We interviewed J.D. Clarke - the Executive Director, Recruitment of Admissions (Masters Programs) to learn about the biggest Misconception about Ivey MBA and the admission process for getting into the one-year MBA program.
What is the biggest misconception about Ivey MBA program?
The one that causes many potential candidates to self-select out of the process is probably the misconception that we only have students from business or engineering backgrounds in the program. In fact, we seek out students who have diverse experience as it adds to the overall classroom experience. We have had doctors in the program, military personnel, students with arts and music backgrounds, professional athletes, and the list goes on.
Our students have mentioned learning from peers as the most surprising part of the classroom experience.
If you’re a candidate with a non-traditional background who is wondering whether you could be a fit for our program, we encourage you to have a conversation with us!
With the emphasis on real-world experience, do you think case study method would become irrelevant and replaced by experiential learning modules?
We believe that Case-Method Learning is, in fact, the best way to stay relevant in an ever-changing business landscape. This form of learning is always drawing on real-world situations and asking the students to think in real-world terms – it’s action-based. Being able to arrive at a solution when the circumstances are ambiguous is something that will always be needed in the business world.
Each Student assesses the case and develops a plan of action. After that, the ideas are tested with the learning team. With the interaction, new ideas emerge. The Ivey classroom - the final stage opens with a debate, and the conclusion might even surprise the class. There are no right or wrong answers when you discuss over 300 cases with multiple levels of complexity.
How will Ivey MBA help career switchers?
95% of Ivey MBA graduates switched careers in at least one criteria - function, industry or location. The Career Management team prepares candidates with processes and interviewing techniques that help them set realistic expectations and work towards achieving them.
Median Base Salary: $88,000
Base Salary Range: $40,000 to $192,000
Post-MBA Industry (%) (Median Base Salary)
1. Finance (29%) ($85,000)
2. Consulting (24%)($101,000)
3. Technology (12%) ($79,500)
Post-MBA Function (%) (Median Base Salary)
1. Consulting/Corporate Strategy (33%) ($95,000)
2. Finance – Capital Markets (9%) ($95,400)
3. Marketing (8%) ($78,500)
4. Operations (8%) (83,750)
Related: Ivey MBA Recruitment report
What makes Ivey stand out from its competition?
Our thoughtful admissions process, our Career Management team, our one-year format, our small class size on a non-commuter campus, Case-Method Learning, and our incredible alumni network.
What is the admission process for Ivey Full-time MBA?
Once we receive all the application components, the review starts. The admission committee is a mix of diverse professionals from the admission team to career management, working together to find the best candidates. We take pride in the rigor of the process.
The Process
Application Received: Week 1
Interview Call: Week 3
The interviews are mandatory and by invitation only
What is measured with the Essays? How should an applicant approach the essays?
When you are answering the essay, go back and ask yourself whether the question has been addressed. The essays are rated for the applicant's concise thinking, writing, and expressiveness.
Read the final essay more than once. Ask a friend or family member to read it for you. An independent set of eyes will catch the grammar and spelling errors.
Related: F1GMAT's Essay Editing Service ( Catch Typos, Spelling and Grammatical Mistakes)
Limiting the essay to the recommended word count is important although don't conclude too soon before the allotted space is used.
Related: F1GMAT's Essay Review Service (Help you write from Start to Finish)
Put the work in so that you feel confident before you submit. Your essays are an integral part of our decision-making process and should you be selected for an interview; they offer good information to the interviewers as well.
Learn more about Ivey One Year Full-time MBA
About J.D. Clarke
J.D. Clarke is the Executive Director, Recruitment of Admissions (Masters Programs) where he leads a team responsible for leading the recruitment and admissions of the full-time MBA, Executive MBA and Master of Science in Management programs. He completed his MBA in 2010 from Ivey.