D21 informed me that she applied for a was accepted to Wisconsin Madison for a 10 month Masters in Business analytics. She was also informed that she was awarded a 12K merit scholarship or help offset the 45K tuition. Fortunately we have 529 money that would pay the balance.
My question is whether a MS out of college will help ultimately getting a job? Also is Wisconsin a good school for this masters degree?
Ask for career outcomes but I would suspect, like an MBA, I would want work experience first. A Masters without work experience in the business world is not going to get you a huge lift vs undergrad. I just saw it with a UF student at an investment bank (not IB related) and I saw it in my old employer. You see that in their career outcomes - low overall salaries - if you’re taking kids from undergrad, that will happen. Compare it vs the MBA. It’s not apples to apples but it will be much better. The one year program (so you are saving a year of tuition and income) gets an $83k average salary while the two year mba has total - so not just salary - compensation of $159k. That said you can sure the average salary is at least $125k if not more. And you can ask.
Plus doing it right away takes away the ability to experience life. You have one chance most likely at a Masters - do you want to blow it without learning what the real world is like first ? She might have her first job or two as did I - and then realize she needs to pivot.
If she doesn’t go to this program, what are her other opportunities ? Often more school is a way to delay an inability to find work - so with a tougher job market, we may see more of that upcoming.
Analytics are important in most jobs today and understanding powerbi and other databases is paramount. It can be done on the job (if you have one).
If it were my kid, I’d show them the potential long term impact - which could be hurtful both career pivot and income wise by jumping in right out of undergrad (assuming that’s what she’s doing).
As for where, I’m sure Wisconsin is fine. Our head person is from Kennesaw State. I don’t think the where matters if you can demonstrate the expertise. But Wisconsin is traditionally a strong name in most every field. But finding out what % of kids are finding work and what type of work should also be investigated.
Good luck
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I generally agree with your take.
I knew nothing about her applying to get a Masters until Friday when she told me had been admitted. Yesterday D21, Burghmom and I all talked. D21 said she had just applied as a back up in case she didn’t land a job. Apparently its a tough job market directly out school right now. She had a job last summer with a trucking company but it seems like they aren’t hiring full time. Her first choice is to get a job but…
I asked her if she talked to her advisor and she said no he’s useless. Miami of Ohio where she is attending has a MSBA program (but she doesn’t want to do it there) so I suggested she go speak to someone in that program about post MSBA jobs paths etc.
She does have the 529 money to pay for it but that money could go to her if she doesn’t use it for the Masters.
I just don’t know if it is money well spent or not.
It’s money well spent once she’s worked in an actual business, seen the role that analytics play (marketing has different needs than finance which has different needs than operations). She won’t learn all the nuances of every single business function, but it will give her studies more “meat” because she’ll have context.
These degrees are popular because it “feels” like less of a commitment than a two year MBA (which it is) and the value of the MBA has been much discussed (and dissed, then dismissed) since the financial crisis of 2008.
But if she’s truly interested in a corporate career, then the exposure to production, finance, organizational design, etc. (i.e. the things she won’t have time for with a Master’s in Analytics) is really valuable.
Way too early to panic about not having a job, BTW… a lot of companies basically put things on hold until after the election.
I tend to think, but don’t know your student, that kids are too narrow in their focus to find employment. They need to stretch their job search web well beyond school. Is she using handshake listings but more importantly because it will include the handshake listings and more - indeed.
She can set up a daily delivery. Set up 3 or 4 feeds of interest. Every day she’ll get 10-50 jobs sent and if 2-3 interest her, she can apply. In my son’s case we looked for leadership rotationals so they were hiring for after graduation. Other jobs might be now. But you apply to a few day, the counts get up. Like when I was in sales, nothing was more important than activity (quantity).
What’s her major or job interest ? Is she open location wise ?
Having the internship will put her ahead of other kids who don’t.
I know the job market is tighter - and my daughter who is narrow in location and duties, is going to struggle but if location and duties are open, I think there’s time.
When does she have to commit to the analytics degree ? If she doesn’t find a job now, who is to say it’s any better in a year from now ? Many kids who run back to school may find a similar or even worse landscape.
There are many growing and hiring companies out there - but yes they have to be found.
Good luck.
I would start by asking these questions:
–Is your D particularly interested in business analytics?
–Will this program give your D marketable skills that she currently does not have?
–Do most students in this program begin directly after undergrad or do most have work experience?
–Does the program provide career placement? What is that track record?
Thank you all good questions. As to the first question she is graduating with a BS in Business Analytics and Statistics. She is a math girl so I am assuming she has interest in a more in depth immersion into BA.
Are there enough classes for her to take for the Master’s? The kids I know who have done this type of program are pivoting… not doubling down.
If the primary motivation is panic over the job market, I’d advise deferring her admissions. She has a very marketable undergrad degree! And after the first job, she may decide she wants an MBA after all…
Don’t see how a Masters is going to help.
Don’t know her geographic limitations but I went to indeed and put in analytics college graduate and nothing in city (don’t know her geography) and checked last 14 days. Over 300 jobs. Sure, most are likely current.
She can set up a daily feed from there of new jobs.
She can also search for college graduate business leadership program 2025. There’s more than 100 in the last 14 days and she can set up a daily drop.
The daily drop gives you just the new listings.
My guess is - she’s relying on the school and not much else and others might disagree but that’s a HUGE HUGE HUGE mistake.
In her case, getting a Masters, in the same thing, with no work experience, is going to be a losing proposition - from career growth to income to anything else. Of course, not everything works exactly as I think - but I think the #s are working against her.
She has to make a real effort to find a job - and that’s her powering through on her own - in addition to reaching out to alums, profs and keeping in touch with her intern company. Those folks worked elsewhere too. If they liked her, they’ll counsel her.
PS - she can also look for tertiary jobs like insurance claims trainee - they’ll have managers who track data - but it may take a few years to get there. I see loads of listings all the time - travelers, chubb, and more - insurance claims is always hiring. Underwriters too.
If she has an undergrad degree in the disipline I’m not sure a Masters makes sense. It looks like the program accepts people with any undergrad major. She really needs to do a deep dive into the coursework offered in the program to be sure it doesn’t duplicate her undergrad work.
It’s 30 years ago but this was exactly the issue with business undergrads in my MBA. The first year (of two) was foundational - and all repetitive to the business undergrads, but new to the non business majors.
Obviously good questions. Again she first mentioned on Friday so I am not sure about any of this. I will certainly raise these issues with her
She really doesn’t have any geographic limitations. She is will to go most anywhere. She had applied to jobs but I think was just looking at potential alternatives she thought might be worthwhile.
I just spoke with her a few minute ago and raised the concerns you and @tsbna44 and @blossom raised. I really appreciate all of your thoughtful comments and questions. I will keep you posted on how this goes
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