For many AEO students, Ivey seems like a whole new world. Conversations amongst peers can cause anxiety to build up about what’s to come during your HBA and what you must do to prepare. It’s important to remember that you are only at the very beginning of your academic and professional career, and your vision of the future is subject to change. Every HBA student has experienced this shift. One HBA student, Maya, has gone through all your worries and is happy to share her experience and tips to help you adjust.
Maya Atwal is currently in her first year of HBA after completing two years in BMOS as an AEO student. Outside of the classroom, she is interning at Moneris and maintains an active role in clubs such as Smart Solutions. She also holds the position of Vice President of Communications for her Ivey cohort (shoutout Section 3!). Her advice comes from this well-rounded resume and exemplifies the best of the HBA experience at Ivey.
AEO Years
The best way to prepare yourself for the transition from AEO to Ivey is to start implementing good habits now. The transition from high school to university includes its own set of challenges that require adjustments. Maya shared these same worries during her AEO 1 year, saying, “When I first came to Western, I struggled with how to manage my time and get the most out of my day and learning.” To combat this new struggle, Maya shares that breaking her time into larger chunks to focus on specific tasks helped her stay on top of her work. She also shares that it’s important to get to know your professors. By making the effort to get to know and befriend your profs, you open a world of opportunities. It helps solidify your learning and allows for personal advice from professionals in your field of study.
School may not be the only thing on your mind, as extracurricular activities are an important part of university. Balancing a strong average whilst maintaining significant roles in clubs is challenging. Maya relates to this struggle: “I am such a yes-person, I love to take up every opportunity I get, and that makes it hard when there are so many incredible experiences around you.” She recommends staying flexible when plans change but also becoming comfortable with prioritizing. Give yourself permission to make decisions that feel right to you. When it comes to making tough decisions about which opportunity to explore, Maya suggests flipping a coin. “If I’m secretly unhappy with the result,” she explains, “I know what I truly want to do!”
HBA Years
HBA comes sooner than you may expect, and despite the worries surrounding the transition, there are so many things to look forward to. Maya encourages AEO students to get excited about the strong sense of community Ivey provides, “I have never experienced anything like my [first] few months at Ivey. My section is incredibly close and makes every class feel like a dinner discussion with my closest friends and family!” Ivey’s cohort system introduces you to so many unexpected friends who broaden your perspective and enrich your experience; she continues.
That does not mean that Ivey is completely void of challenges; your HBA years will bring obstacles you will need to overcome. Starting in a new, more competitive environment comes with increased pressure. It can be hard to balance the program’s requirements with your personal ambitions. There is no definitive solution, and that pressure may never truly go away; however, Maya shares a useful tip. “Something I always remind myself is that the me 2 years ago would be so proud of where I am now, and that really helps me going through my lower moments.”
When looking at the bigger picture, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Remember to take things one day at a time and keep the future as a guiding thought rather than a rigid path. Things are always subject to change, and new opportunities or experiences will inevitably shape how you envision your HBA experience. Many students begin their HBA experience by following the same vision of success as the crowd, without fully understanding it themselves. Before you begin anything, define what success and excellence mean to you. Maya encapsulates this idea perfectly, saying, “[defining success] has helped me so much to shape my perspective in Ivey. I understand that my path, whether it be in recruiting or academically, may not be linear [or] identical to anyone else’s path. As long as I keep moving every day, I am creating successes, and that’s a lot to be proud of.”