Ivey MBA Recruiting & Admissions Blog

We've moved to a new blog site!

2009-08-21T16:11:00.004-04:00

Hello readers!

Now that we've got a new look and feel to our Ivey MBA Website, we thought it was time to update our blog site as well! You can now find our blog at http://blogs.ivey.ca/mba/ Don't forget to update your bookmarks and RSS feed readers as well!

We look forward to bringing you more insights from the Ivey MBA Recruiting & Admissions team on our new site, and don't forget that we'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment on our blogs to share your thoughts, or let us know what you want to hear about.

The Ivey MBA Recruiting & Admissions Team

You say Goodbye, I say Hello

2009-08-10T16:48:00.008-04:00

Today we're happy to welcome students from the Fall Class of 2010 to their first classes of PKP (optional, Preparatory Knowledge Program) at Ivey! It's amazing the vibe that changes once new students arrive. Our otherwise quiet office here on main campus is buzzing with activity, and it's great to finally put the names to the faces of those that we have been corresponding with over email, or whom we've interviewed on the phone. With welcoming a new class, it also means that we're getting ready to say goodbye to another one - our Fall MBAs of 2009, graduating at the end of this month. I distinctly remember sitting at last year's MBA Summer Formal, where I was telling some of the newly arrived MBAs how quicly the year would go by - and here they are, getting ready to graduate.

One of the best parts of our job here in the MBA Recruiting & Admissions office, is meeting potential candidates and having the opportunity to witness their transition from potential applicant, to MBA candidate, to Ivey student and then Ivey alumni. We're there from the first moment they start their MBA journey - whether they're just doing b-school research, or asking questions about the application - to the day we get to see them walk off the stage with their MBA degree (the OTHER best part of our job is getting to help out at each convocation). On top of that, the relationship with our MBA grads continues long after graduation. Our alumni are so invovled in the school, and are always willing to help with recruiting initiatives, in the classroom as guest speakers, or as mentors for current students. Seeing how our students grow and develop over the course of one year and beyond, and witnessing the bonds they form with the Ivey community - classmates, faculty and staff - is one of the amazing things that makes our jobs so worthwhile.

So - if you're thinking about your MBA, remember that it should be a journey, and not a destination. Your MBA experience should be just that - a life experience. One that stays with you long after you graduate, and one that you are proud to have been a part of.

Congratulations to the Ivey MBA grads of 2009, and Welcome to the Ivey MBA class of 2010! We look forward to the year ahead...

The GMAT

2009-08-06T15:46:00.011-04:00

Last week at the Professional Development Program hosted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), I attended a session put on by GMAC's VP of Research and Development about the GMAT test. A couple of take aways from the session that I want to share with you are a few common myths about the GMAT and tips to keep in mind as you prepare to write.

Before I jump into the myths, a lot of the information I'm sharing and more can be found at http://www.mba.com/. If you haven't already checked out this site, I'd encourage you to do so. It has a ton of great information for any prospective b-school student regarding programs, the GMAT and upcoming events around the world.

GMAT Myths
#1: The first 10 questions are critical to set your ability level and you should spend most of your time answering them.
This is FALSE: all questions on the GMAT count and the test is designed so that it adjusts the difficulty level to hone in on your true ability. There's a mathematical algorithm behind it all, and if you spend too much time on the first 10, you may end up running out of time at the end, which is a big no-no (see next myth).

#2 It is more important to respond to questions correctly than it is to finish the test.
This is FALSE: there is a big penalty for not finishing the test, so if you're having trouble with a question, you're better off guessing and moving on. You will likely answer the next question correctly (assuming the computer gave you a slightly easier one) and the algorithm will adjust itself back to a higher difficulty level as you proceed. The message here is PACE YOURSELF.

#3 You need to be really strong in math to get a high score on the quant portion of the test.
This is FALSE: You need to have a good understanding of basic algebra, geometry and arithmetic, but the test measures grade 10 math skills and below. You'll definitely want to review concepts you learned in high school because you may not have seen this stuff in years, but the goal of the questions is to measure your logical and critical reasoning skills, not basic math ability. (My advice on this is to do practice tests. You need to be able to determine what is being asked of you and if you have the information needed to solve the problem, and the best way of getting used to GMAT type questions is to prep.)

Prep Tips
#1 STUDY!
Depending on your style, either buy the books or take a class, but don't write it blind. The average test taker studies for 100 hours, which means that if you're studying 2 hours per day, 7 days per week, you're looking at about 7 weeks of prep time.

#2 Know what to expect at the testing centre
Security is tight and you will be required to show picture ID and have a palm vein scan done in most locations, and there are cameras everywhere: don't get freaked out. The security is there for your benefit so that people can't cheat the system and have someone write the test in their place. Click here for more info.

#3 Know what to expect during the test
You start with the 30 minute Analytical Writing Assessment, followed by an optional break. The Quant section is next, and you have 75 minutes to answer 37 questions, followed by another optional break. You end with the Verbal section, where you have 75 minutes to answer 41 questions.

Happy Studying!

Early Application Opportunity Deadline

2009-08-02T09:05:00.004-04:00

Just a quick reminder that Ivey's Early Application Opportunity deadline is tomorrow (Monday, August 3, 2009). For the how, what, when and where of applying, click here. You can also check out our Admissions Tips and Tricks podcast here.

Applicants who submit by tomorrow's deadline will have a decision on or before October 4, 2009.

Ivey Admissions Essays

2009-07-22T10:04:00.003-04:00

Many prospective 2010 applicants may have already noticed new essay questions on the Ivey application - a sign (for us) of a new admissions cycle. We updated the questions earlier this month (but continue to accept applications from candidates wishing to submit 2009 essays they had already started) and I'm looking forward to reading responses to these new questions over the next year! Here's a peak at the questions (all accessible in our application):

1. What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Ivey Business School help you achieve these goals? (250 words)
2. Describe why you believe you will be successful in the Ivey case study environment. (250 words)
3. If you could choose anyone (alive or deceased) to teach a course at Ivey, who would you choose and why? (250 words)

Remember the importance of essay questions with the MBA admissions process! Essays are your first opportunity to showcase what makes you unique - your passions, talents, interests, beyond your paper qualifications and profile. Be sure to take the time to highlight these traits, characteristics and accomplishments. There is no 'right' answer to our essay questions - spend some time thinking about why the question is relevant to the admissions committee, and how your profile and experience relates. Good luck, and have fun with the process!

Elements of Success: What's Your Formula?

2009-07-07T10:05:00.014-04:00

Last month I attended GMAC's Annual Industry Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, and the theme of the Conference was "Elements of Success: What's Your Formula?" I found the tag line quite ingenious, especially when coupled with graphics that resembled a periodic table of "MBA elements."

As graphics and colours flashed on the screen before the welcoming address, I started thinking about what the Ivey MBA Program's formula is, and also how important it is for applicants to the Program to know what elements they 'bring to the table', so to speak. I have written about the importance of self awareness before, but in considering what elements make you successful, I feel like it's a slightly different kind of awareness.

For many of us, we find it hard to talk about ourselves and our accomplishments for fear that we may sound conceited. However, there is a difference between being proud of what you've done in your academic and professional career and being able to articulate the impacts you've made, and bragging about them. It's like selling versus telemarketing: one is an art, the other is annoying!

One question I often like to ask applicants is, "How would your colleagues describe you as a leader?" Taking a step back to reflect upon your interactions with others and how you have contributed your organization's success, often allows people to come up with descriptors of themselves that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to. A few adjectives to get you thinking about yourself: passionate, innovative, caring, firm but fair, loyal, hard-working, diligent, focused. . . .

So when preparing your application and for interviews, take time to reflect upon YOU. Consider what capabilities, elements of character, and experiences have contributed to your success, and don't be afraid to share them!

Ivey, Ethics and Tradition.

2009-06-17T14:09:00.008-04:00

I’m sure many of you have read in the news recently about the MBA Oath started by students at Harvard Business School. With the mixed opinions about whether or not MBAs should be held partially responsible for the current economic conditions, Harvard students started this Oath to encourage graduating MBAs to keep ethics and integrity top-of-mind in their business dealings. The Oath has now gone global with over 1000 MBA signatures, and business schools around the world jumping on board.

What some of you might not know is that Ivey has had an ethics pledge in place for over 5 years, marked by the tradition of the Ivey Ring Ceremony. The Ivey Alumni Association Board of Directors initiated the Ivey Ring Tradition in 2004 to send a clear message to new graduates about their role and responsibility in preserving the strong collective reputation that Ivey has earned over the last 87 years.

Since 2004, all students who graduate from any of Ivey’s degree programs participate in a ceremony that marks their promise to act ethically, and with integrity in the business arena. The Pledge that students sign and recite at the Ceremony also includes a promise to uphold the reputation of the Ivey Business School, and to acknowledge the responsibilities of being a member of Ivey’s prestigious alumni network. Ivey Alumni are active participants in the Ivey Ring Tradition, witnessing over 700 graduates sign the pledge and get “ringed” each year.

This Tradition is an important part of Ivey's commitment to developing leaders who act with integrity, and contribute to the communities within which they operate. It symbolizes and gives confidence to the business world that Ivey graduates all over the globe are upholding ethical business practices, and have made a promise to maintain the traditions, integrity and high standards set by those Ivey alumni who have come before them.

You can read the Ivey Pledge and find out more about the Ivey Ring Tradition on our alumni website.

Outliers - Ivey Edition!

2009-06-10T10:40:00.004-04:00

I recently finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, Outliers, and loved it! (A great read and highly recommended!) He presents some really interesting theories about factors that contribute to extraordinary success, and without ruining the read if you haven't yet read Outliers, I was really fascinated by one conclusion in particular...he suggests that in order to be considered an "expert" at anything (from professional hockey to computers) it's necessary to log 10,000 hours performing this skill.

From this conclusion my thinking shifted to the Ivey MBA Program - being an Ivey student and participating in the Ivey case-method and making decisions on hundreds and hundreds of cases throughout the year at Ivey is a huge advantage in building experience hours on the way to becoming an expert decision-maker! The Program is structured to teach students not just what to think but HOW to think, and builds skills in decision-making, drives action-orientation, and focuses on how to act on and execute decisions. All of these skills are critical to being an effective leader, and Ivey's real world approach to business education sets our grads apart by actively building these skills throughout the Program. With more Ivey grads on Caldwell's Top 40 Under 40 list than any other university, the skills and exposure around decision making and leadership at Ivey produce extraordinary success within our alumni network. I'm sure Gladwell would agree that the head-start and time devoted to honing these leadership skills in our Program plays a key role in explaining why so many Ivey grads have achieved such extraordinary success and can be called Outliers.

Try us on for size

2009-06-03T09:55:00.009-04:00

You'll often hear the word "fit" when our team talks about making your b-school decision, and you may wonder what exactly we mean by this. What it comes down to is that you need to determine which MBA Program bests suits your needs in terms of the teaching method, length/pace, post-graduation opportunities, network, and overall experience.

While there are a number of ways to investigate each Program's offerings (talking to students and alumni, reading blogs, watching youtube clips, etc.), the best way determine if a Program is the right fit for you is to visit the campus and experience a day in the life for yourself. There is a lot to be said for the vibe you get from a campus and the interaction with the students, faculty and staff, so when you narrow your down your choices, or when you are comparing offers, if you can physically get yourself to each School before making your final decision I strongly recommend doing so.

At Ivey, we offer a Class Visit program once per month and you can even apply for a Travel Award to help cover the cost of getting here. And if the Class Visit date doesn't work for you, you can arrange an individual visit through our website, so you can still sit in on a class and meet with either Niki, Hoda or me so that all of your questions get answered.

The importance of visiting campus and experiencing what each School has to offer really hit me earlier this week when I had the opportunity of meeting two prospective students at Spencer for individual visits. One currently has an offer to join the Program and the other had attended a First Class on the Road earlier this spring and wanted to sit in on a real class to confirm that case method is right for him.

I met the fellows before classes in the morning and took them on a tour of the Spencer building; I could tell that they were impressed by the amenities it offers, but also the cozy feel that it has. They were also happy to know that students and professors are on a first name basis with one another, and faculty and staff are always available and accessible to answer questions and help solve problems. My point was proven when we arrived at Amp A and Course Coordinator Fiona McCann was working at the desk next to the entrance of the classroom, ready to address any student inquires (and let them know where they could find calculators for the Decision Making with Analytics quiz that afternoon!). I left the visitors in the hands of Professor Gerard Seijts to participate in a Leading People and Organizations class about Jack Welch and General Electric, and before I was even out of the classroom they were each chatting with a current student.

When I met the visitors for lunch after the class, they were full of great questions and truly impressed with what they had just experienced. For the prospective student with an offer, I really had the sense that he benefited from the visit because he was considering attending a b-school closer to his hometown for convenience reasons, but the visit made him realize that convenience should not be the main reason for choosing an MBA.

I truly love meeting prospective candidates for the Ivey MBA Program, and encourage those of you thinking about Ivey to take advantage of the many Experience Events we offer. And remember: when it comes down to making a final decision, you owe it to yourself to try each Program on for size and make sure that it fits!

New Ivey building in the works!

2009-06-01T10:36:00.009-04:00

On Friday, our school received some great news! The federal and provincial governments announced $50 million in infrastructure support towards a new building for the Richard Ivey School of Business. Construction of the new building will begin this summer, with the first phase scheduled to be completed by March 2011. The new building was designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, and will use the latest green technology making it LEED-certified. It was also announced that over the next 10 months, the project will provide almost 600 jobs in Ontario, more than half in London.

To read more about the new building and to see the video of this announcement, please view the full news article.

MBA Admissions Butterflies

2009-05-21T16:53:00.005-04:00

We meet some great candidates on the road at our events – the most exciting part of my job is getting to travel around and talk to people with such diverse backgrounds and experiences. But, sometimes I find myself talking to great candidates who don’t realize how great they are!

Applying to business school makes a lot of people feel vulnerable, and can definitely make you question the confidence you have in your skills and experience. If this is you, you’re in the same boat as many of our applicants! Sure, the business school arena can be really competitive – but everyone has something unique and diverse that they can bring to the table.

Here are some common concerns we hear from candidates, and why they shouldn’t make you nervous:

I don’t have a background in business. How will I keep up with the finance and accounting classes?
This is by far the most common concern from many of our candidates. You might be surprised to know that in our current class, only 35% of students have an educational background in business. The rest of the class is made up from those with varying degrees – from Arts and Math, to Law and Science. The great thing about Ivey and the case-method of learning is that you learn the fundamentals of business by drawing on the experience of everyone in the class - this helps you to dissect a business issue across all functional areas (Ivey's Cross-Enterprise Leadership approach). The class would fall pretty flat if all of our students had the same knowledge or experience in business! In addition, Ivey has an optional “Preparatory Knowledge Program” for incoming students that takes place prior to orientation week. These 2-3 weeks of programming give you a crash-course (or refresher) in the basics of business including Finance, Accounting, and Economics. At the end of the day, we want to set our students up for success and welcome the most diverse candidates we can find!

I don’t have a very impressive job title.
This is also a concern for many of our applicants, especially those who are on the lower side of the work experience scale. What’s important for you to know is that the quality of your work experience – the skills you developed and the accomplishments you achieved in your job - far outweigh your job title. This goes for those with ‘elite’ sounding job titles too. We care more about what you are going to be able to contribute to the class based on your experiences and the skills you developed in the role, than we do about the label that HR put on your job description.

I slacked off in first year university, so my grades/transcripts aren’t good enough.
We recognize that for many of our applicants, undergraduate years are long passed and may not be the most accurate representation of what their work ethic has grown to be. The good news is that we only calculate your undergraduate average based on your last two years of school, and are generally looking for candidates with a B average. In other good news, the GMAT is a great opportunity for you to show us your current academic potential, especially if your undergraduate performance (even in your last two years) was less than stellar. We use GMAT score and transcripts to help us predict whether or not a candidate will be able to manage the academic rigor of the program, so performing well on the GMAT is a great chance for you to highlight your current academic potential.

I’ve never supervised or managed people before, so I don’t have any leadership experience.
This is a concern that I encourage applicants to think about, because leadership isn’t necessarily synonymous with ‘leading’. Leadership skills are developed from many different experiences. Perhaps you are a regular volunteer with a non-profit organization. Or maybe you’ve initiated new projects or processes at work, or maybe you’re the team member who gets everyone else organized. Think about the ways in which you’ve contributed to something – whether in a team, a volunteer role, at work or at school and draw on those experiences to demonstrate the leadership potential you bring to the MBA program. Also, think about the skills that are attributed or associated with strong leadership. The best leaders have a common skill-set, but you won't always find them in 'leading' roles. (To read more about effective leadership in Ivey’s MBA program, read this article by Ivey’s student blogger, Sacha Gera).

At the end of the day, you can rest assured that you have many of the same concerns as most b-school applicants out there. But, my advice would be to not let these nerves and uncertainties get to you. Confidence in your experience and skills is what will separate you from the pack, so don’t sell yourself short! And on that note, we look forward to seeing your application!

Final Ivey MBA Admissions Deadline

2009-05-11T12:06:00.003-04:00

I've been getting many questions about the final application deadline for Ivey's September 2009 MBA intake (June 1st) and wanted to take some time to address Ivey's final deadline. It is not too late in the cycle to apply to Ivey for a fall start - we are strategic in posting a late deadline and always expect to have seats available in early summer. Candidates are welcome to submit prior to the deadline, as we do start processing applications and complete interviews as we put files together. There is no difference in the competitiveness or the quality benchmark we are looking for in September relative to earlier submissions, so if you have been considering the fall class, it's not too late! The only factor to acknowledge is that as we move through the cycle, both seats in the class and scholarship decisions are made, but we do have the capacity to make competitive offers even late in the admissions cycle.

Market conditions this year have highlighted the importance of competitive credentials and have prompted many candidates to consider the MBA, so some words of encouragement and insight into the process at Ivey - we'd love to see your Final Round application!

Social Media and MBAs

2009-05-04T12:06:00.010-04:00

It seems that all the rage these days is for companies, governments, and forward thinking educational institutions to use social media as a primary way to connect with their customers, supporters, and prospective students, respectively. The Ivey MBA Program is no exception and we've been doing our best to stay ahead of the curve.

We're quite proud of the fact that the Ivey MBA Student Blog is #1 outside the USA, that we have over 500 fans of our MBA Recruiting and Admissions Page on Facebook, and both Niki Healey and I are on Twitter. But what I'm curious to know is how useful do people find these 'new' ways of communicating? Do you actively look for information presented on social media sites? Do you tend to frequent Facebook more than myspace? Are you addicted to Twitter? What is it that you want us to showcase? Seriously - I would love your feedback!

The other aspect I'm curious about is which applications you use the most? I know that Second Life has been around for years now, and I admittedly created a persona when I first heard about the site on The Hour, but I couldn't get into it. Some schools have virtual campuses, but we haven't felt the need to go this far . . . yet, so I'm very interested to know your thoughts.

Myspace is another site that I know a ton of people are members of, but for our purposes, we've found Facebook to be the best form of communication. And on the Facebook note, while the new fan page layout isn't ideal, we're doing what we can with it. Julia Michienzi and I keep tabs on the page so that we answer your questions as quickly as possible, and update event information, etc., but again, feedback would be great - what more can we give you?

Now I have to admit that we're new to the Twitter world, and I'm personally still learning about all of the functionality, and I find that I sometimes struggle with what to tweet. I go back and forth between tweeting what I am doing/have done/will do and sharing interesting Ivey facts. What do you, prospective Ivey MBA students find more interesting? Also, if you follow Niki and/or me on Twitter, do you like that we both tweet, or would you prefer to have one MBA Recruiting and Admissions profile?

My team and I really would like your feedback, so choose your method - post a comment to this blog, write on our Facebook wall, or Tweet about it - your perspective and input is important, and we want to know!

Swine Flu - a display of the marriage of health and business

2009-05-01T16:51:00.001-04:00

I think 10 (and even 5) years ago it was difficult for many to see the interplay between health and business. In 1999, in my first year of university, when I told my friends that I wanted to pursue education in health AND business, they thought it was diametric and that I was confused. I was told that “health was about people and business was about money.”

Last night, as I stood at the international gate at Pearson Airport, I realized just how wrong my friends were. While I was waiting for a flight from Heathrow, three flights from Mexico had just landed. Many passengers came out of the gates wearing masks because of the recent outbreak of swine flu or known today as “influenza A (H1N1).” To appreciate the deep interconnection between health and business one only needs to look at the effects of this pig flu – or the “Mexican” flu as our Prime Minister has called it. (I won’t even try to touch the political implications of this pandemic!)

As the flu story has unfolded over the past week, I don’t think there was a single subject I covered in business school that wasn’t at play in this human health pandemic. I think if we were to ask WHO or the American legislators or even our own government, they’d tell us just how much business knowledge is required to manage this situation – a virus!

When the deadly disease first came to the attention of the Mexican government they had to strategize on how to handle the situation in order to minimize the fatalities in their country while also minimizing the economic backlash. Subsequently, how WHO decided to handle the situation, how the Obama administration made their decisions to leave the borders open, how the Canadian government tried to minimize the impact on its pig industry are all part of the STRATEGY that you learn in business school.

The data that was used to support calling the outbreak a “pandemic” and to make predictions about its spread were all lessons one would have received in MANGEMENT SCIENCE. Just look at how Google had to use data sharing and knowledge management from INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY to see who knew what and when about the flu. A search engine gave us better insight into the beginnings of this flu than traditional medical methods of tracking disease!

I wonder what looking into Smithfield Foods through the lens of ACOUNTING would tell us about the effects of this flu on their revenues and profits. Although science and medicine has yet to link “patient zero” to this hog farm, business and the free market has probably already handed down its judgement. Not only does this outbreak affect Smithfield but it couldn’t have found a worse time to hit a world already in economic peril. FINANCE can show us how people are reacting to this flu in terms of the food they choose to consume, the travels they make, and even the global trade they’ll undertake. I wonder what a little bit of finance, accounting, and management science could do to tell us about the increase in domestic pork consumption in the Philippines and the effect that type of policy has on the Canadian farming industry.

Now comes the fun part – we can spend hours and hours discussing what the medical community and politicians can do to use the teachings of COMMUNICATIONS when conveying information to the public. My personal favourite is branding in MARKETING . . . how ingenious to rebrand the swine disease as influenza A (H1N1) – it’s just too bad that name was already taken in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. I wonder what the medical consequences of using this savvy business tool are – let’s rebrand the pig flu and we can hedge against decreases in sales – and how it will affect human behaviour.

I don’t think we even need to discuss the constant use of ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR in dealing with this medical crisis or the use of OPERATIONS to decide courses of treatment, vaccination production and release, and medical resource allocation.

I’m not just using the case of the swine flu to remind my friends of the incorrectness of their sentiment (although they can take it as that if they wish!) or as an example of management lessons in medicine. I’m giving a mere example of the opportunities that exist if one chooses to combine health and business. But this isn’t just a concept; it’s something we’re able to teach, practice, and help advance in the Ivey Health Sector MBA.

How To Interact with the Recruiting & Admissions Team

2009-04-22T11:53:00.006-04:00

We spend a lot of time on this blog talking about all of the tips and tricks that can help you get a handle on the admissions process, and prepare you to submit the best application you can for b-school. But, what exactly is the role of the recruiting and admissions team and how should you interact with us throughout the process?

The first thing to know is that we are here to help. Part of our role is to support and provide guidance to applicants, acting as a “coach” to give them insight about Ivey and the admissions process at the school. However, what is important to understand about our role is that there is a fine line between coaching and counseling. Our expectation is that you discover and package the unique strengths about your candidacy, and sell them to the admissions team in your application and interview(s). So, how can you do this?

Here are some good ‘coaching’ questions that you might want to ask the recruiting and admissions team(s):

What is the average GMAT score, years of work experience and undergraduate average for the class?
Most schools (including Ivey) post the minimum admission requirements for these application components on their website. However, knowing the averages for the class can help you determine where you stack up within the applicant pool, and where on your application you may need to work on improving your competitiveness. Don’t let the averages scare you – remember that there will be candidates admitted who are both above AND below the average scores.

What skills/competencies are typical traits found in successful candidates?
It’s important to gain an understanding of what the admissions committee is looking for beyond those ‘hard’ skills and qualifications that are found in your GMAT score, grades and work experience. While this information may be available on the website, a conversation with someone from the recruiting and admissions team, or an alumnus or current student, can give you a clearer understanding of the skills necessary to succeed in the Ivey classroom. Attending a recruiting event like Admissions Tips & Tricks or First Class on the Road is a great way to get some face-to-face time with the admissions team, and to learn about those traits that can’t be objectively measured, but are critical to submitting a successful application.

What is the admissions process, and how long does it take?
You’ll find that the admissions process is a bit different at each school, as is the amount of time it takes for the review/interview process. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to ask about how the process works, what your, and their, next steps are, and the amount of time it’s likely to take before you receive an admissions decision.

Here are some of the ‘counseling’ type questions that you should try and avoid when interacting with the recruiting and admissions team:

What are my chances?
Asking this question to the admissions committee implies a lack of awareness about what you bring to the table, the strength of your application and your knowledge about the admissions criteria. The application review process on our end is extremely thorough and considers every single piece of the application equally, including essays, references and (up to) three interviews. There is no one-size –fits-all answer for determining who will be granted admission. Instead, consider asking some of the questions listed above to determine which parts of your application can be improved to present your candidacy in the best possible light.

Why should I choose Ivey over X school?
The MBA decision is incredibly individual and personal, so asking this question of the admissions committee shows a lack of research and passion about choosing the right MBA program for you. Doing your MBA is a lifetime investment, and selecting the school that you want to align yourself with for the rest of your career needs to be YOUR decision. The school you choose must be a strong fit in terms of the culture, the program structure and your post-MBA goals. Everyone’s reasons for doing an MBA and their post-MBA goals are different – there is no one “best” business school, but there IS a best business school for YOU. Our expectation is that you will have done some research on the different schools that meet your criteria, and make the decision about which one is a stronger fit for you. We encourage all candidates to visit the campuses of the schools they are considering to get a feel for the program, the faculty, and the student experience.

What jobs will be available when I graduate?
Ivey MBAs have a consistent job placement rate of about 90%+. Having said that, no business school can predict turns in the economy or the number of job opportunities in any given year. Ivey has strong relationships and a deep history with many of the top recruiting firms who recruit on-campus year over year, and an exceptional Career Management team who works with students to advise them on successful career management strategies. Job opportunities are partially dependent on economic conditions, and can come from anywhere including on-campus postings, the hidden job market, or professional networks and alumni connections. Your success in the job market depends on your individual goals, how you choose to engage with Career Management, and the amount of work you put into executing a successful job search strategy.

These are simply some recommendations on the questions you may want to consider when interacting with the admissions team. The b-school research and admissions process is very individual and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to all questions – so feel free to contact us! At the end of the day, we want to make the process as painless and as smooth as possible and we are here to help.

The Importance of Self Awareness

2009-04-10T09:07:00.011-04:00

We've hosted a couple of Admissions Tips and Tricks sessions over the past two weeks, and in following the theme I wanted to blog a little bit about the importance of self awareness in the admissions process.

The first piece of being self aware revolves around when the right time for YOU to do an MBA is. It is a given that at least one person will ask me at the end of an information session something along the lines of, "I have x amount of work experience: do you think it's the right time for me to do an MBA?" Honestly, this is a decision only you can make. There isn't a formula for finding the right time, so what I tell people is to ask themselves if they feel that they have achieved all that they set out to accomplish in their current role. You need to look at where you are in your career and where you want to go, and then ask youself how and when the MBA fits into that plan. Some people feel that they plateau in their current role after two years and in order to get to the next level they need to do an MBA to retool; others don't get this sense until a few years later. Choosing to do an MBA is one of the biggest investments you will ever make in yourself, and you don't want to rush it - you want to make sure that you do it at a time when you are going to benefit from the learning and peer group, but also have enough experience to be able to contribute effectively to the learning of your classmates.

The second big piece of self awareness is being able to critically assess your profile (work experience, life experience, undergraduate grades, GMAT score, etc.) and how you compare to the candidate pool for the MBA Program that you are applying too. I'm not saying that you have to meet the average criteria for each component because there are ranges for a reason, but you do need to know how you can package yourself and your experiences and present us with a convincing case that you are a good fit for our MBA Program.

You need to be able to showcase your accomplisments and how they will make you a solid class contributor, but also realize that everyone has weaknesses, so think about how you manage yours. You also need to realize that MBA Programs are academically very rigourous, especially Ivey's one-year Program, and we do not want to set anyone up for frustration and/or failure; your GMAT and undergraduate grades must prove that you will be able to handle the material.

If you're just starting the MBA research process, I highly suggest submitting your resume to our online resume assement tool in order to get feedback for how your experience stacks up against what we look for in MBA candidates. If you're a little further along the process, our Admissions Tips and Tricks sessions are great for understanding what we're looking for with each component of the application, and First Class on the Road gives you a glimpse of what the case method is all about. Finally, the best way to determine if a Program is right for you (and you are right for it) is to visit the school: our Class Visit Days give you the opportunity to sit in on a class and talk with students, faculty, and staff so that all of your questions about Ivey get answered.

As I said earlier, the MBA decision is one of the biggest investments you will make in yourself, so be sure to spend some time reflecting on what you are looking to get out of the experience and what you have to contribute!

Ivey Centre for Health Innovation and Leadership

2009-04-06T12:11:00.001-04:00

On March 23rd, the Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, came to Ivey to announce a $5 million investment in a new centre for health innovation and leadership. The Ivey atrium was booming with students, faculty, staff, guests, the media, and medical equipment! At a time when much of the news is gloom, it was rather refreshing to hear positive news.

The Centre will address the deficit in innovation that exists in Canada in the adoption of new technologies, processes, and procedures. The Health Sector MBA is already addressing the human shortage that exists in our system by taking our world-class doctors, researchers, and other health professionals and training them with management and entrepreneurship skills. The new Centre will allow Ivey to go one step further in the training of our highly skilled health professionals while working to bring new technologies to market.

The presence of researchers from the Robarts Research Institute and the Stiller Centre and their leading-edge equipment was a testament to the innovations that exist in Canada and the role that the University of Western Ontario (UWO) plays. With the Ivey Centre for Health Innovation and Leadership (ICHIL), we’re able to bridge the gap and take innovations fromd4 ideas to market much faster. Not only will Ivey and UWO play a larger role on the world stage through ICHIL, but it will give a much needed boost in innovation to our health care system.

We often hear about the “brain-drain” in Canadian health care. Many attribute it to the lack of financial incentive for medical professionals to practise in this country. I remember watching a documentary some years ago that followed several medical professionals who had left Canada for practice in the United States. By far, their reasons for leaving were the lack of innovation and technology in Canada. Regardless of how great Michael Moore may paint our system to look, if those who work in it don’t feel confident with the resources at their disposal, it will be difficult to retain the best minds.

I’m obviously (and selfishly) excited about ICHIL because of the impact it will have on the Health Sector MBA – we will be establishing a Chair in Health Innovation and an entire self-sustaining centre at Ivey. But the potential difference it can have on our health care, in general, is tremendous. We’re creating a means to bring together Canada’s research and engineering strengths with its entrepreneurial advantage to take ideas and concepts from the lab and change the way medicine and health are practiced.

Are you Tweeting? We are!

2009-04-02T08:53:00.006-04:00

Niki and I have taken the plunge and we're now on Twitter!

Both of us had been hearing more and more about it in recent weeks and ended up creating accounts, simply to see what all the fuss was about: we're now both hooked. I have to say that it's kind of fun to chronicle what I'm doing on a regular basis, especially when I'm on the road like I am right now (to find out where, start following me @jdennistonivey).

For up-to-the-minute info on what Ivey's Recruitment and Admissions team is doing, you'll find Niki Healey at @nikihealeyivey and me at the address above.

While we can't promise to update as often as Ashton Kutcher, we'll do our best!

Case Method - Ivey's Simulator for Training Business Leaders

2009-03-25T23:05:00.001-04:00

After a recent conversation with one of our students I came to the realization that one of the most unique pieces of the classroom experience at Ivey is rooted in the core of the case method … Think of a cases as a training simulator for business leaders and decision making (in the same way pilots train to fly in flight simulators.) What Ivey does, is to put you in a unique ‘simulation’ or case every day, where you are asked to wear the hat of the decision maker in the company, and jump into the ‘game’ from his/her perspective to solve the business issue presented in the case. One day, you might be the VP, Marketing at a CPG firm launching a new brand, the next day, COO of an automobile manufacturer assessing whether a factory’s capacity justifies keeping the plant run, and the next day CFO of a major Canadian bank looking at international acquisition opportunities – you get the picture! Not only does the case method expose you to real challenges and hundreds of industries, but the environment and discussion is oriented around action: after providing some background on the industry and context around the issue – what will you do? This is the core discussion surrounding every case and highlights the practicality of training in a case based Program .

The Ivey environment provides the ideal training for the next generation of business leaders who have an opportunity to test their decisions in a risk free environment. The classroom is a place where mistakes don’t cost anything, and the opportunity to learn not only from these mistakes, but from one another, is truly invaluable training for a career as a leader in any organization. It isn’t about finding out what the company did (that may not even be the right answer!) but the true value of the experience is in developing a sound decision making framework.

Exposure to hundreds of different cases in the year at Ivey is ultimately a process that truly transforms the way you organize and manage complexity to tackle challenges, make and communicate decisions/direction/vision, and the confidence to take action and to inspire others to act. I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to see the case method in action at one of our First Class on the Road events, or a Class Visit day soon!

How do you measure up?

2009-03-17T08:56:00.005-04:00

Having just wrapped up our MBA fair season in Toronto this February, our team has been reflecting back on some of our most common findings, and frequently asked questions from potential applicants to our MBA program. Surprisingly, one of the most common things that we hear from candidates is uncertainty as to whether or not their background or experience is on par or among the ‘average’ of what we see in typical candidates. Some potential applicants tend to be a little nervous about the case method of learning, and how their experience might translate into the classroom environment, in comparison to students with more of a “corporate” background.

The truth is – there is no “typical” candidate for our MBA program. When we say we are looking for diversity in the classroom, we are not just speaking geographically or culturally. We are also looking for those who have had unique life experiences, personally or professionally, or who have a unique educational background. That’s not to say we don’t admit a share of engineers, bankers and consultants – but the success of the case method and Cross-Enterprise Learning™ depends on the variety of perspectives you have looking at a particular case. If we had a whole classroom of 75 students looking at a case with only an undergrad degree in business, or only experience in I-Banking or consulting, there wouldn’t be much of a Cross-Enterprise approach! Don’t believe us? Here is an example of some of the backgrounds of our current students and recent alumni:

- RCMP officer
- Professional Forester
- Neurosurgeon
- Realtor
- Geologist
- Former Navy Officer
- Parliamentary Assistant
- Assistant Producer in the Film & Entertainment industry

No matter what your background is, the Admissions committee is looking for people who know how to leverage what they have learned in their past experiences, and who can use it in the classroom to contribute to the learning of their classmates. We’re also looking for people who recognize the competencies and knowledge that is missing from their skill-set, and are looking to the MBA (and their classmates) to fill in these gaps.

A great way to get a risk-free assessment of how your background measures up against the admissions criteria is to submit your resume online for a complimentary assessment through our Inside Track. A member of our team will review your resume, and provide feedback on how your profile compares to what we’re looking for in a strong candidate. This assessment is a great way to gain perspective on your profile and determine if you might be a good fit for the Ivey MBA Program. Should you decide to pursue an application to the program, your resume assessment result (positive or negative) has no bearing or weight in the admissions process. Therefore, we encourage anyone who is considering applying to our program to complete this resume assessment at no-cost. A few tips before you submit your resume.

Clearly define your career goals in your resume
Show accomplishments in past jobs, not just duties and responsibilities
Think about leadership, teamwork, relationship building and communication as key soft skills
Try not to exceed two pages
Eliminate any personal information such as photographs, age or marital status.

The most important thing is to have confidence in your experience! Everyone has a unique background and perspective to offer. How you ‘sell’ that experience on your application is entirely up to you!

What happens now?

2009-03-03T12:03:00.007-05:00

So you've hit the submit button and you're wondering just what happens to your application after it enters the "admissions blackbox" (as many people like to call it). While I know that the time between submitting an application and waiting to hear back from a school, especially the school at the top of you list, can be nerve racking, I hope this post will shed some light on what happens on our end of the process, easing some of your anxiety.

First off, the reason we ask applicants not to contact our office to ensure that all application pieces have been received, is that we have a large volume of candidates submitting components at various times. Although we receive reference letters and transcripts on a daily basis, it is not until we receive your online application that we pull all of these things together. If at this point we are missing something, our office will notify you (usually within about a week or so of the submission date). All pieces of your application must be submitted in order us to begin the next stage of the review process.

Complete files are then assessed and it is determined if the candidate will be invited to interview. All applicants who are ultimately admitted to the Program are interviewed, so take this as a good sign; you will be notifed by email either way. If you are invited to interview, we will set up a mutually convenient date and time to do so either in person (if possible), or by phone.

Interviews are conducted by both the Admissions Team and Career Management, so it is likely that you will have the opportunity to speak with a representative from each group. The Admissions Team interview is focused on getting to know a bit more about you and your experience, and the Career Management interview looks to gain more insight on where you want to go post-MBA. In both cases, we aim for the interview to be a two-way discussion: we are assessing your fit for Ivey, and you are assessing Ivey's fit for you.

Once the interview process is complete, files move to the Admissions Committee for decisions. Our goal is to have decisions to applicants by the next round application deadline, meaning about 6-8 weeks from submission. Scholarship and Financial Aid decisions are made in tandem with admissions decisions, so if you are admitted to the Ivey MBA Program, you will know right away if you have qualified for funding.

I hope that this provides a little more perspective on what happens 'behind the scenes.' We know that the waiting period is tough, and can be full of anxiety. But rest assured that we do everything we can to make the application process as smooth as possible for you. In turn, we would ask that you remember that we receive hundreds of applications for each cohort, and do our best to process applications as efficiently as possible - your patience is greatly appreciated.

MBA Diversity Forum

2009-02-26T16:14:00.002-05:00

When I first heard about UFSC, I had no idea what it was; the only thing that came to mind was ultimate fighting. But that could not be further from what the group is.

UFSC stands for Urban Financial Services Coalition and is a professional organization for minorities in the financial industry. UFSC is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has over 3,000 professionals from the banking and finance industries. The goal of UFSC is to be a resource that links corporations and communities through education and programs that make economic empowerment possible.

The Toronto chapter of the coalition is hosting its 3rd Annual MBA Diversity Forum on Tuesday, March 10th at 6:30 pm at the Marriott Hotel in Toronto (525 Bay Street). The organization has helped visible minority MBA applicants learn about the benefits of pursuing an MBA and connecting them with resources that can help advance their careers.

Niki and I will be at the event on March 10th and can answer any questions you may have about doing your MBA, the Ivey MBA program, and applying to MBA schools.

Admission is free if you RSVP by March 9th to ufsctoronto_community@yahoo.ca

I hope to meet more of you at the event!

Ivey Insights: 12 Steps to an MBA

2009-02-18T17:29:00.007-05:00

For those of you who have not yet submitted your application to Ivey but do have a profile on our Inside Track, you may have noticed that we've started a new monthly newsletter called "Ivey Insights" - a 12 Step Guide to an Ivey MBA.

Our goal of this monthly communication is to give candidates an 'inside scoop' on what the admissions committee is looking for in your applications. We've done this in a 12-step format that provides some of the key tips and tricks of the admissions process - from starting your research, to (hopefully!) accepting your offer. We hope that these "Ivey Insights" will help you prepare to put your best foot forward in the application process, and help you stand out from the crowd.

If you have not yet created a profile on the Inside Track, I would encourage you to consider doing so. Not only will you receive our "Ivey Insights" newsletter, but you'll be kept in the loop about any upcoming Ivey experience events in your area, and what's going on in the admissions process (like our recent program update for 2010.)

If you have questions about our admissions process, let us know! We may include your question in one of our Ivey Insights issues, or on our Facebook discussion board.

Ivey MBA Program - Looking Ahead to Our 2010 Intake

2009-02-11T11:06:00.004-05:00

A quick post to update everyone on Ivey's plans looking ahead to 2010. We are building on the continued success of our one-year MBA Program and in 2010, Ivey will expand the Spring cohort of the Program by moving to a single start date. This allows us to meet the strong demand and interest in the one-year MBA, while addressing the needs of all of our stakeholders.

The application will open on June 30th 2009, and the deadline dates for 2010 Admission will be as follows:
Early Deadline – August 3rd, 2009
Round 1 – October 5th, 2009
Round 2 – November 2nd, 2009
Round 3 – January 4th, 2010

For everyone planning a 2009 MBA start - a quick update on our classes. We continue to see very strong interest in our May and September 2009 classes and both Programs are expected to fill. Our next deadline deadline date for 2009 is approaching quickly on March 2nd, so we encourage you to submit early!

Introduction to Health Sector Stream Activities

2009-02-02T15:22:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! My name is Hoda Malakouti and I’m the newest member of the MBA Admissions team having joined in September. I graduated from the Honours Business Administration program at Ivey and the Honours Bachelor of Health Science program at Western in 2004. After having worked in Toronto for a few years, it’s been great to be back at Ivey! I’m lucky to be able to work for the School that has had such a significant impact in my life.

My role on the team is recruitment and admissions with a special concentration on the Health Sector (HS) stream. I have to admit it’s not difficult to represent a school and program I believe so much in. I’m at Canada’s best business school and working on one of the only growing industries - health. I was just reading the current issue of Fortune Magazine with the ranking of the top 100 employers and I counted 17 that were in the health field! So working for a company that’s #1 (Ivey) and working for an industry that’s (by most accounts) #1 is an exciting opportunity.

Presently, I’m organizing an event called The Great Debate: Public versus Private Health Care to be held on February 11th at 7 pm at our Toronto Ivey-ING campus. It’s a panel event with a number of our alumni on both sides of the issue battling it out and Murray Bryant, one of our HS professors, as the moderator.

I think health care evokes strong emotions in almost everyone because we’re all deeply affected by the system. But to have experts discuss the two extremes of the delivery model will definitely be exciting to watch. This debate should make the Obama/McCain debates seem like friendly conversation! If you’d like to attend, you can sign up on the Health Sector website.

If you have any questions about the MBA Program or the Health Sector stream, you can email or call me hmalakouti@ivey.ca or 519-661-4149.