As a young woman full of dreams and ambitions, coming from the vibrant city of Mumbai in India, I always had a desire to explore new horizons, take on new challenges and work hard at whatever I put myself to. Although I had an enriching career at an infrastructure investment bank, I found myself yearning for more, looking for that extra something to conquer; and this is exactly where McGill fit right in.
I did not choose an MBA program, I chose McGill.
It all began for me when I tagged along with my brother and boyfriend to attend the MBA career fairs in Mumbai, back in 2015. Among the many institutes presenting their programs, McGill stood out for me because, apart from being a leading Canadian university with an international reputation, the school focused on providing a personal transformation experience for the student. As I listened in during the school presentation and spoke to the admissions team, I realized that this was an ideal avenue for the next step of my professional development at this stage in my career. I continued to pursue this opportunity by keeping in constant touch with the admissions team and met with them on several occasions during their visits to Mumbai.
I then decided to kickstart the admission process by enrolling for the GMAT exam and put in an application. A key moment when I realized that this university was one that was very engaged with its prospective students what the day I received a surprising email wishing me luck on my GMAT exam, even through I had mentioned this only once during one of my conversations with an admissions team member. This university had a human side to it and I was convinced that this was where I belonged.
I was ecstatic when I received the admission letter and couldn’t wait to come to the beautiful city of Montreal. What made this even better for me was that I was coming with my boyfriend, who was also enrolled in the program. We started looking forward to this experience together. I remember stepping out at the Montreal airport, on a warm July evening and seeing a “Welcome to Montreal!” sign, which made it finally sink in; I was on the brink of something that would change my life forever. As I went through the first weeks which turned into months and having now completed my first semester, there’s only one word that I can use to describe my experience – Amazing! McGill for me has become synonymous with warmth, collaboration and excellence. It is a safe place where you are free to experiment and explore, supported by everyone around you, who is invested in helping you craft your growth story.
We have a close-knit but wonderfully diverse class and it is amazing to hear different stories about local cultures and traditions. Each lecture brings on potpourri of perspectives and I have really come to appreciate this diversity. However, what surprised me is that despite these differences, there are a number of similarities we unravelled across our various hometowns, be it in characteristics of our cities or even our food. These aspects have enabled our class to come together and tackle issues that are important to our fellow colleagues, be it a fundraising initiative for the victims of the recent earthquake in Mexico or the Movember campaign to support men’s health and cancer awareness.
Academically, the first semester was an intense but enriching experience. What helped me make it through was the support I received from my professors, student advisors and the careers team. Another area of guidance came from my senior colleagues who had already been through this part of the program over the past year and willingly shared their experience, as well as offered resources that could be useful for me.
It’s been over six months already and I cannot believe the number of experiences I’ve had in this short span of time. Now that I have begun my second semester, I am pursuing a finance concentration and also look forward to getting more involved in various clubs and activities.
I have not once, regretted my decision to come to McGill and enroll in the MBA program. Although I am miles away from my family and friends, McGill and Montreal have now begun to feel like home.
About the author
Rhea D'Souza is from Mumbai, India. She graduated with a Bachelors in Management Studies from Mumbai University and completed Level – I of the CFA Program, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Corporate Law. Prior to joining the MBA program in August 2017, she worked at a leading infrastructure investment bank in Mumbai. She has recently been selected to lead the ‘One World One Culture’ club, aimed at promoting an appreciation for diversity at Desautels and will be doing an internship this summer at PSP Investments, in Montreal.
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