Queen’s Commerce: Supplementary Application Examples & Templates 2026/2027

If you are looking for guidance on the Queen’s (Smith) Commerce supplementary application, as well as Queen’s Commerce essay examples and templates, then you’ve come to the right place. 

This Application Prep guide reflects the 2026/2027 application and past applications for reference.

IMPORTANT: The application has changed for Fall 2027 entry. This year, students complete a two-part written question (an activities list and a reflection) and two video questions, and must name a verifier before starting. Keep reading to learn how to approach each part.

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 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 that helps you tell a clear and concise story, while creating an emotional connection with the reader. All Queen’s Commerce essay examples and templates use this approach.

We use essay templates to show you a suggested essay structure that uses the Narrative Communication Approach™. 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 also suggest following the 5-step essay writing process we teach, seen here.

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

For more information about Queen’s Commerce, check out our Queen’s Commerce Program Guide and this informative video that one of our coaches, a QC program alumnus, created to help students just like you.

2026/2027 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application

For the 2026/2027 application (i.e. for students starting in Fall 2027), applicants complete the following on the Kira Talent platform. The whole assessment takes just over 30 minutes:

#	Section	Format	Preparation	Response Time	Length
1a	Activities list (up to 5)	Written	n/a	5 m	335 words
1b	Reflection on up to 2 activities	Written	n/a	10 m	335 words
2	Video question 1	Video	2 m	2 m	n/a
3	Video question 2	Video	2 m	2 m	n/a

Question 1 is a single 15-minute block: 5 minutes for the activities list, then 10 minutes for the reflection.

The deadline to submit the Supplementary Application is February 15, 2027, at 11:59 PM EST. Queen’s does not accept late submissions.

Before you start, know the rules:

• You need a desktop or laptop with a working webcam, microphone, and stable internet, in a quiet space.
• Practice questions are unlimited, but the formal questions give you one attempt each. Once you start a question, you cannot restart it.
• Going over the word limit on Question 1 will hurt your application. Stay under 335 words.
• You will sign a declaration that your work is your own and not AI-generated. Responses judged to be AI-generated are discarded.
• Do not copy and paste your responses into Kira, as this gets flagged. Prepare drafts ahead of time, then type them live and adapt them to the exact question asked.

New this year: a verifier. Before the questions start, you will be asked for one verifier who can confirm every activity on your list (not just one). A teacher, coach, employer, or supervisor works well. A parent is a weak choice unless the activity is a family responsibility. Queen’s randomly contacts verifiers, so everything you list must be real and confirmable, and you should let your verifier know ahead of time that Queen’s may call or email them.

Accommodations and technical support are available to those who require them (reach out to suppapp@queensu.ca).

Queens Commerce Application Evaluation

In the 2027 admissions process, Queen’s is primarily looking at four factors in an applicant (rated across scores of developing, basic, competent, strong, and excellent) for written responses:

• Description of challenge: An applicant’s ability to clearly describe a meaningful and authentic challenge, demonstrating depth and personal relevance rather than a superficial example.
• Initiative: An applicant’s ability to take initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate.
• Problem-solving ability: An applicant’s ability to demonstrate problem-solving skills, an ability to work effectively under changing conditions, and embrace change or new ideas.
• Reflection: An applicant’s ability to reflect on their experience and demonstrate personal growth and maturity.

Make sure you review Queen’s evaluation rubric for written and video responses.

To really stand out and leave a positive impression with the evaluators, you need to demonstrate high level real-life communication skills. If you want to learn how to improve yours to maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, read our Narrative Communication Approach™ Guide and our Deductive Communication Approach™ Guide.

If you want to further maximize your chances, connect with a coach for personalized expert advice for your particular situation.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written Question 1, Part 1 – Activities List (5 minutes, max 335 words)

You will be asked for a structured list of your involvement outside academics over the last few years. For each activity, expect to give the name, the dates or grades, and your weekly hours. Any kind of involvement counts, business-related or not.

Example format: Part-Time Cashier at Loblaws, Grade 11 to 12, 8 hours per week, year-round

• Five minutes is tight. Draft your final list ahead of time, then type it out line by line.
• Use the full name of every activity, never the acronym (National Honour Society, not NHS).
• Lead with your most meaningful activity. The reflection and the video questions will draw from this list, so order it to set up your best stories.
• Fewer than five activities is fine. Depth beats padding.
• Only list what your verifier can confirm.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written Question 1, Part 2 – Reflection (10 minutes, max 335 words)

Next, you will reflect on one or two activities from your list. Expect to explain why they mattered, what you took from them, and how that will carry into your time in the Smith community.

• Treat it as a three-part question: it was meaningful because, I learned, and at Smith I will. Most students nail the first part and skip the third.
• One activity told well beats two told thinly. If you use two, connect them with a single theme.
• “Meaningful” means a moment, not a summary. Pick the specific event where something changed.
• Make the Smith link concrete: a club you would join, a kind of team you would lead, or how you would show up in a case competition. Avoid “I will bring my leadership skills.”
• Memorize the beats of your story, not the sentences, then type it live and adjust to the exact wording of the question.

We recommend structuring your reflection using the Narrative Communication Approach™:

• Hook (~30 words): a curiosity-inducing moment that makes the reader want to keep going.
• Context (~35 words): who, what, when, where, and why.
• Catalyst (~70 words): a specific event or problem that created a challenge for you.
• Outcome (~80 words): what you did, the result, and the impact on others.
• Learning (~60 words): what you learned and how it changed how you think or act.
• Smith Link (~60 words): how that lesson will shape how you contribute to the Smith Commerce community. Name something specific.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video Questions (2 minutes to prepare, 2 minutes to respond)

You will answer two video questions back to back. For each one, you get 2 minutes to think, then 2 minutes to record. Speak to the camera, not to notes: Smith wants to hear how you communicate and think, not a recited script.

The two questions tend to cover two different areas:

Question	Theme	What it’s really testing
Video 1	Collaboration and reflection: a real experience involving other people	Teamwork, self-awareness, honest reflection
Video 2	Business and impact: your view of what business can do and where you fit	Passion for business, impact, goals

Here are two example practice questions, written by our coaches in the style of the real ones. Queen’s rotates its questions, so don’t memorize an answer to any single prompt:

• Walk us through a team project you’re proud of. Where did the team need you most, and what did that teach you?
• How might business shape the future of a certain area, interest, or place that you care about? What role do you hope to play?

• Prepare two or three stories that can flex across different question wording: one team story, one initiative or impact story, and one that shows a business idea or belief.
• During your 2 minutes of prep, jot down the beats of your story, not full sentences.
• Answer the whole question. If it asks what you would do differently, say something real. “Nothing” reads as a lack of self-awareness.
• For a business question, pick one concrete example (an industry, a problem, or a company you admire) rather than speaking in generalities, and tie your contribution back to your activities.
• Two minutes is roughly 250 to 300 spoken words. Stumbling is fine, just keep going.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Tips

Before starting your actual video response, take some time to get comfortable speaking on camera by following these best practices:

• Practice in front of a mirror to build confidence and become aware of your facial expressions and body language.
• Record yourself using your phone or computer camera; it feels very different from speaking face-to-face.
• Watch your recordings back and take note of what you do well and what you could improve.
• Work with your coach: send them short practice recordings for feedback, and also rehearse live during your sessions. This will help you refine your delivery and make the most of your preparation time.

Some of the most common mistakes students make include:

• Not maintaining eye contact with the camera
• Not speaking with an intentional pace (don’t rush!). Try speeding up and slowing down at strategic moments to emphasize your message
• Saying ‘ummm’ or ‘like’ too often. Instead, try taking a breath or pause to fight these tendencies

You will find that practicing in front of a coach is especially important as they can help you identify areas of improvement from an admissions’ perspective. Reach out to a coach to get started.

Be careful! Interviewing is a crucial skill that should not be underestimated. Leverage our interview preparation guide, find a mentor, a friend, or work with a coach, to make sure that you are prepared to answer any question.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Evaluation

Make sure you review Queen’s evaluation rubric for written and video responses.

In regards to video recorded responses, Queen’s is also primarily looking at four factors in an applicant (rated across scores of developing, basic, competent, strong, and excellent):

• Quality of example: An applicant’s ability to share a clear, authentic, and specific example that effectively illustrates their experience or perspective.
• Initiative: An applicant’s ability to take initiative in addressing a specific challenge and/or seeking assistance for that scenario if appropriate.
• Awareness of contribution and impact: An applicant’s ability to recognize their role and influence within a team or community setting, showing awareness of how their actions affect others.
• Reflection: An applicant’s ability to reflect on their experience and demonstrate personal growth and maturity.

Make sure you review Queen’s evaluation rubric for written and video responses.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Template

• Section 1: Context – Experience (<30 secs)
  • Introduction to the activity or organization and its foundational principles or goals.

• Section 2: Catalyst – Challenge (<30 secs)
  • A specific challenge or experience faced that highlights the core criteria or theme in focus.

• Section 3: Outcome – Impact (<30 secs)
  • Steps taken and the results achieved, showcasing growth, learning, and impact.

• Section 4: Reflection – Lessons Learned (<30 secs)
  • Reflection on the experience and its broader implications or lessons learned.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Sample Response

Here’s an example for the question “Describe an experience where you helped create an environment in which people felt comfortable sharing different perspectives. What did you do, and what was the outcome?“

Remember, do not copy this example. This is only meant to be illustrative and give you an idea of what a good response looks like. Your authenticity and originality are key to creating a compelling application.

These components are:

• Part 1: Hook(Optional)
  • Quickly capture the reader’s attention and set up the essay so they know what to expect
• Part 2: Context
  • Set the scene, answer the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, and why?). You can use a lot of the insights from your Student Identity Blueprint™ here.
• Part 3: Catalyst
  • An event or opportunity that caused a shift or change from what was normal.
• Part 4: Outcome 
  • The impact and result of the event or opportunity that occurred in the Catalyst section. Focus on intrinsic and extrinsic outcomes here.
• Part 5: Reflection
  • The moral of the story. This is where you discuss what you learned and the continued impact of your experience.  

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 Queen’s Commerce, 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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