Meet The Ivey MBA Class of 2016

Deepali Goli

Deepali Goel 

Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Undergraduate School and Major: Queen’s University, Bachelor of Commerce – Finance and International Business

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

AECOM – Management Trainee

AECOM – Project Controls Analyst

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? There was only one mantra I had while preparing for the GMAT: Practice, practice, and practice. The concepts are not very difficult to grasp. It is your keenness to detail and the ability to logically determine the most appropriate answer that is being tested. Practice will ensure you have exposure to a number of different types of questions and how to address them. It will also be able to push you to make decisions quickly based on the limited information that has been given to you. Once you are able to answer the questions quickly and correctly, do a few practice exams until you achieve the score you want on the GMAT. It’s only after you are able to reach your goal that you should book your exam date.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? To understand and draw up a list of target schools, it is important to take a step back and consider three key aspects of your decision: Your skills, your goals, and the reason why an MBA would help you in achieving said goals. Once I had laid this out, it became easier for me to identify specific aspects such as the teaching methodology, typical class profile, and the structure of the program, that would enable me to reach my goals and augment the development of my skills. At this point I had narrowed my list down to ten schools. Thereafter I would recommend reaching out to people who have attended the schools you are targeting to understand the specifics of the culture and the experiences they had there. This process gave me a list of five schools I was targeting and also helped me understand my “Fit” within each program.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf?

Introspection when writing your essays and during interviews is key. You need to have a good understanding of your goals and how the MBA program would help you achieve them. With the number of applications the university screens, it is also important to be authentic. By being authentic, you are able to show your personality and enthusiasm, which sets you apart from applicants who have Googled standard answers to interview questions. Additionally, essays display your communication and writing skills. The school uses this as a litmus test in understanding your ability to drive key messages in a clear and concise manner.

For recommendations, ensure you choose people who know you not only in a professional capacity but also understand your involvement outside of the work space. It is good to get a recommendation from a manager and also one of your team members or juniors, who know you well. This shows the admission committee a breadth of your skills as a leader and also as a member of the team who is driving change and progress at work and in the community.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I chose Ivey for its case based teaching methodology, along with its relatively small class size, and supportive faculty. With an undergraduate degree in commerce, I was looking to enhance my understanding of business by learning from the failures and successes of real-world global businesses. The case-based teaching methodology puts me in the shoes of a CEO and challenges me to make a decision while grappling with the circumstances at hand. Additionally, the open, collaborative, and comfortable environment that has been created in the classes allows for everyone to contribute to a healthy discussion and allows me to learn from my classmates’ past experiences and insights.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate?

The program thus far has not only challenged me at a professional level, but has also transformed me at a personal level. With only six months left in the program, I would like to further engage with my classmates and professors to learn from their experiences and insights. Additionally, I would like to continue to be involved in opportunities such as case competitions that challenge me to be best I can be and inspire me to find creative solutions to global issues and business problems.

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