Background and Challenges
Jack graduated from a university with a bachelor’s degree in Transportation. His academic background and career experience were centered around aviation, with no direct connection to business studies. Post-graduation, he worked as an Operation Manager across multiple airlines, gaining valuable industry experience but facing difficulties aligning his profile with the requirements of an MBA program.
On initial review, his application to the MBA program at Laurentian University appeared to have significant hurdles due to this mismatch.
Turning Challenges into Strengths
Fortunately, Jack brought entrepreneurial experience to the table. Over the three years prior to his application, he had founded and successfully grown a company specializing in information and consulting services for airlines and marine companies. The company flourished into a million-dollar business, managed by a 20-member team. His work focused on directing enterprise planning and positioning strategies—a remarkable achievement that demonstrated his leadership, strategic thinking, and business acumen.
Recognizing the strength of this experience, we strategically emphasized his entrepreneurial journey in the application materials. Along with a detailed narrative, we included supporting documentation such as company records and other relevant materials to validate his accomplishments and demonstrate the alignment between his practical experience and the MBA program’s requirements.
Overcoming language obstacle & Outcome
The application led to a conditional offer from Laurentian University’s MBA program. However, Jack encountered a challenge: he did not have an IELTS (Academic) score to fulfill the program’s requirements and he wasn’t confident, either. To overcome this, we recommended the University Pathway Program at the International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC). Before coming to Canada, Jack dedicated himself to improving his English through ILAC’s program, focusing on language development alongside his professional strengths.
Jack’s determination bore fruit. After receiving his conditional offer from Laurentian, he successfully completed ILAC’s Pathway Program, earning the PW3.4 certification—a significant achievement that transformed his conditional admission into an unconditional offer. Moreover, his strong entrepreneurial record led the university to waive the GMAT requirement, streamlining his enrollment process further.
In January 2023, Jack officially embarked on his MBA journey, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.
Final Thoughts
Jack’s success exemplifies how unconventional profiles can shine when presented thoughtfully and strategically.
