18 Nov, 2024
Managing Director of Career Services for Professional Degree Programs Gopika Spaenle recently hosted a webinar detailing the career support and resources available to students in UVA’s M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) Program. Check out the recording below, and read on for four key takeaways from the session.
About the MSBA program. The UVA MSBA program is a partner program between the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and Darden School of Business. This 12-month working professional program places students squarely at the intersection of business and data analytics, allowing students, through hands-on, application-based learning, to explore how data science tools and techniques can be used to solve business problems.
Key Takeaways
There is no one right background for the MSBA program. Given the technical nature of the MSBA curriculum, prospective students often worry they do not have the “right” background for the program. Fortunately, UVA MSBA students come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. In a typical MSBA class, about a third of the students will have a prior graduate degree, including several students with MBAs. The average years of work experience for most MSBA classes is around eight years, but the full work experience profile for the class will span from 2 to 25+ years. And these are just a couple points of difference across the 60 or so students who comprise an MSBA class. As you approach the application process, lean into what makes you uniquely you, and remember the application is an initial introduction to who you are. We look forward to getting to know you!
Most students are pursuing the MSBA to effect some material change in their career. About 60% of MSBA students are seeking to switch function and/or industry, with another 30% seeking to climb within their current company. The Career team is prepared to support a wide range of career aspirations, and their approach always starts with the individual. What motivated you to pursue an MSBA? What are your career goals? The Career team works with each student to develop a plan that is unique to them, working alongside students—as cheerleaders, as accountability partners, as coaches—to help them find their next opportunity.
MSBA students have access to not one but THREE great networks. Networking is a critical part of the career process for any graduate, and MSBA students can leverage three networks as they explore what’s next. As noted, the MSBA program is a partner effort between UVA’s McIntire and Darden Schools, but MSBA students are also part of the UVA alumni network. These different groups represent thousands of relationships students and alumni can tap as they explore their career interests. Curious about the role networking plays in the job search? Be sure to check out our recent podcast conversation with Gopika Spaenle about a network-driven search.
ROI comes in many forms. The MSBA Class of 2024 experienced career success across a number of fronts, with 20% of the class receiving a promotion and 39% receiving a job offer from another employer. Overall, students in the class received, on average, a 15% salary increase between the start to the end of the program, and it’s worth noting, that’s just in 12 months. But perhaps the most impressive statistic is the percentage of students who feel they advanced their career by increasing their skill set—93%.