Admission

At Smith School of Business, we’re looking for a combination of strong academic performance and a well-rounded approach to life including demonstration of leadership and teamwork skills.

Admission is a two-stage process consisting of academic records being reviewed first, followed by an assessment of the Supplementary Application. Once the minimum academic requirements are met, the admission decision is based on the assessment of the Supplementary Application.

Who Should Apply

We want to know who you are beyond your marks. Once you qualify academically, it is up to you to show us who you really are and why you want to study business at Smith. We receive approximately 9,000 applications per year for 550 first-year positions and we make offers to those applicants who are able to effectively convey the qualities we are seeking.

We are looking for students who demonstrate clear thinking, an interest in international studies, enthusiasm, ambition, team skills, and a keen interest or some experience in business.

We are seeking students who are:

Well-rounded academically with diverse interests
Bright, enthusiastic, and inclusive
People who make a difference, in class, in their school, or in their community

We are seeking students who have:

Strong leadership skills, combined with the ability to thrive in a team environment
An aptitude for both quantitative and qualitative subjects
A passion to effect positive change

How to Apply

All applications are made online through the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC).

After you submit your application to OUAC, you are required to complete a Supplementary Application. This year’s Supplementary Application is being delivered through a new platform for an improved user experience, with additional functionality to allow applicants to practice and prepare for the submission of their Supplementary Application. Applicants applying to Commerce will be required to complete one written response and one video response.

The Supplementary Application will act as your personal portfolio that will be reviewed by the Commerce admission team, and will factor heavily into all admission decisions.

Start your application

Any Questions?

If you have any questions about the application process, please email admission@queensu.ca or visit Queen's Undergraduate Admissions.

2024-2025 Supplementary Application

As part of their application to Smith Commerce, each applicant will be required to complete a Supplementary Application, consisting of the following two components:

Timed written response
Applicants will have 10 minutes to write and submit their written response
Timed video response
Applicants will have 2 minutes to prepare, followed by 2 minutes to record their video response

Supplementary Application Rubrics

Written Response

Score	Criteria
Poor (1)	Applicant does not take initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate Applicant does not demonstrate problem-solving skills and minimally attempts to work under changing conditions Applicant does not attempt to reflect on their experience The applicant’s response does not answer the questions
Fair (2)	Applicant takes minimal initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate Applicant demonstrates minimal problem-solving skills and attempts to work under changing conditions Applicant minimally attempts to reflect on their experience
Good (3)	Applicant takes some initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate Applicant demonstrates some problem-solving skills, attempts to work effectively under changing conditions, and tries to accept change or new ideas Applicant attempts to reflect on their experience, demonstrating some personal growth and maturity
Great (4)	Applicant takes initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate Applicant demonstrates problem-solving skills, an ability to work effectively under changing conditions, and accepts change or new ideas Applicant is mostly able to reflect meaningfully on their experience, demonstrating a good amount of personal growth and maturity
Exceptional (5)	Applicant takes exceptional initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate Applicant demonstrates outstanding problem-solving skills, an ability to work effectively under changing conditions, and embraces change or new ideas Applicant is able to reflect meaningfully on their experience, demonstrating significant personal growth and maturity

Video Recorded Response

Score	Criteria
Poor (1)	Applicant demonstrates minimal flexibility when working in their team, regardless of their role within the team. Applicant does not navigate team challenges and/or resolve conflicts Applicant does not attempt to reflect on their experience The applicant’s response does not answer the questions
Fair (2)	Applicant demonstrates an attempt to be flexible when working in their team, trying to contribute to team success regardless of their role within the team. Applicant tries to navigate team challenges and/or resolve conflicts Applicant minimally attempts to reflect on their experience
Good (3)	Applicant attempts to embrace flexibility when working in their team, trying to contribute to team success regardless of their role within the team. Applicant shows a reasonable ability to navigate team challenges and/or resolve conflicts Applicant attempts to reflect on their experience, demonstrating some personal growth and maturity
Great (4)	Applicant mostly embraces flexibility when working in their team, contributing to team success regardless of their role within the team. Applicant shows a good ability to navigate team challenges and/or resolve conflicts Applicant is mostly able to reflect meaningfully on their experience, demonstrating a good amount of personal growth and maturity
Exceptional (5)	Applicant embraces flexibility when working in their team, largely contributing to team success regardless of their role within the team. Applicant shows outstanding ability to navigate team challenges and/or resolve conflicts Applicant is able to reflect meaningfully on their experience, demonstrating significant personal growth and maturity