On my first day in Canada, I naively decided to weather the snow storm and walk to Ivey with unabated gusto. I slipped 4 times (I counted!) and by the time I reached I was drenched, miserable and scared about what I had landed myself into. It had been 7 months when it snowed for the first time this season. I took the same walk and realized something had changed within me..I was no longer unsure of myself…
I extrapolate this example to encapsulate how I have handled my Ivey stint so far. Adjusting to MBA life at Ivey is not really an adjustment as for the most part there is no time to adjust. The adjustment happens itself ever so organically. From the first day I was challenged by a rigorous curriculum, complex projects and deadlines that always seem so unjust.
However as an international student the biggest challenge was finding a niche for myself and being part of a community. Ivey facilitated this process by organizing multiple social events and providing me the platform to connect with my peers much more frequently in the initial phase. I think it is also incumbent, especially for international students, to be more involved and participative in informal gatherings to establish a comfort level with their peers which is critical in the first few months.
In my initial days, I struggled with operational aspects like finding an accommodation, amenities, groceries, books etc. The process was made so much easier by the help of the senior batch who were more than available for any help that I needed. Ivey has a large contingent of India international students who were able to guide me in not just adjusting but also guiding how to achieve the most out of my time here. Leveraging such a support base is critical for any international student who might be a bit jittery in initial phase.
Another challenge that is more unique to International students is understanding the job market and career paths available in Canada. Ivey’s career management team plays a critical role in this aspect through personal counselling that is a continuous process and it is up to every student to utilize their resources and Ivey’s alumni network. Issues regarding visas are also addressed effectively by events organized by Ivey for international students.
The word “Culture” is thrown around quite liberally by all institutions, but that’s what I credit Ivey the most in my process of social and cultural assimilation. I continue to be amazed at the support I have been given by faculty, administration and most importantly, my fellow students. Ivey is a place where if you ask for help, people will go out of their way while treating you with affection, kindness and respect. You just have to ask…
About Karan Sharma:
Karan Sharma’s passion and competence lies in solving business challenges of clients and driving business growth for organizations. As a technology and business strategy professional with 7+ years of experience, he has bridged the gap between technology requirements of clients and the services portfolio of his organization in order to establish mutually beneficial partnerships. He endeavors to continue adding value to his clients and strengthen his firm’s positioning in the competitive business landscape.