roles have been for REITs or PE firms. My post-mba goal is banking to better learn capital markets and long term to start an affordable real estate investment firm, perhaps in London. I would love to be a wire tap candidate, fingers crossed.
Applying for deferred programs at the mentioned schools. African woman studying Comp Sci and Math. GMAT Focus 98 %tile. Substantial community involvement and some experience at big tech working as a SWE. Thinking of consulting or product management post MBA.
Took the GMAT twice - with significant percentile increases for DI (77th to 86th) and Quant (50th to 66th) and a small dip in Verbal from (99th to 96th) same overall score of 645. Wondering whether to retake again.
Female, UK citizen.
Many extracirricular leadership roles.
MBA LiveWire
Scholarship ($91,524 -- covers full tuition and fees)
Trying to go into sports finance. Consortium applicant, interviewed 03/07
Joint mba/MEng in EECS. Did not receive scholarship update yet. Applies to Maxwell and the MBA grant
Went to visit the campus during my waitlist period and a current student wrote me a letter of support but it was not enough to get off the waitlist. I will try to apply again next year.