Rotterdam MBA Interviews
As a general approach to selecting a candidate for the program, a multi-factor model is used. These factors include academic track record, GMAT/GRE scores, quality of work experience, performance in the interview, and writing ability test. A composite total score will be calculated for each applicant using the multi-factor model. A merit list is prepared based on the composite total score. The offer of admission will be made to a certain percentage of applicants on the merit list. The number of offers made will depend on the availability of seats. The number of offers will be further subject to the candidate meeting a minimum cutoff in terms of the composite score and/or for any other factor score that the admissions committee may decide on
Who will interview you, and how long will the interview last?
Like most B-schools, the Rotterdam interview is taken by a Panel. The Panel usually consists of 2-3 professors. The interview typically lasts for 25-30 minutes or may extend to 35-40 minutes in some instances.
Will the interviewer have read my application?
It is always safer to assume that the Panel members have access to your complete application. In most instances, they would have read it completely. Unless the school specifically says that it will be an blind interview. Mostly North American Business schools in US and Canada have an Blind interviews, European and SE Asian schools conduct interviews via Alums or panels which have full access to your entire application.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Like most MBA Interviews, your interview will mainly revolve around a pretty similar set of MBA interview questions. You can never predict what questions will be asked, but with enough research, you can predict what are the most commonly asked questions in these interviews. We have created a short FAQ list below to get you a jump start, and we also have a free guide linked below to help you prepare for these commonly asked interview questions.
Rotterdam MBA Frequently Asked Interview Questions
- Tell me something about yourself?
- Walk me through your resume?
- Why MBA? Why Rotterdam school?
- Why MBA now or Why MBA at this stage of your career?
- What is your short & long term goals?
- What is your Plan B if consulting/Investment banking does not happen?
- What are your key strengths? Can you give some examples please?
- What is your biggest weakness ? Can you give some examples please?
- How can you add value to the Class?
- Why should we take you?
- One reason that we should not select you?
- Interests and Hobbies – Be prepared!.. questions as basic as “Why do you do poetry (or any other activity” may be asked.
- Some Situational & Behavioral Question
- What would you describe are your greatest achievement to date?
- Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?
- Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectation. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?
- Case questions are fairly common in MBA interview especially for consulting aspirants. Below are a few sample for to practice for:
- How many Golf balls can fit in a Boeing 747?
- What’s the global market size for smartphones?
- Do you have any Question for us?
Received an Interview Invite?
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Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 1
- If I say, that you are taking this interview for RSM, then what is that one key thing you would be looking in the applicant? What are your interests and activities outside of work?
- The adcom said that she is going to ask a difficult question and asked me to take time to answer this. What do you think is the weakest part of your application? I guess this is not similar to a generic weakness question but weakness from the application perspective.
- What is that one thing you are very passionate about at this point in your life?
- What are the things that really daunt you when you think of coming to RSM?
- Do you have any question for us?
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 3
- I have read your essays. I want to know why you chose this year to apply for MBA? Do you think it is a perfect time for MBA for you?
- I see that you have served in one of the companies for just 4 months? Why you left it so early? Do you think you could have waited for some more time there?
- Tell me something about the NGO you are associated with and your responsibilities there?
- How your friends describe you in 3 words?
- What kind of leadership skills you want to improve upon in RSM?
- In one of your essays, you have mentioned about a very harrowing event of your life? What is the biggest learning you took from it? Could that event happen again in your life?
- Why you chose this career in Information Technology? What drives you about your job?
- Do you think you are a leader? Why you think that? What kind of leader are you?
- Any question for me?
So, my Rotterdam interview experience was pretty good.
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 4
Let me share my experience for the entire application process for RSM. I first thought of exploring international MBA courses and RSM just happened to get my attention owing to the amazing (Jan-Dec) window. Also the application requirements were not very scary (as other top 15!!) and hence felt like this college could always be approached. Also with access to some of the big names in Holland and with such a good ratio of students getting international offers, this was always on my target. But then things changed workwise and with a 650 GMAT I was a little demotivated to apply. Coming back to 2016, this January I had made a temporary list as to which colleges I would be targeting and the obvious choice was RSM. Considering I was trying to starting my application in January, I also felt a little confident about it. My plan was to take time till March, try to establish some contact with the admissions office, alumni and get a good idea and then apply.
But then I met some friends who had studied at RSM and looking at my profile (6+ years work exp) encouraged me to start applications right away. The advice given was that lot of Indian students apply early in the first round. Taking that advise, I completed my CV assessment with the admissions team and after getting a positive response from them I started my application in the middle of January. I had also registered for a Pre-MBA event in Mumbai, which was an one -on-one discussion with the admissions director.
Since the admissions director was to come to India in the second week of February, I was thinking if I could complete my application well in time before the visit, there could be a chance of getting an interview call F2F, which I would have preferred any time over the Skype thingy!
So I rushed and I could complete my application by the first week of February. As a note here, would like to suggest the following points with the entire application process
(The pre-MBA consultation discussion was hence converted into an admission interview!!)
1) With my experience during the interview, I felt the CV was the most important part. The more clearer the CV, the more easier it is for them to understand what you are into now and what could possibly be in store for you post RSM.
2) Essays are very interesting and important – There is one essay which focuses on socio-economic impact of the place that you live/work on your professional life which really got me thinking. The essays also become a very important part of the interview since the questions are always built on what you have tried to convey. There is also an essay covering the post MBA aspirations and one note here would be to focus on what roles/profile would like to get into and would be better if you can already research some companies, speak to alum and find out which profiles are offered.
3) Admissions Interview – The interview was the best part of the application. Definitely no stress here, the entire discussion was very engaging and there were some really interesting questions that were brought up. I would say, for me the interview was built on the responses that i managed to give on the basic questions like why MBA, why now MBA etc which was very interesting. Be prepared for some questions on what you would like to focus during the study at RSM. (A good study of the website is highly recommended!). There were also questions on personal experiences and your contribution to the class which were again very interesting to discuss with the adcom director.
4) LinkedIN – Use this to the maximum extent possible. The RSM alumni community is just amazing. I was able to connect to more than 10 alum online and their feedback was invaluable to my entire application process.
As a bottom line, I would say the response from RSM is just super fast and feel free to reach out to them for any query and am sure you would get it answered lightning fast. I started my application in the first week and had an offer from RSM by the third week. This should indeed speak highly of the adcom staff at RSM.
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 5
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 6
Skype Interview date: May 25, 2021; decision on admission: granted
The interview lasted around 35 minutes, with additional time allotted for follow-up questions. The tone of the interview ranged from casual to formal, depending on the nature of the topics being asked. The following subjects, among others, were touched on during the conversation:
Please present yourself.
Why an MBA in this day and age
Why Rotterdam
Confrontations of a difficult nature
Outside of the office, leadership is essential.
encounters gained through travel
Modes of leadership applicable to the resolving of conflicts
Keeping oneself motivated while working.
teammates not living up to expectations
Post-MBA objectives
Plan B
The questions were asked in a seamless fashion, flowing easily from one to the next.
In the end, I received responses to all of my inquiries, which took approximately fifteen minutes.
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 7
Skype The interview took place on March 2nd, 2020. The Ultimate Choice: Admitted
“I have just ended my interview with the head of the advertising committee, Ms. Carrie Fok. It was more like a discussion than a formal setting. I’ll just run through a few questions that come to me right now:
1. Why MBA? Why do you use RSM? Why right now?
2. Please explain your present responsibilities.
3. Your areas of strength and weakness, as well as the lessons you’ve taken away from each of these areas
4. Management of conflicts and failures, with an emphasis on learning the relevant mechanisms
5. What are some things about other cultures that you’ve picked up via your interactions with them?
In order to get ready, I recommend that you look over your curriculum vitae, essays, and list of strengths and flaws.
I really hope this information is useful.
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 8
Away from the Campus with Advisory committee. The interview took place on July 17th, 2020. The Ultimate Choice: Admitted
We began the interview with some light conversation. Vasilis has been conducting interviews with students for a significant amount of time, and he is aware of how to keep them interested. The interview lasted for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Here are the questions:
1. Give me some more background information on yourself and take me through your résumé.
2. Why have there been so many gaps in your job history?
3. Why an MBA right now? Give at least four arguments.
4. Post-MBA goals.
5. Target companies.
6. What are some of the things that your teammates think are your weaknesses?
7. If you are enrolled in the MBA program at RSM, and you find yourself in a disagreement with one of your classmates, who come from a variety of different walks of life, how do you intend to settle the dispute?
8. If your friends had to define you in three words, what would they say?
9. In all of your years of professional experience, was there ever a time when you were unsuccessful? What did you take away from that experience?
10. If you had the opportunity to participate in the development of a project, would you choose to take the role of leader or follower?
11. If you get picked for both the IE and the RSM, what will be the deciding factor for you between the two? (In the application, I had made reference to IE.)
12. Upon completion of the MBA program at RSM, what is the single most important skill or trait you hope to acquire and are anticipating that you will develop?
13. Do you have any previous employment experience in other countries? Have you ever gone to a country other than India?
14. Imagine that you have been chosen and that you are currently on the flight that is departing for Amsterdam. There is the stress of traveling to a new nation, as well as a great deal of emotional work to be done. How do you plan to handle this situation?
15. A few inquiries concerning the essay I just submitted.
And I finished off the interview with a few questions of my own.
His questions were quite specific and deceptively simple. For instance, he did not ask me which school I would choose if I had the opportunity to choose between RSM and IE; rather, he inquired as to the factors that would influence my decision. That was quite astute of you.
I was taken aback when you also asked me about the difficulties I was experiencing emotionally. The interview was quite fascinating to listen to. For IE, I was interviewed by an alumnus, so it seemed like a stroll in the park; nevertheless, this one was rather risky due to the fact that Vasilis is not only an RSM alumnus but also the admissions and marketing director at RSM. He is aware of the kinds of queries that can cause the students to hesitate.
If you want to ace an interview with RSM, my suggestion is as follows:
1. Perform a careful read-through of all of your application materials, paying particular attention to your work experience and writing. They delve deeper into it.
2. Visit the company’s website. It is made of 100% gold. It is impressive to see that you have more depth of knowledge than meets the eye.
3. Be prepared to answer inquiries that you have not foreseen. Because if you do not, it can collapse your confidence.
I really hope this information is useful.
Rotterdam MBA Interview Questions – 9
