ivey mba essays

Ivey MBA 2023-24: Admissions Deadlines & Essay Analysis

Ivey Business School of the University of Western Ontario is recognized by The Economist Rankings 2021 as the top institution based on student evaluations of career services. The Ivey MBA offers a practical learning journey aimed at expediting your progress in the field of business management. The school acknowledges that pursuing an MBA and taking a break from work can impact your earnings.

The 12-month Full-time MBA Program The Ivey MBA exposes individuals to the mechanics of the business realm, equipping them to confront challenges head-on. Through hands-on learning, you enhance your leadership proficiencies, a set of skills Ivey refers to as the “Ivey Leadership Essentials.” These five interrelated essentials not only provide a solid grounding in business principles expected of an MBA curriculum but also furnish the leadership aptitude necessary to translate ideas into decisions, knowledge into deeds, and concepts into transformations.

If you’re aspiring to join the prestigious Ivey Business School for your MBA journey, understanding the admissions process is paramount. The Ivey MBA program is known for its rigorous curriculum and exceptional faculty. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the crucial details of Ivey MBA admissions deadlines and essay analysis for the 2023-24 intake. From submission timelines to crafting impactful essays, we’ve got you covered.

The tuition fee for Ivey’s MBA program is CAD $123,500. The living expenses per year are estimated at CAD $20,000. 

Ivey’s Class Profile

There are 132  students in the full-time MBA class. Their average age is 28.5 years and their average length of employment is 5.5 years. The class is made up of 32% female students and 37% international students. The GMAT scores lie between 540 and 770. 

29 percent of the students had majored in business or commerce as undergraduates. 14% of those with degrees in arts and 25% in engineering. 

Ivey MBA Essay Analysis for 2023-24: 

Essay 1 .

What are your short-term career plans immediately post-MBA, and why is an Ivey MBA essential to those plans? (250-word limit)

• Short-term Goals : Outline your career aspirations after completing your studies at Ivey. This encompasses the companies you wish to work for and the skills you aim to develop. It’s important for these ambitions to align with your existing talents and interests, particularly if you’re considering pursuing an MBA. This alignment demonstrates the feasibility of your goals.
• MBA Motivation : Once you’ve highlighted your strengths, elucidate how your current limitations in skills and position are obstructing your future career progression or desired transitions. Articulate the necessity for professional growth, which an MBA can uniquely offer at this juncture of your career. Describe how an MBA can enhance your business proficiency, leadership capabilities, soft skills like communication and presentation, and how it can provide the necessary network for your career or business advancement.
• Reasons for Choosing Ivey : A comprehensive answer to this query should exhibit understanding of the distinct attributes of Ivey’s curriculum. Familiarize yourself with the school’s courses, special programs, and extracurricular activities, whether by attending online admissions events or conversing with alumni. A business school education encompasses four main elements: 1) classroom learning (courses and faculty); 2) practical application of learning through hands-on experiences and case competitions; 3) engagement outside of class (professional, cultural, and sports clubs); and 4) the connections with peers and alumni. Depending on your objectives, spotlight at least three out of these four factors with precision.

Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life, and what lessons you learned from it. (250-word limit)

• Introduction (approx. 30 words):  Begin with a brief introduction that introduces the challenge faced. This should grab the reader’s attention and provide context for the rest of the essay.
• Challenge Description (approx. 70 words):  Describe the specific challenge you encountered. Be clear and concise, outlining the situation, its impact on you, and any initial feelings or thoughts you had.
• Actions Taken (approx. 70 words):  Explain the steps you took to address the challenge. This could include problem-solving strategies, seeking help, or making tough decisions. Focus on highlighting your proactive approach.
• Lessons Learned (approx. 70 words):  Discuss the lessons you learned from tackling the challenge. Reflect on how the experience impacted your personal growth, resilience, or perspective. It’s important to demonstrate self-awareness and insight.
• Conclusion (approx. 30 words):  Wrap up the essay by summarizing the key takeaway from the challenge and the subsequent lessons. End on a positive note, emphasizing your growth and newfound understanding.

Remember, due to the word limit, each section of the essay should be concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations. Instead, focus on conveying a clear narrative of the challenge, your actions, and the lessons learned.

By crafting a well-structured and succinct essay, you’ll be able to effectively communicate your experience and insights to the reader.

Ivey New Venture Project 

The Ivey New Venture Project (INVP) is a collaborative entrepreneurial initiative within the Ivey Field Project (IFP) framework. It guides students through a series of steps which include:

• Developing and honing a fresh business concept.
• Exploring and assessing the associated opportunities.
• Constructing a comprehensive and compelling business model and plan.
• Crafting and presenting an “Investor Pitch” to an external evaluation panel or potential investors. The culmination of the INVP involves presenting a written plan and a live ‘investor pitch’ to an external venture review panel, supported by Ivey Faculty and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.

Student Engagement At Ivey and Western University, you have the chance to participate in a range of clubs and associations. Student-driven organizations provide an excellent platform for expanding your connections, acquiring new skills, and sharing your extracurricular interests. Ivey’s endorsed industry-specific clubs offer an avenue to connect with peers who share your enthusiasm for particular sectors. Additionally, Ivey provides various non-industry affiliated groups for students. If the club you’re looking for isn’t available, you also have the opportunity to establish your own. List of student clubs:

• Business of sports and entertainment
• Culinary and spirits
• Energy and resource
• Health Sector
• International business
• Investing and economics
• Project Management
• Real Estate
• Sales and marketing
• Sustainability
• Women in Management

Placement Figures 

The achievement of Ivey’s job placement is mainly attributed to its exceptional Career Management division. This department aids MBA students throughout their recruitment and interview procedures, furnishes them with necessary tools and resources, and supports them in cultivating the essential skills for a successful post-MBA career path. The cohort utilized events involving business partners and alumni for recruitment, information shared by Career Management, and the proficiencies honed during the program. Among the students, 34% leveraged their networking abilities to secure job opportunities, while 59% capitalized on the opportunities facilitated by the School.

Admission Details 

Requirements/eligibility.

• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
• GMAT score 

The GMAT requirement is waived for applications who have passed all 3 Levels of the CFA designation or, possess a CPA designation (CPA Canada), possess a P.Eng designation (P.Eng Canada), or those who have a  valid  and competitive LSAT or MCAT score.

• Resumé demonstrating a minimum of two years, full-time work experience.
• TOEFL or IELTS score (if required for ESL applicants).**
• Two professional references.
• Online application including completion of two required written essay questions and two required video questions.
• Application fee of $150 CAD.

The deadline for applying to the Ivey MBA program is a crucial milestone for aspiring business leaders. It signifies the window of opportunity to embark on a transformative journey of personal and professional growth. As this deadline approaches, candidates are faced with the task of presenting their qualifications, experiences, and aspirations in a compelling manner. It is a moment of anticipation, where individuals must showcase their unique strengths and potential contributions to the Ivey community. Beyond the administrative significance, the deadline represents a gateway to a world-class education, unparalleled networking opportunities, and a path toward future success. So, for those with aspirations of joining the ranks of Ivey’s accomplished alumni, the deadline is not just a date on the calendar; it’s a chance to seize the future.

Expert Tips for a Stellar Application

• Start Early:  Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essays. Rushed applications may not reflect your true potential.
• Be Authentic:  Admissions teams value authenticity. Share genuine stories that highlight your journey and motivations.
• Show Fit:  Illustrate how Ivey’s values and offerings align with your aspirations. Demonstrating a strong fit can enhance your application.
• Use Concrete Examples:  Back your statements with specific examples. Whether discussing leadership or failures, concrete instances make your essays more impactful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q:  What is the ideal length for each essay?  A:  Each essay should be around 500 words. Convey your message concisely while addressing all components of the prompt.

Q:  Can I submit additional documents along with my essays?  A:  The application only requires the specified essays. Additional documents are not considered as part of the evaluation.

Q:  Are interviews part of the admissions process?  A:  Yes, shortlisted candidates are invited to interviews. It’s an opportunity to further showcase your fit for the program.

Q:  How important are the essays in the selection process?  A:  Essays play a significant role in evaluating your candidacy. They offer insights beyond your academic achievements.

Q:  Can I reapply if my application is not successful?  A:  Absolutely. Many successful candidates reapply after taking time to enhance their profiles.

Q:  Are scholarships available for Ivey MBA students?  A:  Yes, Ivey offers various scholarships based on merit and need. Check the official website for detailed information.

Navigating the Ivey MBA admissions process is a journey in itself. By understanding the deadlines, mastering the essay requirements, and following expert advice, you’re setting yourself up for success. Remember, this is not just about getting into a program; it’s about showcasing your potential to make a meaningful impact in the business world.

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Ivey’s 6 Tips For Being a Good MBA Applicant

There are a lot of do’s and don’ts to being a good MBA applicant, writes Jenni Denniston , manager of MBA admissions at recruiting at the Richard Ivey School of Business , on the Ivey blog Friday.

As you enjoy the last day of this long weekend signaling the unofficial start of summer, take a moment to reflect on Denniston’s six spot-on tips and make sure you’re following this advice as we head full-force into application season.

1. Do your homework Read each school’s website thoroughly before shooting off any emails to an admissions officer or to general inquiries. It reflects poorly on you if you’re asking questions that can be found on the FAQ page.

2. If the opportunity exists to create an account with your target school(s), do so Being on the mailing list keeps you in the loop for invite-only applicant events, deadlines and other important information. If the school doesn’t know you’re interested in the program, it can’t keep you apprised of any news that would help in your application process.

3. Attend events hosted by your target B-school(s) Whether it is an MBA Fair, Info Session, Open House, etc., attending an event in person and meeting representatives from the school is a great way to determine if the school is a good fit with your personality and background.  It also shows that you have a higher level of commitment than a person who simply submits an application without any interaction.

4. Read the application requirements/instructions carefully While requirements are similar among B-schools, they are not identical, so be sure to know exactly what you need to submit, and what the minimum application requirements are.  You will save yourself (and the admissions team) a lot of time and frustration if you take the time to print out the checklist and follow the directions.

5. Plan Ahead Once you determine which schools you will apply to, work backwards: determine which deadline you are targeting to submit your application, schedule your GMAT for at least a month before this date (just in case you decide you want to re-write), and have a conversation with your banker/parents/financial advisor about the investment you are looking to make in your education.

6. Be Patient After reading the website and application instructions thoroughly (Tips #1 and 4), you should have a sense of what will happen after you click the submit button on your application: if the school indicates that it will contact you, be patient and let them contact you. Many programs have a ”˜no news is good news’ policy, so if anything is missing from your application, or if you are required to schedule an interview, you will be notified as soon as possible.

Denniston elaborates further on each point, so be sure to read the original post for the complete scoop. Here’s to taking the first steps in preparing a terrific application! * * * * *

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Ivey Business School

ABOUT IVEY BUSINESS SCHOOL

Ivey started as a minor section of the Faculty of Arts curriculum in the basement of Western University College in 1922. Ivey now takes its position on the global scene as one of the world’s top business schools.

Ivey is distinguished by its exceptional track record of creating leaders. Ivey has produced more C-level executives than any other Canadian business school, with two out of every five alumni occupying senior management roles in their businesses. This distinguishes Ivey from the crowd when it comes to business school in Canada.

IVEY BUSINESS SCHOOL RANKING 

Several news sources publish a package that rates business schools against one another. Most rankings assess schools across numerous dimensions, with differing weights allocated to specific components.

• Bloomberg Businessweek has named Ivey Canada’s top MBA program for six years (2014-2019). According to a 2017 study of businesses, Ivey is the sixth-best MBA school situated outside the United States.
• The Financial Times selected our Executive Education program as the best in Canada in 2020. Our Custom programs have also been voted number one for three years (2018-2020).
• The Economist (Full-time MBA ranking) ranked our MBA Program first in Canada in 2021 for:
• School Experience (9th globally)
• Alumnus/Student Evaluation of Career Services (11th globally)
• Student Attributes (43rd globally).

IVEY MBA ACCEPTANCE RATE: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GET INTO IVEY?

For a good reason, the Ivey HBA AEO Admissions Process is one of Canada’s most competitive and rigorous.

The HBA Program is one of the most prominent business schools in the country, which means that the Admissions Board only wants the smartest and brightest candidates to attend their program.

It is expected that over 7,500 applicants apply to Ivey each year, with just 600-700 students accepted—an admission rate of 8.5 percent .

WHAT DOES IVEY LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICANT?

Ivey is well-known for its case method approach. Students are given a real business scenario and challenged to choose as the decision-maker, rather than learning theory or reading from textbooks.

• Maintain a full course load during your two years of university (the equivalent of 10.0 Western courses).
• Complete at least ten university courses, including Business 2257, with a minimum grade point average of 70%.
• Completing a high school mathematics course or its equivalent is required for students planning to attend university.
• Complete Business 2257 at Western or an equivalent course. Visit Business 2257 Equivalents for a list of acceptable equivalents.
• A minimum grade of 70% in Business 2257 or equivalent is required.

Ivey is a very competitive school; their curriculum is different from other B-schools, it’s demanding, time-consuming, and practical approaches; therefore, they look for academically strong applicants, have a learner’s mentality, and manage stress while working!

IVEY MBA ESSAYS QUESTIONS

Here’s a sneak peek at the questions (all of which are available in our application):

• After finishing your MBA, what career do you want to pursue, and why? How would the Ivey Business School assist you in achieving these objectives? (maximum of 250 words)
• Explain why you think you’ll succeed in the Ivey case study setting. (maximum of 250 words)
• If you could pick anyone (living or dead) to teach a course at Ivey, who would you pick and why? (maximum of 250 words)

HOW TO MAKE YOUR APPLICATION UNIQUE FOR IVEY?

Some people feel that having a high GMAT score will get them into their desired school, but this is not the case; we’ve seen many people with a 640 GMAT score get into their chosen School.

When it comes to applying to business school, having a systematic strategy puts you ahead of the competition, including one that considers your abilities, weaknesses, academic data, educational requirements, professional objectives, and personal life experiences, among other things.

TYPE OF MBAS OFFERED BY IVEY

Ivey provides full-time undergraduate (HBA), MBA, MSc, MFE, and Ph.D. programs and EMBA and Executive Education programs in Toronto and Hong Kong. It is recognized for founding the country’s first MBA and Ph.D. programs in business.

• MSc in Management
• Full-Time MBA
• Accelerated MBA
• Executive MBA
• MBA Direct for HBAs
• Master of Management in Analytics
• The Ivey Academy
• Pre-Ivey Experiences
• Ivey Asia – Executive Education

IVEY CAREER DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Through the Alumni Portal, you may access a variety of employment tools.

• Workbook on career management**- Electronic versions of the career workbooks used in the Career Management in-class workshops and optional clinics are available here.
• Self-assessment program for professional leaders  – To better understand how your talents, values, and interests are connected to career possibilities, take advantage of a great online self-assessment tool built exclusively for business vocations.
• Interview Prep tool  – Ivey Career Management provides you with this tool as an extra resource to help you put together the most successful self-marketing campaign possible throughout the on-campus and off-campus interview stages. InterviewStream has an extensive database of over 7000 pre-recorded interview questions, both behavioral and industry-specific, that you can use to practice developing your answers, hear from a coach about what recruiters expect from the question, and hear different approaches you might consider in answering the question.

*Source –  https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/alumni/resources/career-services/

TOP CAREERS AT IVEY

This class has been committed to its professional goals and to assisting one another in growing and developing to achieve new levels of personal accomplishment. By three months after graduation, 97 percent of the class had received at least one employment offer, and by three months after graduation, 97 percent of the course had received at least one job offer. This figure has climbed to 99 percent six months after graduation.

The year has been revolutionary since 89 percent of individuals who received offers made at least one job transfer – whether to a different industry, function, or location. In addition, Ivey grads were well-represented in the consulting portfolio (30%), the diversified portfolio (17%), and financial services (17%) (29 percent). More students have been able to use their abilities, competencies, and professional experience to gain offers from many businesses, which is positive.

IVEY MBA DEADLINES

IVEY MBA CLASS PROFILE: CLASS OF 2022

IVEY MBA FEES

We understand that funding an MBA entails more than simply paying tuition; an MBA from Ivey Business School is an investment in yourself.

Tuition 

Domestic Students – CAD 83,250

International Students – CAD 120,500

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Nearly 80% of the new students (domestic and international) are awarded entrance scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $65,000.

CAMPUS FACILITIES

Ivey Business School is located on the campus of Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, halfway between Toronto and Detroit. It also has programs in London at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, which is a short distance from Western’s campus.

Ivey has also expanded outside of London, with campuses in downtown Toronto at the Donald K. Johnson Centre and in Hong Kong at the Cheng Yu Tung Management Institute.

Ivey graduates made up 8% of those hired into corporate leadership programs. Graduates of these programs get in-depth knowledge of the corporation and ongoing mentoring and tailored training in various business disciplines.

For the Class of 2021, the Ivey network’s influence was evident. Recruiting events with business partners and alumni, job postings through Career Management and their talents built during the program were all used by the class. Thirty-four percent of students acquired their prospects through their networking skills, while 59 percent took advantage of possibilities presented by the School. That is why Ivey is the right approach for you.

Top Recruiters

• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
• McKinsey & Company
• Partners in Performance
• Strategy&
• Johnson & Johnson

Average Salary Package

The MBA program and case method at Ivey Business School are intensive, fast-paced, and participatory. As a result, they want applicants who are analytical and comfortable solving issues and making judgments in the face of uncertainty or inadequate information. Their assessment is based on your academic history and your GMAT or GRE result. They consider these in the context of a holistic framework that aims to comprehend all elements of a candidate’s personality, credentials, and experiences.

Our mission is to help candidates gain clarity in their life around their vision, purpose, and goals, which puts us ahead of the competition. We help you with issues like self-awareness, market (applicant) landscape, and strategy, allowing you to distinguish your application (Essays, LORs, Resume) from hundreds of other DINGS. We provide both successful and unsuccessful applications to demonstrate the distinctions between many people. Ou.r slogan is “I am not a Ding.”

FREE PROFILE EVALUATION CALL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ivey Business School hard to get into?

It is believed that over 7,500 applicants apply to Ivey each year, with only 600-700 students accepted, resulting in an admission rate of 8.5 percent. According to the statistics, entrance is quite challenging.

What is Ivey business school famous for?

Ivey is well-known for its case method approach. Students are given a genuine business scenario and challenged to choose as if they were the decision-maker, rather than learning theory or reading from textbooks.

Is Ivey business school accredited?

The European Federation of Management Development (EFMD) has recognized the Ivey HBA Program through EQUIS, the premier international method of quality evaluation, improvement, and certification of higher education institutions in management and business administration.

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IVEY MBA Sample Essays

Free samples from past clients, ivey mba application essays 2023-2024.

• What are your short-term career plans immediately post-MBA, and why is an Ivey MBA essential to those plans? (250 words)
• Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life, and what lessons you learned from it. (250 words)

Optional Essays:

• In your opinion, do your post-secondary grades accurately reflect your abilities? If no, please explain. (250 – 500 words)
• What, if anything, hasn’t this application given you the opportunity to say about yourself or circumstances you think would be important in the evaluation of your application? (250 – 500 words) 

IVEY MBA Winning Sample Essays – 1

IVEY MBA Essay 1: What are your short-term career plans immediately post-MBA, and why is an Ivey MBA essential to those plans? (250-word limit)

I have 3.5 years of professional experience in the tech-consulting domain. Post-MBA, I would like to remain in the consulting domain but would like to broaden my horizons from tech to strategy consulting and aspire to work for the big 3 MBB consulting firms.  

I started my professional career with my own startup ‘Fixea360’ where we merged Layout Design & Planning with Virtual Reality. We scaled ‘Fixea360’ to 70+ customers and became profitable within the first 6 months. Later in the year, we received a great offer of acquisition from ‘SpectraVR’ and my partners and I decided to make a successful exit. Post Fixea360, I joined Accenture, where, in the last 2 years, I’ve worked with international clients like Volkswagen and British Telecom which has helped me further enhance my technical and cross-functional business skills.

Now, in order to grow my career as a consultant, I believe, I should upskill myself via a formal business education. After discussions with current MBA students, I think Ivey’s MBA program would be one of the best-suited programs to fulfill my objectives.

At Ivey, I really liked the focus on the case study model, combined with hands-on learning programs like the Capstone module. I believe these can give me holistic exposure to problem-solving and pragmatic decision-making. Also as depicted in the employment report, 28% of the graduating class joined consulting industries, which is a testament in itself that IVEY’s MBA can provide me with the knowledge, network, and employment opportunities to fulfill my short-term goals.

IVEY MBA Essay 2: What is the most important issue that you’ve ever changed your mind about? (250-word limit)

I’ve always been a passionate musician, I was a part of the rock band ‘Incendium’ as the lead vocalist and the rhythm guitarist. 

In Feb’17, I was invited to be a part of a unique 100 member band ‘The live 100 experience’. The band had 100 musicians from all over the country performing together in synchrony. We performed in front of Mr Amit Trivedi, a renowned Indian Music director. Our performance gathered 1.4 Million views on youtube and we became a youtube sensation. 

Post that performance, the band wanted to take part in India’s Got Talent (IGT). IGT would have been a big commitment with lots of travelling and rehearsals. I had to choose music or a professional career. After long discussions with my family and friends, I decided to opt-out of the band. 

The unique idea of the band was very well accepted, the band made it to the Grand Finale of India’s Got Talent Season 8 and became a national sensation overnight. Given the popularity and the fame received by the band I initially started to rethink my decision.

Quitting music and missing out on a lifetime opportunity was one of the biggest & hardest decisions of my life. But now, I have moved on and won multiple recognition for my work at Accenture. These recognitions have more than compensated for the missed opportunities and today I am more resolute and dedicated to my career and dream of becoming a successful consultant.

IVEY MBA Essay 3: The scholarship essay should be no longer than 500 words and should specifically address the questions outlined below. Please feel free to copy and paste from other parts of your Ivey MBA application as this portion is seen by the Financial Aid Office only. Paragraph 1:  Outline your intended career goal after completing the Ivey MBA program.  Be as specific as possible indicating industry as well.  Paragraph 2:  Please provide examples of demonstrated leadership within the community, either now or during your undergrad.   Paragraph 3:  Please outline any additional community involvement you have had.  Paragraph 4:  Please indicate how you plan to finance the Ivey MBA program.

I started my professional career with my own startup ‘Fixea360’ where we merged Layout Design & Planning with Virtual Reality. We scaled ‘Fixea360’ to 70+ customers and became profitable within the first 6 months. Later in the year, we received a great offer of acquisition from ‘Spectra VR’ and my partners and I decided to make a successful exit. With my experience at a startup and the fervor for technology, I joined Accenture. For the past 2 years, I’ve been fortunate to serve 2 of the biggest names in the respective industries, Volkswagen, and British Telecom which has helped me reinforce my cross-functional business understanding. Working at my start-up and later at MNC such as Accenture, one thing that’s been common is my affinity towards problem-solving. Analyzing a complex situation to come up with tangible solutions for the same has been something that has always intrigued me. In light of the above reasons, in the short-term, I intend to work as a strategy consultant at a firm like Mckinsey.

Having grown up wanting to contribute to society in some way or the other, I joined the Rotaract-club in the Year 2015. I initially volunteered for various blood donation camps and fund-raising campaigns for the underprivileged. As a recognition of my efforts, I was appointed as the Professional-Director of the Club. I focus on the cause of helping underprivileged youths and I look for ways to positively impact their lives. During this attempt, I found that a huge part of the underprivileged youth in India was unaware of the job prospects out there for them. I personally assessed their profiles and conducted sessions to equip them with the necessary skills, making them job-ready. As a result, I was able to help 91+ young diploma holders acquire a job within the next 6 months

I am also closely related to the Royal-Rose Foundation which is a small child age home in Pune for children affected with HIV. The home hosts around 15 children. I frequent the place to spend time with the kids and to occasionally teach them subjects like mathematics & history. Last year, I organized a fundraising campaign in collaboration with the Rotaract-club and helped raise more than 50,000 INR which was helpful to the foundation in terms of arranging medication for the children.

In terms of funding my MBA, after a brief discussion with current students at Ivey and the figures posted on the Ivey-website, I believe the total cost of the program including tuition, living expenses, supplies, etc would approximately be  CAD 140000. My savings along with some financial support from my parents contribute up to CAD 60000. For the rest of the amount, I plan to apply for a loan from a nationalized bank in India or Prodigy-Finance. But the high loan amount along with the high-interest rates on loans in India put a lot of pressure on the student and so a scholarship would help me to a great extent to be focused on the course.

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IVEY MBA Winning Sample Essays – 2

I have 7+ years of experience, as an IT consultant, an entrepreneur and a business consultant in a management consulting firm. After an MBA, my short-term goal is to transition to a full-time strategy consulting role in firms like the MBB’s and the Big 4’s.

I started my career in the IT industry as a technical consultant and after 3 years decided to pursue my passion and took to entrepreneurship. After a 2 year stint of running my own cafe, I have now joined another startup in the management consulting domain where I lead the sales and marketing strategy teams.

My consulting and entrepreneurship experiences have transformed me from a team member to a leader and exposed me to the intricacies of working with cross-functional teams.  However, to build a successful career as a consultant, I think I need to fulfill knowledge gaps and upskill myself through an MBA. After extensive research & discussions with Ivey alums Matthew Simioni & Arun Bala Pazhayannur, I believe an MBA from Ivey would be a perfect fit for my desired needs and short-term goals.

IVEY’s case study-based methodology and the Field Project will give me the opportunity to hone independent thinking,  gain hands-on exposure to end-to-end consulting and learn from the feedback of a diverse peer group. Additionally, after 7 years of exp, I believe the crisp 1 year MBA would allow me to enter the workforce quickly, therefore I am convinced that Ivey’s MBA offers a perfect package to meet my needs and aspirations.

In 2016, I decided to quit my IT consulting job and pursue my dream to open my own cafe. I started a bistro in the heart of Mumbai serving Belgium waffles and crepes and my cafe was the first to introduce waffle sandwiches in Mumbai.

I bootstrapped the business and believed that a good product would speak for itself and make my business grow in leaps and bounds. With that belief, I focused on providing exceptional in-house customer service and menu but skipped on external marketing to keep my overheads low. We continued our focus on good service to generate repeat business but as more competition and waffle houses joined the fray repeat business dwindled.

That’s when I realized that, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Word of mouth works but at a snail’s pace, and a good product speaks for itself but only in a whisper. It is marketing that educates the customer about the “value” of the product and makes the “whisper” audible. 20 months into the business, we had grown nominally, the initial buzz created through publications had been forgotten, & money that remained was sufficient to either foot the bills or market the product.

A few months later, I shut the business – but opened my mind. Lesson learned, and the first thing I did when I joined the management consulting startup was to onboard a digital marketing agency, increase investments overtime in targeted digital campaigns, and launch a bi-annual, mega-networking event with media and sponsors to increase visibility exponentially.

IVEY MBA Essay 3: The scholarship essay should be no longer than 500 words and should specifically address the questions outlined below. Please feel free to copy and paste from other parts of your Ivey MBA application as this portion is seen by the Financial Aid Office only. Paragraph 1:  Outline your intended career goal after completing the Ivey MBA program.  Be as specific as possible indicating industry as well. Paragraph 2:  Please provide examples of demonstrated leadership within the community, either now or during your undergrad. Paragraph 3:  Please outline any additional community involvement you have had. Paragraph 4:  Please indicate how you plan to finance the Ivey MBA program. 

I have 7+ years of experience as a consultant and an entrepreneur acquiring skills across varied functions & industries. I started as a techno-functional consultant with an IT major working with a cross-functional team (Finance, Sales, IT) across UAE, USA, India on a financial project. As an entrepreneur and a consultant in the hospitality sector, I learned the intricacies of business management & top-line growth strategies. Today, I work as a Business Consultant with a management consulting startup, formulating its marketing & sales strategy. In this role so far, I have worked with seasoned consultants & companies ranging from $1M to $40B across FMCG, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Renewable Energy, and increased my company’s top-line growth by 40%. My goal after an Ivey MBA is to transition to full-time strategy consulting.

In terms of community engagement, Since October 2017, I have been engaged with a charity named XXX, helping as a pro bono hospitality and fund-raising consultant to build its dream project – a café cum training institute.

After I shut my entrepreneurial venture – a dessert bistro in the heart of Mumbai, I took a spiritual break in Dharamshala, India. Here, by a chance encounter, I met XXXXX co-founder of the American-Tibetan run NGO XXX. He educated me about his work and sought help to build a café cum training institute that can serve as a sustainable revenue source for the NGO’s community service & also as a platform to teach the refugees about barista & patisserie making skills which are highly employable skills in the tourist town of Dharamshala. I have since provided strategic & operational guidance to the NGO, collaborated with professors & students from Tulane University, New Orleans to crowdfund USD 5k, & brought the Macquarie Group onboard to donate USD 17k. The café-institute is under construction today & will be launched by Jul 2019.

Apart from that, I am also an active volunteer with an NGO for cancer treatment & research. The cause is very close to my heart since my mother has been working in this field & educating me about it for nearly 2 decades. Last year I raised USD 8.5K for the charity. The amount covered the chemotherapy, radiation & medical aid for 13 patients for a year. For the last 4 years, I have been helping the charity organize awareness marathons & entertainment programs for children suffering from cancer.

In regards to funding my MBA, with my research on the website & discussion with Ivey alum Bharath Jami, I believe the total expenses including tuition, PKP, international study exchange & living would approximately amount to CAD 150,000. My personal savings of about CAD 23,000 will help cover most of my living expenses and My family (parents, and brother located in the US) have promised to contribute CAD 64,000 towards my education. To cover the remaining cost of CAD 62000, I will avail of an education loan from a private financial institution but 62,000 is a big loan amount and a scholarship would go to a great extent to keep my burden low so that I can focus on my learning and continue my community work as well.

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The Most Common MBA Admission Essay Prompts: MBA Ivy League

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The most common mba admission essay prompts, mba admission essay success, or how to get into a top ten or ivy league business school:.

MBA admission essay prompts are the first encounter you will probably have with your application.

The questions may change every year, but the MBA essay prompts for the Top Ten business school programs typically fall into the same consistent categories. This means YOU have an edge if you know what the essay questions are before you begin your applications:

Read through the below to see the most common MBA admission essay questions:

• Why are you pursuing an MBA?
• In this question, Ivy League and Top Ten MBA admissions officers are looking for your motivation in terms of your current work and/or life experiences.
• Think about where you think an MBA can take you in your career , and how you couldn’t get there as easily without the degree.
• What is it about this particular school’s business school program that has caused you to apply to this particular school? Why HBS, or MIT Sloan, or Kellogg, Wharton, or any of the other Top Ten bschool programs?
• In other words, know your school!

2. What are some strengths and weaknesses you have?

• Failure is not a negative by itself and the way you responded to it is very telling! Give examples how you failed, but how you learned from those examples and overcame adversity in order to learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Show that you own your failures and grew from them, and that way every life experience becomes valuable!

3. How have you shown yourself as a leader?

• This is your opportunity to show your leadership style and how you use it to successfully complete projects. Admission officers want to see that you can influence and motivate a team. Just because a person has a leadership position doesn’t mean they are any good at it! Showcase what makes you a great leader.

4. What makes you stand out?

• You need to show off the qualities that you possess that make you stand out and make you more unique than other candidates. Remember most of the applicants are all going to be high performers but you are unique from them and here’s where you can demonstrate that to the MBA admissions officers.

5. What principles do you work and live by?

• MBA admission officers are looking for people with strong business ethics and values. Everyone can talk about good values, but having solid examples where you show your commitment to them even perhaps when tempted will resonate strongly.

If you need more guidance and insight please reach out for a free MBA or EMBA consultation.

As a former Harvard admissions interviewer and Harvard grad, I specialize in helping clients get into the Top Ten + Ivy League MBA and EMBA programs around the world.

Take a look at my website at:  www.MBAIvy.com and let me help you get into a great MBA program and achieve your dreams!

Also, check out my other MBA & EMBA  admission essay tips and blog articles, such as The 5 mistakes That Will Ding Your MBA Application!

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Ivey MBA essays

All about Ivey MBA Essays and Ivey as the top Canadian Business School

Ivey MBA Essays After a number of years with the same essay set, Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in Canada has refurbished its essay set. Ivey MBA essays haven’t been completely revamped, but one of them has been completely changed. Now, Ivey applicants will be facing a lot more competition and will see a lot more selectivity (not implying that the selectivity was low earlier), as more MBA applicants target top Canadian business schools for their MBA.

In the Financial Times MBA ranking, Ivey has not been ranked very favorably historically. We believe that Ivey’s low ranking is in contrast to the high quality of education and strong career opportunities it offers to its students, and consider this to be a case of an outstanding school ranked low.

We have earlier posted articles on how we feel that the FT ranking does not completely reflect reality always and why the ranks of various schools cannot be taken at face value in all cases.

Richard Ivey MBA essays and analysis

Q1. what are your short-term career plans immediately post-mba, and why is an ivey mba essential to those plans (250 word limit).

GyanOne analysis : This essay continues from years past. It reflects Ivey’s continued focus on understanding its applicants’ career objectives and determining how well the school could help these applicants fulfill these objectives.

Some applicants make the mistake of assuming that this is a regulation essay that is more of a formality – simply mentioning broad career goals and overall reasons for how Ivey fits in with those will do.

Absolutely not! Ivey is particular in ensuring that you are clear about what you wish to achieve, why an MBA is even important to achieve that objective, and why you are choosing Ivey, and not some other school that is similar to Ivey. For international applicants, reasons for applying to Ivey gain even more importance.

To prepare well for this essay, understand in-depth your career plans, and scrutinize, evaluate, and question them. This essay is brief, so it will not call upon you to express that entire detail into the essay, but the understanding helps!

Expressing as much as this essay asks in just 250 words will be very difficult otherwise. Similarly, gain an understanding of the program you are applying to – why this program/school? If you are smart, you will also be able to relate the first and the second parts of your answer into a seamless whole, rather than simply listing out common features of the Ivey MBA.

Richard Ivey School of Business campus

Q2. Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life, and what lessons you learned from it. (250 word limit)

GyanOne analysis: It’s like George Herbert said: “The greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory.” In other words, when you’re facing a daunting task, you can look at it in two ways: “Oh no! The worst! I give up!” or “Oh good! A chance to prove myself!”

Ivey wants to see that you’re more of a #2 than a #1. So let’s talk about how you can show them that in your MBA application essay. Business school is all about challenges. You have to have a thick skin when it comes to them, because you’re going to be facing them every day. So, as you think about this experience, make sure that the challenge was something you had no control over. That way you can talk about how it made you feel out of control and vulnerable, which will connect it to your MBA experience.

First, pick a challenge. It can be anything from a major life event to something that happened in your professional or personal life. Here are some examples of challenges you could write about for this Ivey MBA essay:

• A major obstacle in your career
• A difficult decision you made and why
• An ethical dilemma or difficult decision you had to make in your life

The challenge you select should be fairly recent and significant. Ideally, it would have occurred within the last five years or so, and it should have had a major impact on your life. So don’t pick something like when you lost your first tooth, or when you first learned to ride a bike; those are both neat-o stories, but they’re not particularly relevant to the Ivey MBA program.

Instead, think of a time in the last several years when something happened that caused you to reevaluate a core belief of yours. For example, maybe you thought that you would always live in [city name], but then you got a job offer to work in [city name]. That’s a challenge! What are you going to do? Do you take the job? What if your family is there? What if all of your friends are there?

Next, explain what happened.

Once you’ve identified a challenge that was significant enough to merit discussion in an essay for an MBA program, the next step is to discuss what happened. How did things unfold? How did you react? And importantly, how did your reaction change over time as events unfolded? This is what gives your story its narrative shape—the arc of conflict and your rising up to the challenge.

In this section, Ivey wants to know what you learned from this experience. Don’t just summarize the story: give them some insight into what it taught you about life and yourself. If possible, try to connect it back to business school somehow so that they can see how going through this experience has prepared you for success in the program.

For example, if an essay is asking for a discussion of your leadership experience, you shouldn’t spend 75% of the space talking about how much you love working in teams. That’s not what they asked. You should be answering their question directly, instead of shifting the focus off of what they want to hear about.

Looking to apply to top Canadian MBA programs?

Gyanone has a 100% success record of helping its clients make it to top canadian schools like ivey, rotman, queen’s, sauder, and schulich. see some of our testimonials  here ,  here , and  here . if you are applying to a canadian mba program,  contact us today  to know how we can help you too, or just for a free profile evaluation.

Q3. Scholarship essay :  Please feel free to complete the scholarship essay in a word document and then paste it into this area.The scholarship essay should be no longer than 500 words and should specifically address the questions outlined below. Please feel free to copy and paste from other parts of your Ivey MBA application.

Paragraph 1: Outline your intended career goal after completing the Ivey MBA program.Be as specific as possible indicating industry as well.

Paragraph 2: Highlight key examples of your academic and professional successes to-date.

Paragraph 3: Please provide examples of demonstrated leadership from your previous employment and/or from within the community.

The scholarship essay is optional, but filling it in doesn’t affect your chances of admission, so no harm at all in going for it. This essay too has been around for a while, and is not a change in the Ivey MBA essays since.

For this one, focus on highlighting your differentiators, and not simply a list of your achievements, though the essay seems to at first glance be asking for that. Similarly, when you discuss leadership (para 3), create impact – do not make the mistake of assuming that holding a designation or a role constitutes leadership. Think action!

Q4. Two video essays* (to be recorded live)

Video essays are a new feature introduced by Ivey in the 2016-17 application, and they continued thereafter. For starters, this video  from Ivey itself provides context into what Ivey is expecting from applicants in this component.

Overall, we feel that the video essays are much less bothersome than most applicants actually make them out to be.

As long as you keep your communication crisp, and go over a few examples of your life and work, you should be ready to tackle almost anything that Ivey throws at you. The essay topics are all meant to be addressed impromptu, and there will be no question that requires research/expertise to answer.

Ivey MBA deadlines 

Application Deadlines (general):

Round 1: 1st week of February

Round 2: 1st week of April

Round 3: 2nd week of July

Round 4: 3rd week of September

Round 5: 2nd week of November

Round 6: 1st week of January

International applicants should apply by Round 4. Do note also that although Ivey has deadlines, it follows a rolling process. Submit your application earlier to have a higher chance of admission.

Want to check out more on Ivey MBA?

GyanOne Ivey MBA Admission Success Stories

Ivey MBA Interview Questions

Richard Ivey MBA Admissions Team Interviews with GyanOne

MBA scholarship at Rotman and Ivey: Tough Dilemma for an Indian CA

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