It’s no secret. Our HBA Program is extremely competitive.
For second-year university students hoping to enter the program next fall, it’s a stressful time of year. Balancing the workload of a full-time undergraduate program with sports teams, clubs, and jobs isn’t easy. Add on the task of completing the HBA application and it can be downright overwhelming.
That’s where Ivey’s HBA Recruiting & Admissions team comes in. Braden Hill, HBA Manager Recruitment, and Pam Martin, HBA Admissions Coordinator, have five pieces of advice for applicants working on their applications.
Don’t forget: the HBA application is due Friday, January 27, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. EST.
Balance is key
BH: We’re looking for students who can balance strong academics with strong extracurricular activities. It’s not just about one or the other. The HBA Program is designed to help students become thought leaders and professionals. To succeed in the business world, you have to be able to balance your work life activities and responsibilities. It’s the same at Ivey.
It’s about you
BH: There’s no such thing as “the perfect application.” Don’t try to create your application to fit a mold, don’t follow a template you found online, and don’t follow somebody else’s advice. You be you. Everyone has that ability to put together an application that’s perfect for them.
PM: When writing your activity essays, focus on how you contributed to your team or club’s success, rather than just highlighting the team’s accomplishments. If your team made it to provincials, that’s great. But you need to focus on how you contributed to making that happen.
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Follow the time frame
PM: The time frame for the HBA application is from July 1, 2015 to the deadline date. What we really want to know is what you have been involved in since that date.
BH: This is especially important for AEO2s. You had some really good examples to get AEO status. But we’ve already evaluated those. Give us something new.
Talk to your references
PM: Always ask your references for permission to be used as your reference. It’s also a good idea to email your activity description, time period, etc. to your reference prior to submitting your application. Check to make sure your reference doesn’t have any concerns. Sometimes a reference will say, “You really sold yourself short on this. You did far more than that.”
Don’t rely on technology
PM: It’s always a good idea to submit your application a few days prior to the deadline. You never know when you might run into computer glitches – and you don’t want that on the day of the deadline (Friday, January 27, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. EST).
