York Schulich BBA: Supplementary Application | Leadership Profile & Interview Questions Examples 2023/2024

If you are looking for guidance on the York Schulich BBA (and iBBA) Supplementary Application, as well as Leadership Profile and Timed Video and Written Questions examples and templates, then you’ve come to the right place. 

This Application Prep guide is fully updated with the 2023/2024 application (i.e. for applicants planning on starting the program in Fall 2024).

IMPORTANT: The 2023 York Schulich Supp App will be released on November 21, 2023 (i.e. it has not been released at the time this guide was published). However, the supp app format has stayed the same for the last few years.

Once this year’s supp app has been released, we will immediately add any changes if there are any, so please check back frequently (and connect with a coach if you have any questions in the meantime).

Before you dive in, it’s important to understand that the admissions committee receives thousands of applications every year. To help you stand out from the crowd, you need to demonstrate a clear sense of self, strong life experience, and exemplary communication and leadership skills.

Our ‘full student’ coaching process does exactly that. If you’re not working with a coach, be sure to read the Self-Awareness, Goal-Setting, and Narrative Communication Skills Guides.

The Narrative Communication Approach™ is a particularly useful storytelling framework for personal-focused questions. It helps you tell a clear and concise story, while creating an emotional connection with the reader. All York Schulich Supplementary Application examples and templates use this approach.

We use essay templates to show you a suggested answer structure with the five Narrative Communication components. Using this structure does not mean your essays will be the same as other students. That’s like saying using the 3 Act Structure makes every play, movie, and novel the same. The content of that story makes it unique.

We’ve also created a comprehensive Interview Skills Guide that covers every step of the interview process so you can ace any question that comes your way.

REMEMBER: While we will primarily focus on the York Schulich BBA program in this guide, the applications for the BBA and iBBA programs are the SAME, so you can use these templates/examples for both programs. Remember that you can only apply to ONE program, so make sure you choose the one that’s right for you. Learn about the differences between these programs and which one might be better for you here.

If you’re serious about getting into York Schulich BBA and reaching your fullest post-secondary potential, connect with a coach. It’s never too early to receive coaching.

For more information about York Schulich, check out our York Schulich BBA Program Guide we created to help students just like you. 

Table of Contents:

1. Timed Video and Written Question: Breakdown; Tips for Preparing; Possible Questions; Question Themes; and More.
2. Leadership Profile: Breakdown; Activity Selection; Templates; Examples; Tips for Writing; and More.  

2022-2023 York Schulich Supplementary Application

Schulich Supplementary Application – Overview

The York Schulich BBA Supplementary Application is made up of the following parts:

1. Timed Video/Written Questions: 4 randomly generated video questions and 1 randomly generated timed written question. Keep reading for tips, possible questions, and more.
2. Leadership Profile: A ‘resume’ that lists up to 5 activities you participated in throughout high school. You must describe the activity/role and discuss your learning outcome (<1,000 characters with spaces). Keep reading for tips and examples.

The York Schulich BBA Supplementary Application is due on February 2, 2023. You will not be able to access the Supp App until November 21, 2022 or after.

Once you apply on OUAC, you will receive an email with the link to access your Supplementary Application.

REMEMBER: The entire York Schulich BBA Supplementary Application is submitted through an external video interview platform. After you apply on OUAC, you’ll get an email invitation (after November 21, 2022) to complete your Leadership Profile and Timed Video/Written Questions. For a full breakdown of this process, check out our York Schulich BBA Program Guide.

When deciding who to let into the program, app reviews consider two things: academic performance (i.e. grades) and your Supplementary Application.

This means that your Supplementary Application can be the difference maker between acceptance and rejection into the program, so you want to make sure you make it as unique, memorable, and authentic as possible (keep reading to learn how!).

Use the Supplementary Application to show who you are beyond your grades, while showcasing your experiences, interests, and leadership potential and ways that you’d be a great fit for the program.

COACH’S TIP: Complete you Leadership Profile template and prepare for the Timed Video and Written Questions BEFORE you sign in to the external video interview platform using the link in your email invitation. This will make the process way less stressful.

Keep reading for possible questions and tips to prepare the York Schulich BBA Timed Video and Written Questions, as well as Leadership Profile examples and templates. 

York Schulich Interview Questions 

Schulich Interview Questions – Breakdown

Schulich is looking for students who are articulate, passionate, and dedicated. They learned a bit about this from you on the Leadership Profile, but now they can get even more insight into who you are as a person, what you’ve experienced, and what your interests are. 

This is why they asked you to do The Timed Video and Written Questions may seem stressful, but they are meant to be this way.

Schulich wants to see that you can work well under pressure and that you’re good at problem solving and thinking critically. 

The best thing that you can do for this part of your Supplementary Application is to stay calm and be yourself. 

Feeling prepared can also give you a ton of confidence, which is why we created this guide to give you possible questions, tips to prepare, and more, so you can let your personality and confident self shine! 

Here’s a quick snapshot of what to expect for these questions: 

• You will be given 4 randomly generated video questions and 1 randomly generated timed written question, for a total of 5 questions.
• For each Timed Video Questions, you will get 45 seconds to think about your answer, followed by 90 seconds to answer the question.
• For the Timed Written Question, you will get 5 minutes to prepare and write your answer. 
• This part of your Supplementary Application will take about 20-30 minutes total to complete. 

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Schulich Interview Questions – Possible Questions

Here are some examples of the types of questions you can expect for your Timed Video and Written Questions. For more, access our template or become a Youthfully student.

• Imagine you are working in a group setting and your team is unable to agree on an important decision. What do you do?
• Please tell me a time when you had a short amount of time to prepare for a very important presentation. What did you do in this situation, and what was the outcome?
• Imagine that you notice someone was behaving unethically. What would you do in this situation?
• Would you rather be well liked or well respected?

You’ll notice that most of these questions are personal, meaning they ask you about what you would do in a certain situation, what you value, and the experiences you have had working on your own and with others. 

These questions are meant to gauge how you react to situations and how you apply key skills like leadership, problem solving, organization, and time management, in all areas of your life. 

COACH’S TIP: Don’t waste your valuable time coming up with different answers to every single practice question. To help make your interview prep process easier, we’ve analyzed hundreds of personal questions from programs like York Schulich, and we’ve identified 10 common themes that personal questions fall into. We’ve broken each theme down, and provided templates and examples of each type so you’ll be prepared to answer any question that comes your way. Check out the themes and much more in our Interview Skills Guide.

The admissions committee also wants to see that you have self-awareness. This means that they want to make sure you know what your skills are (and what you need to improve on), what you value, and how you plan to make a difference in the world.

You’re probably thinking, “Uh, yea.. of course I know what I’m good at and what I care about.” 

This might surprise you, but very few students actually focus on self-awareness. You might think you have it all figured out, but it’s probably more surface-level than you think. 

That’s why we have a whole phase in our coaching methodology (the Discovery phase) where we use a Student Identity Blueprint™ to help you figure out who you are and what makes you tick. Then, when questions like York Schulich’s questions come up in applications, job interviews, networking events, etc., then you know EXACTLY how to respond. 

If you haven’t already, connect with a coach to get started on your Student Identity Blueprint™.

Schulich Interview Questions – Examples 

When preparing for this section of the York Schulich Supplementary Application, confidence is key. 

How do you get confident? Practice, practice, practice! 

Open up your camera and choose a few questions from the section above. Record yourself and practice answering the questions as best you can. Trust us, after a little while you’ll get better and then you’ll have the confidence to crush the video/written questions. You can also work 1-on-1 with your coach and do mock interviews (if you haven’t already, connect with a coach)!

To help get you started, one of our Youth Coaches have recorded some answers to common interview questions, so you can see what a standout answer looks like.

Example 1: “Describe an issue that has affected your community. Explain why it’s important.”

Example 2: “What makes you a good leader?”

Example 3: “What would you do with 1 million dollars?”

For more interview prep question examples, subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our Interview Prep Guide.

Ace your Leadership Profile & interview.

get a youth coach™

Alex

Schulich Expert
Youth Coach™

Schulich Interview Questions – Themes 

Even though you might not know exactly what questions you’re going to be asked, it will help to think generally about a few themes and ideas that you can use across various types of questions. 

Then, as you’re doing the video/written questions, you can draw on these ideas and your Student Identity Blueprint™ to easily come up with an answer. 

Here are some themes that Schulich wants applicants to focus on in their answers:

LEADERSHIP

It is very likely that there may be a question around leadership. To prepare for this, make sure you know a few examples of how you have shown leadership in the past. It is important to not just explain the leadership role you had, but discuss how you demonstrated that leadership and how it impacted you going forward. For example, don’t simple say that you were the President of your school’s club, but discuss how you were a leader and the positive results that came out of this role for you and for others.

COMMUNITY

Every year since Schulich started the video interview, there has been a question about community. They want students who are actively involved in the community, not just because it shows commitment, selflessness, and passion, but also because it highlights time management. Make sure you have 1 or 2 examples of how you have been involved in your community. As much as possible, quantify the impact you had. 

CONFLICT

There is often a question about how you have dealt with conflict. This is mainly around how you have dealt with conflict in a team setting or a potential inflammatory situation. Remember to not just focus on the problem, but more so on the resolution or lessons learned. 

TEAM WORK

In addition to conflict in team settings, usually there is a question about how you have worked effectively with a team. Like in the leadership example, focus on actual examples and outcomes and make sure you clearly define how you succeed in the team, and not just the team’s success.

TIME MANAGEMENT

There are questions that are really just structured around seeing how you handle pressure and manage your time. Be sure to really explain why the example you are giving is a good example of how you can manage your time and operate under stressful situations. 

ACHIEVEMENT

This is an opportunity for you to discuss something you have achieved or a goal you have accomplished. For this, try to think of something that is differentiated and you can really explain how you achieved it, and why that achievement will help you at Schulich.

BUSINESS

Perhaps most importantly, you need to know why you want to study business, and how it will lead to a future career. Don’t just say that you want to do it because your parents do, but instead focus on personal goals and values you have like being an Innovator (refer to the Nurtured Values section in your Blueprint here). Be specific and think ambitiously.

SCHULICH

Similarly, you need to be able to concisely communicate why you want to pursue Schulich. What makes Schulich special and aligned with what you’re looking for in a school? Make sure to do lots of research and use it in your answer. The more depth to your research, the more differentiated your answer will be. Read our Schulich Program Guide for more info about the program, faculty, courses, specializations, and more so you can be ready to incorporate these points into your answers.

If you want to learn how you can align these themes to your unique interests and experiences, connect with a coach now.

Schulich Interview Questions – Tips 

Many students ask us for tips for writing the Schulich BBA Supplementary Application.

Here are the ones we think will help you the most for the Timed Video/Written Questions:

1. Make sure you always answer the entire question: It seems silly, but it is common to get off track and later realize you didn’t answer the question.
2. Take your time and don’t rush: Take a breath and pause between your sentences to allow the reviewer time to process what you said. 
3. Focus on quality answers: Remember that every answer you give should tell the interviewer something about you that boosts your application, even if the question isn’t about you. Highlight your skills and experiences, show that you have thought about goals, etc.
4. Be concise: Do not talk in circles or talk for the sake of talking. It is better to have a short, concise answer than a convoluted answer that is redundant and possibly unfocused. 

For other tips and strategies to help you prepare and perform your interview, check out our Interview Skills Guide.

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York Schulich Supplementary Application – Leadership Profile 

Schulich Leadership Profile – Breakdown

Think of your Leadership Profile as the first time you meet the admissions committee — and we know you want to make a good impression!

When writing the Leadership Profile, you need to choose activities that will give you the opportunity to show off skills like leadership, project management, organization, problem solving, and more in the Learning Outcomes section.

Choose up to 5 activities that have made a huge impact on your life. We’re talking about those ‘eureka’ moments, where your life completely changed. 

You also want to choose activities that will show the depth and breadth of your experiences. We call this the T Model (learn more about it here).

Here, where you have 1-2 big activities that you’ve put a lot of time and effort into (this is the depth, or the vertical part of the ‘T’). For example, this could be a non-profit you started, a fundraising event you organized to address homelessness in your community, or a TEDx talk on an issue you’re passionate about. These are the BIG accomplishments that you’re super proud of. These should be the first ones in your Leadership Profile, so you can wow the committee from the beginning. 🙂 

Next, you’ll have 2-3 activities that take less time and effort, but are still super important for helping shape who you are (this is the breadth, or the horizontal part of the ‘T’). For example, these could be an online course you took that ignited your interest in finance management or a summer internship you did that helped you develop your communication and leadership skills. 

Structuring your activities in this way will show the committee that you have well-rounded experience in many areas as well as dedication and commitment.  

We know that identifying (and participating in) activities like this can be difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Our unique approach will help you and your coach identify and execute audacious and authentic goals (we call these AYA goals) that are perfectly aligned with your interests and passions. Connect with a coach to get started and check out our Goal-Setting Guide now.

COACH’S TIP: Schulich receives thousands of applications per year, so creating a unique Supp App can be tough. We recommend choosing activities that demonstrate your initiative, teamwork, commitment, and achievement. If you are having trouble, connect with a coach and they will help you out. 

Schulich Leadership Profile – Template

On your Leadership Profile, you will be asked for the following for each activity:

• Activity Title
  • State the organization/company name and your title. 
• Your Role
  • Give a brief description of what you did for this activity and what your responsibilities were. Keep it short.
• Learning Outcomes (<1,000 characters)
  • Discuss what you learned as a result of taking part in this activity. Keep reading below for a complete breakdown and template/examples for this component. 
• Referee Contact Information
  • List your reference’s name, role, email, and telephone number.

For the Learning Outcomes section you must describe the activity, what you learned, and how it shaped you as a leader, and how you will use this learning moving forward — all in 1,000 characters or less (including spaces)! 

COACH’S TIP: In the Learning Outcomes section, you should provide a deeper insight and discuss why this learning is important and how it can be applied to your life today (and in the future).

Our template uses the Narrative Communication Approach™, which uses storytelling to create an emotional and memorable connection with the reader, to draw deep insight and learning, while showcasing the impact your activity has had on you and the skills you developed while participating in it.

Your Learning Outcomes section of the Leadership Profile should have these four components: 

• Context & Catalyst (~300 characters)
  • Without duplicating the “activity title” and “your role”, briefly explain your journey in this activity including any specific leadership responsibilities / number of people you may have led, time commitment, who you worked with, any challenges overcome, etc. 
• Outcome (~150 characters)
  • In a very concise manner, quickly explain any quantifiable outcomes, particularly positive ones that you can attribute to you or your leadership skills.
• Reflection (~550 characters)
  • Talk about 2-3 learning outcomes that you gained from this experience. Think outside the box here and don’t talk about basic learning. Try to think of something new that the reader wouldn’t expect, and then go into detail about what those lessons are. Finish each learning off with 1-2 sentences explaining how these lessons will help you succeed at Schulich.

COACH’S TIP: Don’t worry about writing complete sentences at first. Just write 2-3 bullet points under each section, just to get your ideas down. You can edit and perfect your answers later.

Schulich Leadership Profile – Example

REMEMBER: All the examples in this guide are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy. Why? First and foremost, this is plagiarism and is a serious offense. Plagiarizing these essays will result in immediate disqualification from the admissions process. This can be easily detected using technology and application reviewers are usually trained and/or able to spot when an application isn’t original and does not align with an applicant’s background, personality, values, etc.

Example 1: Economics Club President

Example 2: School Captain

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You’ve Got a Dedicated Coach in Your Corner

For over a decade, we have worked with thousands of students to help them achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Our coaches have a strong success rate supporting students as they apply to York Schulich, among other top university programs.

Our 1-on-1 Youth Coaching fills that gap that most high schools miss. We can help you build self-awareness through probing questions and assessments, set bigger goals to elevate your extracurriculars and future career plans, and improve skills that matter on supplementary applications, such as interviewing, written communication, critical thinking, and creativity.

We use a coaching methodology, called ‘full student’ development, that’s been proven to increase your chances of admission to top-tier universities and obtaining competitive jobs/internships.

So, what are you waiting for? Fulfill your post-secondary potential with the mentorship and coaching you’ve always wanted! 🙂

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