Please introduce yourself and the degree you are currently completing. Briefly describe your path to Ivey and any passions you pursued along the way.
My name is Rachel Senatore, and I'm currently in my third year completing the HBA degree here at Ivey. I completed my first two years in BMOS with a specialization in accounting. I'd say my journey to Ivey began as early as 2019, after visiting Western and the Ivey open house with my older brother — I remember walking into that presentation and just being so impressed by the Ivey panel. Ivey's sense of community and diversity, in my mind, was superior to any other business school. From then, I dedicated the rest of high school to setting myself up for AEO candidacy. I deepened my involvement in high school by tending to my passions for mental health and well-being and later founded the Jack.org chapter at my high school. Since studying at Western, I've strived to continue my involvement as a founding executive of UWO Sunshines, a student-led club supporting women’s mental health. I have also always been heavily involved in sports: I was a student-athlete in high school and have continued this passion at Western through my involvement in intramural sports.
A Complete Toolkit for Thriving at Ivey:
How do you prepare for a typical class at Ivey? How much time do you spend studying each day?
Typically, Ivey students have three classes a day, and I tend to dedicate about an hour of work to each class. This time allows me to prepare for class by reading any assigned supplementary material and attempting the case with a study group or individually. From personal experience, I think it's important to leave yourself enough time to tackle a case on your own and anticipate the group discussions rather than waiting to find out all the answers during class. With that said, during exam season, studying tends to be a long process because of the nature of the Ivey curriculum, which is application-based rather than memorization-dependent. It can certainly take time to revise and redo all the classroom cases in preparation for exams.
What qualities/characteristics are needed to thrive at Ivey?
Everyone's success at Ivey is unique because their journeys and strengths are so diverse. However, I think the overarching qualities in all successful Ivey students include being highly motivated and unafraid of struggling. Whether it's being involved in the community, thriving academically, or seeking career opportunities, it's easy to see Ivey students are fueled by some motivating factor in their lives. And that's what makes Ivey truly special — it's a community of people who work super hard to achieve their deepest ambitions. They pick something that really makes them wake up in the morning and go for it. I would also say that to be successful at Ivey, you should have the courage to struggle. The case method can be daunting, especially when dealing with fresh concepts. Successful students put their minds to this challenge and embrace the discomfort of not knowing all the answers before class, often pushing themselves academically.
What are your favourite classes at Ivey, and why? What are the most difficult subjects, and how do you prepare for them?
My favourite subject, which happens to be the one that was initially the most challenging for me, is Accounting and Financial Fundamentals ("FinFun"). I found this course challenging because it covers brand-new material from BMOS, moves very quickly, and requires many quantitative concepts to be self-taught. Though at first, this class was definitely not my favourite, I had an amazing professor (shoutout to Matthew Sooy), who reaffirmed for me that accounting is something I want to pursue further. Turning such a demanding class into one of my favourites came down to the "aha" moments when I'd finally understand a difficult concept. Moments like these make tough courses so much more satisfying and impactful than classes that came more naturally to me. Trying cases before I went to class became a paramount habit for me. Reading the cases and devising a solution, even if it was unquantified or incomplete, helped me better grasp the concepts during class.
What is your best tip for academic success at Ivey?
For me, having a study group for each class is super important. Everyone who enters Ivey has unique academic backgrounds and skill sets, so leveraging these has helped me learn better. For example, asking a peer about case questions showed me how distinctly people would approach an analysis. These perspectives gave me deeper insights into the case content which was especially useful during exam preparation. So, I think it's really important to bounce ideas off your peers because they're honestly your best resource.
What obstacles have you encountered as an Ivey student, and how have you overcome them?
I'd say some obstacles I encountered during my first few weeks at Ivey were trying to figure out my place in this school, discovering who I am, and navigating where I want to be. I remember working so hard to get my AEO status, maintain it, and then get into Ivey that when I finally got my acceptance letter, my first reaction was “what now?”. Not knowing my next end goal made me feel a bit aimless going into Ivey, and I found this adjustment particularly challenging. Ultimately, this made me rethink what passions drive me. I realized that there's so much more to Ivey than getting in, which compelled me to find my place in this community by trying new things like joining unexplored clubs, going to different information sessions, talking to career advisors, and just getting as much knowledge as I could to not feel so overwhelmed by the transition.
How do maintain your school-life balance?
If you ask anyone at Ivey, they'll tell you it's a work-hard, play-hard environment. With Ivey's rigorous academics, we get up for classes at eight o'clock, and it's several hours of lectures each day. But beyond that, every section at Ivey has weekly socials and networking events planned to keep our spirits high. To balance everything, I like to be well-prepared for the week by reviewing upcoming classwork to ensure I can participate in my section's social events. I also try to attend as many events as possible while ensuring I take time for myself by going to the gym or cooking a meal that reminds me of home, so I am not overwhelmed by a busy schedule.What resources would you recommend for prospective Ivey students?
HBA students are definitely your best resources. All Ivey students have thrived in their first two years at university and understand the application process first-hand. Their lived experience would be valuable for navigating the HBA program and all that it has to offer. It would be a great starting point for anybody with questions or uncertainties about the program to simply reach out to an HBA student. Most HBA students are happy to help out, share their advice, and mentor you. Never be afraid to reach out to them on Facebook or LinkedIn and set up a coffee chat to talk about the program, application process, etc. I find that more experienced HBAs are the most honest, resourceful, and willing to help.
How has being an AEO prepared you for Ivey? By contrast, how does Ivey's academic landscape differ from that of AEO?
I would say that the academic and extracurricular requirements of maintaining AEO status prepared me for Ivey by training me to manage my time better. Learning to stay heavily involved in my community while maintaining strong grades in my first two years of university made balancing Ivey's workload and social life less intimidating. I would also say that the AEO network is really powerful, and as a result, surrounded me with like-minded people who became great resources for me at Ivey. Ivey's academic landscape differs from most undergraduate programs because of the case method, which forces you to adapt to different learning and study styles. Preparing for exams is much more practice-based than in other programs, meaning there is typically more preparation involved. The learning environment is also much more interactive as a large component of your grade is based on the quality of your class contributions. To prepare for this, look for opportunities to speak in class and get used to being comfortable in front of a professor and your peers. Taking Business 1220 and 2257 are great ways to develop your speaking skills.
Lastly, what advice would you give incoming Ivey students on how to get "the most" out of Ivey?
Enjoy your first two years of undergrad, and don't get too hyper-focused on getting into Ivey! You need to work hard and get involved to get accepted into HBA, but the memories and people you meet at this time are also important. In the grand scheme of things, your first two years of university help you to discover who you are and build important habits, rather than solely get into Ivey. Remember to take a deep breath and enjoy everything Western has to offer. It is a sweet moment when you get accepted, but it is even sweeter when you are accepted with great memories and lasting friendships.