When the Plan Changes
On paper, Abhi Ravipati was the perfect candidate. In high school, she balanced stellar grades with a wide range of glowing extracurriculars. Like many high-achieving students, she set her sights on attending a university south of the border, applying primarily to U.S. schools. When those plans did not unfold as expected, Abhi found herself on a new path — one that would ultimately lead her to Ivey’s HBA program.
Western University was one of only three Canadian schools she applied to. Although she didn't receive an AEO offer, she set off to London with hopes of one day walking the halls of the business school she fell in love with while touring. While the transition was discouraging at first, she embraced Western’s culture and was determined to work towards a future Ivey application without letting the absence of an AEO offer define her experience.
Building a Case for Herself
As a non-AEO student in BMOS, Abhi followed the advice of older students and advisors. She prioritized maintaining competitive grades and fully committed herself to campus involvement. In her first year alone, she held four executive positions across various student organizations and immersed herself in Western’s culture. Looking back, Abhi reflects that while these accomplishments were important, they were not what ultimately set her application apart. Instead, it was the way she framed her experiences through a creative lens, emphasizing activities that she was actually passionate about, like content creation and interesting summer job experiences. Her advice to future HBA students reflects her own path: follow your passions and don’t get too caught up in the mindset of what you “should” be doing as a business student.
Learning from Diverse Perspectives
One of the most impactful aspects of the HBA experience for Abhi has been learning alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds. Ivey's 2+2 structure brings together students from multiple disciplines, and Abhi has seen firsthand how this diversity enriches the classroom. As she noted in her interview, “Some of the most interesting classes have been cases with science-based problems; the Med Sci
students are always the first to raise their hands, and I end up learning so much from their perspectives.”
Through these experiences, Abhi has come to realize how easily business students can become homogenous in their thinking and how important it is to remember the unique perspectives each student brings. This understanding has shaped not only how she navigates the program but also how she reflects on the admissions process itself.
Content Creation as a Creative Outlet
For Abhi, embracing her individuality has included her work as a content creator. She began posting frequently on TikTok toward the end of high school, initially focusing on self-confidence and skincare. She hoped to provide a fresh perspective for young women who were feeling insecure and overwhelmed by filtered, unrealistic content.
After taking a break during her second and third years, Abhi returned to content creation in her final year with a new focus. Her posts now offer an honest, unglamourized look at university life, along with advice for younger students navigating similar challenges. She refers to herself as an online “big sister,” sharing tips and stories in a way that feels genuine and accessible.
What began as a personal outlet ultimately became one of the most compelling parts of her Ivey application, reinforcing the value of pursuing goals that are meaningful to you outside of traditional business pathways.
Redefining the Non-AEO Experience
As Abhi reflects on her journey, she openly acknowledges that being a non-AEO student initially came with feelings of embarrassment. In her first year, there were times when others assumed she was AEO, and she didn’t always correct them. Over time, however, that feeling subsided. Abhi began to realize that working towards her Ivey HBA goal without AEO was a secret superpower, as it motivated her to continue to work hard and pursue her passions.
Now, as she closes out HBA 2, Abhi hopes her story reassures students with similar aspirations that there is no single path to Ivey. Every journey looks different, and those
differences often become a student’s greatest strength. Her advice is simple: follow what genuinely excites you and allow your unique experiences to shape a path that feels authentic.