It’s not uncommon that every year around this time, when the application cycle is in full swing, our MBA recruiting team ends up doing a lot of ‘myth-busting.’ Applicants are nervous, stress levels are high, candidates talk and rumours spread. So – I thought I’d take a bit of time to clear-up some of the myths and rumours that I have seen floating around out there on some of the blogs and forums.
Fact or Fiction: Ivey has a quota of offers/admitted candidates we must meet in each round.
FICTION. To be truthful, the application deadlines exist for the benefit of the applicants. At the end of the day, we’re looking for people who are the best fit for the program. We may make 2 offers per round, we may make 50 – it really depends on the quality of applicants who apply, and when.
Fact or Fiction: People with high GMAT scores will automatically receive an interview/offer of admission.
FICTION. There are some schools who weight the GMAT as the most important part of the application – Ivey is not one of them. We see this as only one piece of a whole application package, and there’s no guarantee that someone with a 750+ GMAT score will be admitted to the program. Ivey’s admissions committee reviews the entire application as a whole, which includes quality and length of work experience, essays, demonstrated leadership experience, references, career acumen and goals, and academic ability. We are looking for well-rounded candidates, with a demonstrated track record of success and leadership, who will contribute thoughtfully in the MBA classroom – this may not be the person with a 750+ GMAT. The good news here is that this means we do not automatically eliminate those with lower than average GMAT scores either.
Fact or Fiction: Candidates who have a similar profile as someone who is already admitted/declined will have the same outcome as well.
FICTION. It’s true that we do see candidates who have similar profiles, backgrounds, experiences and GMAT scores. However, what is true for one, is not necessarily true for all. One thing we are very conscious of is the fact that the application is simply information on paper. It’s not until we speak with a candidate, and gauge his/her soft skills, business acumen, career goals, and personality etc., that we can really make a decision on whether or not someone is a good fit for the program. This is why our interview process is so important. And (thankfully), each candidate is extremely unique, no matter how similar their background and experiences may be. So, concentrate on making YOUR profile stand-out, and don’t dwell on yield rates or the admissions decisions of others.
Fact or Fiction: Candidates are notified either way if they are accepted or declined an interview or offer.
FACT. We try to be extremely conscious of the fact that the bschool application process is a stressful and intense time for applicants. We do our best to process applications as fast as we can, and to manage the expectations for wait times etc. For this reason, we ensure that every, single applicant is contacted (generally by email) about their application result – whether they are invited to interview or not, whether they are receiving an offer, or are being declined or wait-listed. Again, these decisions and notifications are done on a rolling basis as applications are processed in random order.
Fact or Fiction: Every admitted candidate has at least one interview.
FACT. Interviews are by invitation only, and all students who are admitted to the program are interviewed at least once. Most candidates will have one interview only, while some may be asked to sit for two interviews.
Fact or Fiction: Ivey makes all of its admissions offers on the same days, at the same time.
FICTION. Offers are made on a rolling basis and in random order (per round), based on the volume of applications we receive and the time it takes to process them. When an offer is ready to go out, either our Director or Manager of Recruiting & Admissions will make a phone call to the candidate as soon as his/her schedule permits (taking into account their recruiting travel, and applicant time zones!). Remember that even though we do not interview or accept all applicants, ALL files need to be processed, and we may receive more than a hundred per round. We know the wait is stressful, but we ask for your patience!
Fact or Fiction: Ivey is known for Consulting and Finance, so there aren’t many career opportunities outside of these industries.
FICTION. Over 300 firms recruit with Ivey year over year, and certainly not all of them are from Finance and Consulting! Ivey also attracts big players in the industry sector, including (but not limited to) Consumer Package Goods, Health Care and Information Technology. In addition, our goal is to ensure that we provide students with the proper resources for them to succeed in their job search, no matter what their career goals are. If you’re clear on what you’re looking for – whether it’s marketing, entrepreneurship or non-profit – our grads have an unmatched track record of success, and we can work with you to achieve it.
The bottom line here is that there are NO one size fits all answers. It’s possible for questions and answers to differ from one applicant to the next, based on their individual application and experience. My advice is to go directly to the source – contact us at mba@ivey.ca! Blogs and forums are a good way to information share, but it’s also how rumours are spread. So, be conscious of what you read and the source of the information. A response that is true for one person, may not be true for you. We’re always here to help and answer any questions that you have, generally within 24 business hours.
Are there other myths that you want busted? Let us know! You can always leave a comment or question here, or on our Facebook Page or Twitter channel!
Good luck with those apps!