By Jennifer Wright

Kevin Kettl (MBA ’14) found a way to take his love of basketball off the courts and into the boardroom through his Professional, part-time MBA program at Bentley University.

He started out in the undergraduate program at Bentley, pursuing a BS in Marketing. During his undergraduate years, he was an active member of the Falcons men’s basketball team. He spent all of his free time either practicing his sport or studying and relaxing with his teammates, whom he still considers some of his closest friends.

“I value my time spent in the Dana Center as much, if not more than any time spent in a classroom,” says Kettl. “I was able to learn a tremendous amount from my basketball coach, Jay Lawson, on qualities, both tangible and intangible, that helped prepare me for a successful future.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Kettl decided he wanted to further his education through a Professional MBA. This part-time program allowed him to continue working while studying, completing his degree in two years.

Kettl took advantage of this flexible program. While in graduate school, he worked as a retail merchandise and e-commerce specialist at Dunkin’ Brands. He also received a grant from Shooting Touch, which allowed him to represent the Boston-based nonprofit in Rwanda for 11 months “using the game of basketball as a platform for positive social change.”

The Professional MBA offers eight potential concentrations: Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics of Financial Markets, Finance, Information Systems and Technology, Law and Taxation, Leadership, and Marketing. Kettl chose a dual focus in Marketing and Management.

Using Basketball Skills in Business

Seeking a way to connect his love of the game with his business education, Kettl found a job at the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2015.

There, he utilizes skills learned both in the classroom and while shooting hoops. In particular, he cites the numerous team projects and small class sizes at Bentley as integral to his success in the real world. These settings allowed him to learn early on how to interact with and learn from both his peers and professors, skills he honed on the court with his teammates and coaches.

Today, Kettl works as the coordinator of International Business Development in New York, supporting business development teams in China, Africa, and India. As a lifelong follower of the league, he enjoys seeing how the NBA continues to grow in all corners of the world.

Looking back on his undergraduate days at Bentley, Kettl says, “I wish I would have known how competitive the job field truly was. I didn’t fully utilize a resource like Career Services until graduate school.” But today, happy to be working in a field he’s so passionate about, he gives this advice to students: “There will be many road blocks and obstacles along the way, but if you keep knocking on enough doors, eventually things will fall into place.”

Michael Lin (MSA ’10) has always been interested in the “language” of the business world. He first began learning it while working toward an undergraduate degree in Finance in Beijing, but quickly decided to go on to pursue a master’s degree.

“I think it is a trend now that more and more people feel they need further education after they graduate college. I’m one of them,” Lin says. He decided to pursue a Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) at Bentley University since he sees accounting as the cornerstone of a successful business career.

“To me, choosing Bentley was a very easy decision,” he says. “I can still remember how excited I was when I received Bentley’s offer of admission eight years ago.”

An MSA Program Meeting All of his Needs

Lin sought an MSA program that offered strong academics, a good location, supportive Career Services, and affordable tuition. “I did lots of research when it came to picking my graduate school. Bentley is a clear winner in almost all the categories.”

He found he was able to delve deep into his studies at Bentley with knowledgeable professors and state-of-the-art facilities. In addition, many of his class projects involved real clients, allowing him to apply his learning and better understand concepts.

“The best part of the MSA program was that class projects gave me the opportunity to work with companies like Microsoft and Liberty Mutual to get a first look at the professional world and expand my network,” he says.

The draw of the Bentley MSA program wasn’t just about the academics, though; while at Bentley, Lin had a job in the Student Center, which allowed him to quickly adjust to school life and make friends. He also served as president of the Chinese Student and Scholars Association.

Graduation in the Midst of a Financial Crisis

For Lin, securing a good job upon graduation was a priority. “Finding a job was really tough back in 2008 and 2009 with the financial crisis, but [the Career Services advisers] made our lives much easier with all the help and advice they provided to us.”

Armed with the experience and business acumen needed, Lin began his post-graduate career quickly after graduation in the Finance Leadership Development Program (FLDP) at Boston Scientific. There, he was able to work in many areas, such as internal audit and corporate finance. Today, he works on their Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis team as a principal financial analyst.

Succeeding in Accounting

The accounting world is challenging and very technical, but Lin loves it. He knows that accounting is a highly valued skill in the business world, and the pride he takes from his accomplishments at work makes the effort worth it.

In addition, his job allows him the opportunity to travel frequently, which is something he enjoys. He’s already been to Paris, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Canada.

Lin’s natural curiosity makes him the perfect fit for this challenging field. “I believe learning is a life-long process and should never end,” he says. In his view, those successful in accounting take to heart this desire for knowledge. They can anticipate senior management’s questions and always “dig deeper to find the root cause of an issue.”

Years after graduation Lin continues his quest for life-long education, having obtained a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license and an FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis) license. He is now preparing for his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level III Exam. In the future, Lin hopes to be a finance director of a multi-national company.

If you’re reading this post, you’re likely doing your homework when it comes to selecting a Master of Science in Business Analytics program. (Here at Bentley we like to refer to it as the “MSBA” program.) By now you’ve probably come to realize that no two programs are alike. Depending on your interests, MSBA programs run the gamut, from those that focus primarily on technical training to others that emphasize business skills. The question is, what’s right for you?

At Bentley, we designed our program around real-world skills that successful business analysts need. We looked to our industry advisors for help, and combined their insights with our more than 20 years of experience in business analytics education. The end result is an MSBA program that blends everything the industry needs with the flexibility and personalization you want.

Courses In Bentley’s MS In Business Analytics Program

Bentley has a long history in business analytics education. It began offering business analytics courses as far back as 1990, which have been evolving ever since. Our more than 80 percent job placement rate for graduates speaks not only to the relevancy and rigor of our coursework but also our reputation in the industry.

Today, Bentley has a robust MSBA program made up of six required courses and four electives. Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences Mingfei Li explains that the program was originally designed around — and continues to evolve based on — the following question: What does a successful business analyst need to know?

A Bentley MSBA student has comprehensive skills, with knowledge of databases, programming and statistics as well as a broader understanding of business concepts. “Companies everywhere, of all kinds, are looking for people who can help turn data into insights, who also understand business,” says Li. In fact, data analysis is an invaluable skill for an increasing number of jobs — particularly when paired with business acumen.

The required courses in the Bentley program cover four main areas:

• Computer science skills (students are required to know Structured Query Language, or SQL; SAS; and R)

• Applied statistics and operation research

• General concepts of business

• Business “soft” skills, like communication

The fourth component, soft skills, differentiates a Bentley graduate from other MSBA students. While almost every business has a technical team and a business team, the two groups rarely communicate, which creates a competitive disadvantage in today’s tech-centric environment. Every Bentley MSBA graduate has the savvy to understand this deficiency as well as the skills to address it.

Our six required courses for the MS in business analytics program include:

1. Data Management and System Modeling: This course focuses on data management and includes proven techniques for modeling system requirements and managing organizational data resources. Here you’ll learn about the SQL database for data management. You’ll also find out how to discover and document database requirements.
2. Optimization and Simulation for Business Decisions: This operation research class features traditional and modern optimization and simulation techniques that are commonly used to aid in decision-making. It includes linear and nonlinear programming techniques with applications as well as portions of game theory and agent-based modeling.
3. Quantitative Analysis for Business: This class offers in-depth coverage of regression modeling. Simple and multiple linear regression techniques are covered. You’ll use statistical analysis software such as SAS, JMP, R or SPSS.
4. Intermediate Statistical Modeling for Business: The central focus of this class is on constructing and interpreting statistical models. Here you’ll focus on factor analysis, decision trees and logistic modeling as well as the applications of these methodologies. Traditional and specialized software are utilized in this class.
5. Data Mining: As the most advanced class of the core, this introduces six or seven of the most recent data mining methods. You’ll learn how each method works, how to choose appropriate software, and how to interpret results. This includes web mining, text mining and social networks.
6. Time Series Analysis: This course offers an overview of time series data forecasting models, including regression, smoothing and decomposition models, Box-Jenkins analysis, and other commonly used modeling techniques.

The MS In Business Analytics Curriculum

Just as every MSBA program is different, so is every student. That’s why our curriculum is flexible and can be designed by you.

In addition to the six required classes, students choose four elective courses from six “clusters.” The clusters are each based around a particular professional arena, and the classes within each cluster reflect more in-depth learning about that area.

If a student wants to know more about marketing, for example, he or she might choose to take two classes from the marketing cluster, such as E-marketing or Customer Data Analysis and Relationship Marketing. Similarly, a student more interested in finance might choose the Investments or Fixed Income Valuation and Strategies elective courses.  

Most students create their own mix of electives by picking and choosing courses from more than one cluster — for instance, a combination of marketing and management. However, students who want to be very strong in one particular area might choose to take four courses from a single cluster. Ultimately, the choice is yours based on your background and your future plans.

Recently, the electives offerings in our business analytics degree program have expanded to include a greater emphasis on analytic skills. Three new classes include:

1. Data Science in R: This elective covers R programming and data visualization in R.

2. Machine Learning: Taking a step further into data mining, this course covers the use of Python, a useful tool for scientific computing and data analysis.

3. Design of Experiments in Business: This course covers experimental research for business applications, including options for design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results.

We’re striving to continually update and enrich our electives to give you more options and more flexibility so you can build a program that’s perfectly tailored to you.

Careers For Graduates

Data analyst, product manager, business analytics consultant — the list of possible job titles that are within reach of the Bentley MSBA program graduate is long and varied.

As the time for job hunting approaches, most of Li’s students are inclined to search for business analytics jobs by title. “When students ask me about this, I tell them, ‘Don’t search by job title. Sometimes two people with the same title will do totally different work. Or, sometimes people with different titles do almost the same work. Search by job content and job responsibility rather than job title.’”

The range of positions held by Bentley’s MSBA graduates — some have been working in the field for more than 10 years now — bears out this idea. Some are working as managers or consultants. While data analysis is within their job scope, people with these titles aren’t necessarily hands-on or “in the weeds” with data. They are combining analysis with broader consulting or managerial work.

Others with an MS in business analytics work as data scientists and enjoy gathering, analyzing and interpreting data on a daily basis. For example, one recent graduate joined the data team at CVS Health, a Fortune 500 health-care company. Her team works closely with the company’s business leaders to improve the experience of CVS customers. In her job specifically, she analyzes customer service data that the company then uses for various purposes, ranging from providing more personalized services to predicting customers’ future purchases.

Another recent graduate went on to work at a hospital. Her job is analyzing business data that supports hospital management. The management team uses data to enhance the hospital’s quality of care as well as make decisions that boost financial performance overall and affect daily operations, like reducing waste and improving internal processes.  

These are just a few specific examples of jobs that MSBA graduates may hold, but Bentley graduates have landed jobs in the service industry, manufacturing, technology, and more.  

Data Analysis In Every Industry

Just as there is no single title that encompasses jobs in business analytics, Bentley’s MSBA graduates don’t just flock to any “typical” industry.

Every company benefits from data analysis, which leaves the door wide open for students to choose jobs based on their interests rather than any particular industry. Our graduates are working at health-care companies, retailers, financial services firms and tech businesses. And the “business” in business analytics doesn’t mean for-profit companies only; many of our graduates also go on to work at nonprofit companies or in the government.

The typical starting salary for recent Bentley MSBA graduates in jobs across the nation is $80,000. Currently there is high demand for workers who are skilled in data analysis, and we expect those skills will remain in demand for the foreseeable future due to the huge volume and complexity of data generated by continual advances in technology.

What Are The Top 17 Careers In Big Data?

Big data isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a reality that more and more businesses are capitalizing on. If you’d like to find out more about which big data careers are the most in-demand, we encourage you to check out the short ebook 17 Careers In Big Data. Find out which role you’re best suited for, the key skills you’ll need to get there, and the average salary you can expect to receive. You’ll be one step closer to getting the job of your dreams.

Whether you’re an experienced tax professional, a recent graduate in accounting or finance, or working in a related field, you know you can expand your job opportunities tenfold with a master’s degree in taxation.

But, like most prospective master’s degree candidates, you may still be weighing your options. You can certainly see the advantages, but the commitment looms large. While there are a number of challenges to consider when making such a decision, attending classes doesn’t have to be one of them. Bentley’s hybrid program enables you to earn a master’s in taxation online while reaping the very same benefits you get from attending in person.

What’s a hybrid master’s in taxation program?

Traditionally, most online master’s programs look something like this: You complete the classes on your own time. Courses consist of a combination of readings, weekly assignments, chat room discussions, and occasional electronic group work. Web-based resources and self-study are the backbone of the program, and students get out of it what they put into it.

Our hybrid program is different.

The Bentley MS in taxation online program isn’t based on self-study — it is the actual classroom experience.

Here’s how it works: For every class, you have a choice — you can either watch it in real time or watch a recorded version of the class at your leisure. From any computer, you’ll log on to our virtual classroom using Saba. Once you’re logged in, you’ll immediately have access to all the materials the professor is using in class that day, whether it’s a PowerPoint slideshow, a Word document, a website, or anything else he or she is planning to share.

If you’re joining the class in real time, the professor will communicate with you just as with any other member of the class. You can “raise your hand” electronically to participate. You’ll be able to listen to lectures, answer questions, and even participate in group activities simultaneously with the rest of the class by connecting with other online students to work together on the appointed task.

Essentially, the hybrid program allows you to earn your master’s degree in a way that’s convenient for you, without sacrificing the energy and connectedness that naturally occur in a classroom situation.

While most students take advantage of the online option on an as-needed basis, a small percentage of students rely on it entirely. If you live in another state, for example, online courses are a necessity. But most online students don’t miss a beat — they get the same classroom experience as those attending class on campus. They also have complete access to all the school’s research tools on the website and can easily connect with professors and the career center electronically or via telephone.

The Unique Appeal Of Hybrid

According to Professor Scott Thomas, this version of online learning is fantastic. Not only is the delivery of the content unique, it’s also flexible, which is a boon for busy professionals. For instance, Thomas brings up the fact that tax professionals have a busy season — springtime — which might be a strike against taking master’s degree courses entirely. “With this program, they don’t need to worry about busy seasons,” he says, “it fits into their schedule.” During those times, the number of in-class participants goes down and the number of online participants goes up.

The flexibility also works for those in other industries. Thomas has had a number of students who live and work out of state as chief financial officers or lawyers and attend the Bentley program entirely online. “We try to encourage people to participate in real time,” he says, “but we also understand that sometimes professional people can’t make it to [the online] class for one reason or another.”

If someone is working late or traveling, for example, attending in person is simply an impossibility. Thomas recalls one instance where a student in the military was deployed mid-semester and wouldn’t be able to attend class for two weeks, “but he said he’d be back. Sure enough, he watched the archived classes when he could and returned to class in a couple of weeks. He was motivated to prepare for his career after the military.”

Unlike other programs, there’s no need to commit to either online or in-person participation ahead of time; you can pick and choose on the fly as it works with your schedule. If you’re stuck at work, simply join the class from the convenience of your office, then go back to work when it’s done. Thomas estimates that around 50 percent of students take advantage of the online study option, but that number goes up and down throughout the course of the year.

The flexibility of the program offers another distinct advantage for students: It attracts a large number of seasoned professionals with real-world insights — people who might not be able to participate in the program if not for its flexibility. “Many of our online students tend to be the more experienced people, who are helpful to have in the classroom because they ask questions that spring from practical experience (i.e., ‘What would you do in this situation?’),” says Thomas “That enables me as the professor to apply classroom theories to everyday work. Students of all backgrounds appreciate those contributions, too.”

A Growing Field

Our hybrid program has opened the door to a better career for many people who might have been otherwise unable to get their master’s degree in taxation. At Bentley, placement rate for program participants consistently averages 90 percent, and salaries average more than $79,000.

And the number of job opportunities continues to grow. Thomas notes that, in recent years, many corporate tax departments have been able to free up budget money for hiring. Also, the “Big Four” international accounting firms, which are critical to Bentley’s success, have started to hire more tax graduates. Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers consistently hire a large number of our students every year. Because of their vested interest, representatives from each of these companies get involved with campus events and work closely with faculty members to strengthen and update the program.

Not Just For Tax Professionals

Currently, the master’s in taxation program is made up of a mix of people who have work experience and are recent graduates. Some are taking courses to prepare for the CPA exam, which requires 150 hours of college credit.

Many people come to the master’s in taxation program after working for several years, but accounting firms like the Big Four are trying to attract a greater number of people to the field earlier in their educational careers. Bentley alumni find excellent career opportunities beyond the Big Four as well, including a well-established group of mid-tier accounting firms and some distinguished regional and smaller accounting firms. In addition, larger corporations in almost every industry have tax departments. Employees working in that capacity are generally responsible for preparing tax returns, tax planning, handling audits, and preparing the tax portion of financial statements.

But an interest in tax isn’t just limited to tax professionals. Thomas notes that people from a variety of backgrounds feel compelled to understand more about tax-related issues, including general counsels of corporations, attorneys, CFOs, and controllers. In these cases, the knowledge they gain through the tax program enhances their performance at their current job. For instance, one student currently in the program is an audit partner at a local firm who wants to learn more about tax concepts and practices. As a result, he’ll feel more confident performing the due diligence work that he does on a daily basis.

Master’s Of Science In Taxation Program

Bentley’s master’s in taxation program is the largest of its kind in New England and one of the best-rated in the country. The school itself has a long and reputable history in business education, and the tax program has earned equal acclaim. Our instructors are working professionals who practice what they teach; their experience runs broad and deep. Some have been part of our faculty for 30 years. The expertise and the outside connections they bring to the program are invaluable.

In addition, students can choose from a wide range of electives according to their interests (we call it “cross-training”). One popular cross-training combination is taxation and financial planning. Many students in the taxation program develop an interest in individual taxation issues along the way and take electives from the Financial Planning program, such as Financial Planning for Non-Traditional Families or Elder-Planning Techniques. This strategy prepares you for work at either a financial advising firm or an accounting firm. Another common cross-train involves accounting and taxation, where students routinely dip into electives from both disciplines. The possibilities are endless — and entirely up to you.

Written by Meg Murphy

For entrepreneurs seeking an edge in the business community, look to the field of nanotechnology. You have more to offer than you may think, according to Christopher Skipwith, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and member of the Health Thought Leadership Network at Bentley University.

“The biggest thing I try to cultivate in my students is that you don’t need to be a scientist to have a role in a science-based startup,” says Skipwith, a biophysicist and materials engineer with a research focus in nanotechnology.

“Students can use their extensive business training to make products get to market. They don’t need to be formally-trained scientists.” he says.

The nanotechnology community is also well-suited to the values held by many young people entering business today, he says. It is centered around startups, a popular career choice, and aligns on a deeper level too.

“I believe that Bentley students have an in-depth social conscience,” he says. “They see nanotechnology making a positive impact in the environmental, sustainability, and healthcare sectors. And that inspires wonderful ideas for things they can do.”

Nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of matter at an atomic scale, has inspired all kinds of of research and technologies, and promises to leave virtually no aspect of life untouched. It is in play everywhere: in nano-enabled consumer products, such as sunscreens, cleaning solutions, detergents; in environmental monitoring of water purity; in successful drug formulations in medicine. The list is vast, diverse, and rapidly expanding.

The lesson for business students? Scientists and engineers are making amazing advances, says Skipwith, who specializes in the commercialization of nanotechnology-enabled products, but they need you in the game.

“In my opinion and in my research, I find a striking need for the application of business principles for successful commercialization.” Business people have the skills necessary to make the pivotal transition from lab skills to market skills, he says. They possess entrepreneurial savvy.

“Scientists aren’t the best at coming up with innovative business models surrounding disruptive technology,” he says. “Our students are learning to cultivate a creative mindset and come up with business models that allow nano-enabled products to get publicized and commercialized.”

The intersection of business and nanotechnology-enabled products is well illustrated by Skipwith’s research interests.

1. His work involves coming up with new products that take advantage of scientific advances. “We take recent scientific publications and try to commercialize that product,” he says, referring to collaborations with other institutions, such as Northeastern University. “We’ll recapitulate the studies and try to formulate a user-friendly product with commercial value.”
2. His work measures the analytical standards that are applied to existing nano-devices, and looks to improve them, smoothing the way toward commercialization. “We perform analysis of mathematical models surrounding the validation process for nanotechnology,” he explains.
3. His work applies business models to the commercialization of nanotechnologies. Among other things, the research aims to determine how different policy events and the shifting public understanding of nanotechnology may change the commercialization route for different types of technology.

Speaking from this depth of knowledge, Skipwith says would-be entrepreneurs should do themselves a favor and learn more about the possibilities attached to nanotechnology. “There are tremendous opportunities.”

Dr. Christopher Skipwith is a member of Bentley’s Health Thought Leadership Network. Learn more about Bentley’s Health Thought Leadership Network. Dr. Skipwith also received an Innovation in Teaching award in 2016 for his innovative pedagogy work.

Making the decision to get your MBA is no small feat, so if you’re here, then congratulations! You’ve already taken the most important step toward enhancing your future job prospects.

But there are more decisions to be made, including the decision about which MBA program you should choose. To find the school that’s right for you, you’ll need to do a fair amount of research and a good deal of question-asking: You’ll have questions to ask MBA admissions counselors, questions to ask MBA alumni, questions to ask current MBA students, and questions to ask at MBA information sessions. You simply can’t find out everything you need to know on your own — gathering facts and opinions from a variety of sources will give you a more complete picture of the MBA programs you’re considering.

Read on for the most important questions to ask every step of the way.

Questions To Ask At A Graduate Fair

There are a lot of schools and very little time at graduate fairs, so preparation is key. Glisery Colon, associate director of graduate admissions at Bentley University, suggests making a list of important things you’re looking for in a program — like flexibility or financial assistance — then making the rounds and asking about those particular things. At this stage, it’s important to have a clear idea about what type of program you’re seeking to help expedite your research and narrow down the possibilities to a select few. Depending on your priorities, you might ask:

1. Does the school offer flexible program options? If you intend to keep working while you get your degree, this should be high on your list of priorities. Can you take classes part time? Is there more than one way to participate in class? Is there any type of online format, and how does it work?
    
2.  What scholarships or other forms of financial aid are available? Many schools offer a variety of financial aid programs, including graduate assistantships and graduate work programs. A limited number of graduate scholarships may also be awarded to candidates with exemplary educational achievements, test scores, or specific skills.  
    
3. Does the school offer transfer credits and waivers? Most schools have a process that allows students to request waivers based on courses previously taken or relevant equivalent work experience. And if you’re transferring to a new school, make sure your prior coursework will be assessed for potential transfer credits.
    
4. What is the application time frame? Many schools have a specific application deadline — if you miss it, you won’t be considered until six or seven months later. Know when you’d like to start and narrow down your options based on their answers.  

Don’t take a chance on missing your top school’s application deadline! Use this free step-by-step application guide to ensure you’ve done everything you need to do, by the time you need it done.

Questions To Ask Admissions Officers

Your meeting with an admissions officer will be one-on-one, allowing you to find out about a school in greater detail and see if it’s a good match for you. Some questions to ask here include:

5. What types of resources are available once I’m a student? The school’s technological resources, library and research services, and career services are all critical to your success in the program. There may also be course-specific resources that add value, like Bentley’s Trading Room and User Experience Center.
    
6. Will I have an academic adviser or a program adviser? Find out how much access you’ll have to advising staff who can help design your academic program to fit your career goals and provide information on internships, student employment, and study abroad opportunities.
    
7. What kind of collaboration will I have with students or professors? Working closely with your cohort and professors will help you get more out of the experience.  
    
8. What experiential learning projects have been done in the past at the school? Global experiences, hands-on projects, and real-life business experiences are the meat of any good MBA experience. Asking this question will give you a good vantage point from which to compare schools.
    
9. Can I sit in on a class? One of the best ways to see how you feel about a school is to experience it first hand. Ask about your options for sitting in on a class or two, and then be sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

Questions To Ask MBA Students

Current MBA students are a great source of information about the school itself; they can also be a valuable source of advice on the MBA experience.

10. What was your professional and academic experience prior to entering the MBA program? Danielle Goodroe, associate director of graduate admissions at Bentley, says many students in MBA programs come from a non-business background. If that’s the case for you (and the person you’re asking), find out what skill sets they have that they felt could translate into a business role. Hearing someone else’s perspective might help you clarify your own reasons for wanting to get your MBA.
     
11. How did you make the transition from professional life to academic life? Being aware of the challenges others encountered is useful; it’s even more valuable to know how they addressed them.
     
12. How did you determine that an MBA was possible for you on a full-time or part-time basis? Along with this question, ask why they decided to get an MBA at that point in their life or career. The answer could be enlightening for your own decision-making process.
     
13. Why did you choose this school? Ann Marie Larese, senior associate director of graduate admissions at Bentley, notes that many MBA programs are geared toward particular industries or functional areas. Be aware of the school’s strengths, and make sure it’s a good fit for your career goals.
     
14. Tell me about your experience here. School-specific, the answer will give you a good idea of what it might be like to interact with the faculty, the types of projects you’ll be doing as a student, and what classes are most valuable.

Questions Specifically For MBA Students With Less Than 5 Years Of Work Experience

15. What growth did you experience as an undergrad? If you’re heading into an MBA program with less than five years of work experience, find out how others set themselves apart during that time. Were they in organizations, did they do volunteer work, or did they have a leadership role somewhere?
     
16. In your view, is the program giving you substantial real-life experience that will be useful for job interviews? With little-to-no prior work experience, you’re banking on the fact that an MBA program will give you the competitive edge in a job interview. Find out what experiences the school offers (internships, global experiences, consulting projects, etc.) to decide if that’s what you need and want in a program.

Questions To Ask MBA Alumni

17. Tell me about your experience at school. Was it enriching? Was it worth it?
     
18. How helpful was the career center in getting a job? The answer to this question will reveal the level of commitment the institution has when it comes to helping its graduates find job opportunities.​​​​​​​
     
19. What kind of job opportunities did you have after graduation? If the person you’re asking is in the field you’re interested in, the answer will tell you whether the program will lead to the job you want. But even if the alumni isn’t in the same field, their response will give you insight into the school’s reputation in the business community.​​​​​​​
     
20. Did you or do you utilize former students for networking? If the answer is no, find out why. If he or she isn’t aware of networking opportunities, it could be a red flag that the school isn’t actively working to nurture valuable professional relationships — either immediately upon graduation or years after.  

Once you’ve found the right school for you, it’s time to apply! To prepare for the next phase, take a look at the questions you might be asked in your MBA interview.

Bentley University has three MBA programs, each tailored to students with specific academic backgrounds and professional experience. For more information, see our website.

By Jennifer Wright

Nilam Shete worked in business analytics for five years before deciding to pursue a master’s degree at Bentley University.

She came to Bentley with a background in Computer Science with an undergraduate degree from the University of Mumbai. Upon graduation, she worked at Sutherland Global Services and Syntel Inc. as an analytics manager and analyst programmer, respectively.

The Master’s in Business Analytics program was the logical next step for Nilam, who realized she needed the graduate degree to continue advancing her career. Her repertoire of skills at that point was already extensive, with working knowledge of SAS, Python, SPSS, Hadoop, Map-Reduce, Hive, and more.

Despite this impressive résumé, she wanted a deeper understanding of the concepts she dealt with every day.

“A master’s degree in analytics would help me learn and understand advanced concepts in [statistics, analytics, data management],” she says, “which would hone my technical and communication skills and thereby provide me a global exposure in the field of analytics.”

Pursuing a Career in Business Analytics

Nilam first exposure to the world of business intelligence and analytics was at Syntel, where she worked to create “web-based tools for Sentiment Analysis, Credit Scoring and Outlier Detection using R and Java.”

That first job immediately sparked her interest in analytics. “[The industry] provides me an opportunity to find something important — information — from a large pile of garbage — data,” she explains.

However, Nilam recognizes that finding the most important information is also one of the biggest challenges in her field. Analysts must determine the most relevant and useful data to solve business problems and then communicate their findings to clients in layman’s terms — not an easy feat with the immense amount of data now available and the complexity of statistical models.

Taking an Interdisciplinary Approach to Business Analytics at Bentley

Nilam came to Bentley to help her better navigate these challenges. The university stood out during her initial research due to its recognition in the business world, specialization in analytics, and professors.

“The Data Analytics Research Team [an interdisciplinary group of faculty at Bentley] fascinated me a lot as the projects they were currently working on, such as living standards, marketing analytics, global studies, health-care analytics, and social networks, aligned with my interests and my professional experience.”

Taking that same interdisciplinary approach in coursework is important to Nilam.

As part of the master’s program, she takes six core classes, which she says provides a “firm grounding for analytics work.” However, she also has the opportunity to explore analytics through different lenses by taking four elective courses.

These electives are grouped together in six “clusters”: Data Science, Economics, Finance, Information Management, Management, and Marketing. Nilam has taken electives from several clusters, including Web-Based Application Development (from the Data Science cluster) and Investment (from the Finance cluster).

Her studies also led her to an internship this past summer at Deloitte as an Advisory Analytics intern. With this work experience and her dedication to exploring all aspects of analytics, she looks forward to her future in the ever-growing field of analytics.

“Almost all companies are now aware that data-driven decision making is critical if they want to succeed, hence building analytics teams for that task,” says Nilam. “The demand for analytics skill is going up steadily but there is a huge deficit on the supply side.”

In 1985, big box retailer Home Depot’s stock dropped 23 percent. The reasons why were complex, and it took a dedicated leadership team to resolve those issues. On the front lines of that team were accountants, who performed cash flow analyses, assessing profit margins, cash burn rate, operating expenses, and other financial factors so they could alert those at the top on some potentially dangerous financial trends. With the information gathered by the accountants, the chain was able to set a new course for success, and move into a period of growth.

Gone are the days when people thought of accountants as “bean counters,” sitting in cubicles and crunching numbers from 9 to 5. Today’s accountants are active business leaders who take their pick of professional accounting degree jobs in business, industry, finance, or the nonprofit world. With their in-depth knowledge of how money flows into, through, and out of an organization, they are likely to play a major role in determining the future of their business.

A degree in accounting opens the door to a wide range of options. Accounting is often called “the language of business,” and once you learn this language, your voice will be essential in your organization, both in making day-to-day decisions as well as in plotting long-term strategies for growth and success.

For accountants in all areas of practice, the future is looking bright. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for jobs with an accounting degree from 2014 through 2024 indicates an 11 percent rate of growth — much faster than average. According to the BLS, the median pay for an accountant with a bachelor’s degree in 2015 was $67,190 per year. Of course, your pay may be higher in some specializations, or with advanced education, including a master’s degree in accounting.

As you plan your educational journey, of course, you are looking for the best college for accounting. Bentley’s undergraduate and graduate level programs in accounting are built on 100 years of experience. In fact, Bentley was founded in 1917 as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance. Here, you’ll find accounting programs that give you a firm foundation in classic accounting principles and practices, updated and augmented with the technological tools to allow you to apply them in a fast-changing, global business world.

What can you do with an accounting degree?

Accounting degree jobs — both at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels — are varied, challenging, and satisfying. Here are just a few options that will be available to you after you get your degree:

Tax accountant: You’ll work with clients to gather and assess the financial information required on tax forms, and make sure that those forms are filled out and filed properly. You may be required to research the fine points of tax law, and advise the organization’s leadership on the possible outcomes of different financial tax strategies.

Forensic accountant: You’re a key person in a team that examines organizations or companies suspected of fraud or other illegal activity. Like a detective, it will be your job to sift through financial records looking for irregularities and tracing transactions through complex mazes of financial data.

Controller: If you enjoy management, this is a good opportunity for you. A controller manages the accounting department of a company or organization. You’ll work closely with your team to ensure that all financial tasks are done properly and in a timely manner. You may be part of the leadership team of your organization or work closely with those in the upper management team.

Public accountant: This broad term refers to those who provide accounting services to other companies, and is one of the most common jobs with an accounting degree. You may be an entrepreneur with your own firm, charting a financial course for the clients you advise, or you may be an employee of a dedicated accounting firm. Your knowledge base will need to be broad, as you may find yourself auditing clients, preparing tax returns or financial statements, or consulting with leadership teams.

Government accounting: According to the American Institute of CPAs, the U.S. government employs thousands of accountants through the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, and even the FBI. State or local governments, meanwhile, hire accountants to work with school districts, prison systems, human resources, and more. Government work can be satisfying and financially beneficial.

Auditor: As an auditor, you may either work for a large corporation, where you’ll do internal auditing, or you may be an external auditor working with clients who come to your firm seeking auditing help. For both of these areas, you’ll be reviewing and verifying financial practices, ferreting out weaknesses, and recommending corrective action.

Non-profit accountancy: Not-for-profit organizations may have different goals than for-profit businesses, but they must maintain clean financial practices just as businesses must. There are roughly 1.2 million nonprofits in the U.S., ranging from animal shelters to cancer centers to universities. If you feel passionate about a cause — anything from cancer research to the environment — you might feel great satisfaction from working with an organization that supports that cause.

The Foundational Degree: A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

If you are beginning your college career, you will be looking for the best college for accounting. You’ll want a school with great professors who have real-world experience. You’ll want top-notch facilities, a broad range of courses, and solid career services. Bentley offers all of this and more.

You will begin by gaining a firm understanding of accounting principles and practices. Courses like Accounting Information Systems, Federal Taxation, and Financial Statement Auditing open the door for you into the world of accounting and arm you with a solid knowledge of the tools of your trade. You’ll augment these courses with general business classes and liberal arts and sciences classes to broaden your education and help you become an educated citizen of the world.

“My favorite class in accounting so far would probably be Accounting Information Systems,” says Bentley undergrad Michael Hughes. “It’s a blend of computers and accounting and deals with how business processes are being automated. The nice thing about it is the hands-on experience with software packages that can be very expensive. Here at Bentley, we have access to that technology.”

Specialize in an Area You’re Passionate About

You’ll also have the opportunity to focus on an area of accounting that is of particular interest to you, with your specialization options including general accountancy, corporate finance and accounting, and information systems.

A three-course internal audit track leads to certification from the Institute of Internal Auditors, the only globally accepted certification for internal auditors. Your adviser and professors will also guide you toward the appropriate coursework if you wish to work toward eligibility for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam.

Career Services Second to None

Well before you have your diploma in hand, you will be able to benefit from Bentley’s Career Services office, rated by the Princeton Review in 2016 as the best career services office in the nation. More than 95 percent of Bentley’s undergraduates report that they are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating. Career Services staff will work with you starting when you are a freshman, to help you explore what career opportunities are available with a degree in accounting. You’ll be assigned a dedicated first-year adviser who will help you start to shape your academic experience in ways that will pay off in the long run.

By the time you graduate, you will be well equipped to work in the accounting degree jobs of your choice. Bentley alumni work for organizations such as Citigroup, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the U.S. Navy. They are employed in positions with the opportunity to advance and the chance to use their Bentley-earned skills every day.

Should You Work Toward Becoming a CPA?

Many accountants study toward advanced certification, most notably the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation. To become a CPA, you will take a rigorous test administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Other requirements to earn your CPA differ from state to state, but all require a certain level of education (in most states, a bachelor’s degree is required to sit the exam, with an additional 30 hours of education before you receive your license) and some experience (usually two years) of work in accounting under the supervision of a CPA. Once you have earned your CPA designation, you will be required to take 40 hours of continuing professional education each year and renew your license regularly.

All CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs. Although you will find many available jobs with an accounting degree, becoming a CPA gives you the additional credentialing and training necessary to earn a higher salary and perform advanced accountancy functions such as auditing a company’s books. According to financial recruiters Robert Half Finance & Accounting, CPAs earn between 5 and 15 percent more than those without this designation and can expect more frequent promotions to leadership positions.

Quoted in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Jobs report (where accounting is noted as the third-best business-related job), Christopher Ekimoff, director of FTI Consulting, a business advisory firm, says, “Those three letters [CPA] really make your career. They will identify you in the marketplace, in the business world and in your career path as a professional willing to hold yourself to a higher standard and operate under a set of guidelines and principles that really set you apart.”

Furthering Your Education With a Master’s Degree in Accounting

The number of jobs with an accounting degree expands greatly when you receive your master’s degree in accounting. Your advanced degree will further hone your critical thinking skills, as well as your ability to analyze the numbers and communicate your findings and suggestions clearly with your organization’s leadership team — all crucial skills for any accountant.

The 10-course master’s degree curriculum at Bentley is shaped by the needs of a rapidly changing business world. Foundational classes such as Managerial Statistics and Financial Accounting Problems I and II ensure that you are grounded in a solid knowledge of the building blocks of the profession. Advanced courses like Tax Factors in Business Decisions and Principles of Fraud Investigation give you the freedom to thoroughly explore topics of particular interest to you.

If you are concerned about fitting classes into your busy life, Bentley offers flexible class scheduling and online courses. Because your experiences may differ from other students’, you’ll appreciate the personalized attention that you receive from Bentley advisers and professors, who can customize the curriculum to meet your own professional and personal needs.

Master’s student Franziska Griecci likes the fact that Bentley staff work with her to determine what you can do with an accounting degree. “They actually say to you, ‘There’s taxes, there’s auditing, there’s financial services. Which do YOU want to do?’”

Inside the classroom, your professors offer you the most up-to-the-minute accounting practices. Outside the classroom, Bentley’s dedicated Graduate Career Services (GCS) staff can help give you a well-honed edge with which to tackle the job market. The GCS offers self-assessment tools, workshops, career fairs, online job databases like BentleyLink, and much more.

High-Tech Facilities Foster Increased Learning Options

At both the undergrad and graduate levels, you will benefit from the Howard A. Winer Accounting Center for Electronic Learning and Business Measurement (ACELAB). Here, you can work through sophisticated tutorials or gain experience with state-of-the-art software packages, including SAP, ACL, Peachtree, and Great Plains Learning Insights. Integrating technology with accounting isn’t just optional in today’s business world — it’s essential for accounting professionals to understand and use technology, and ACELAB helps you to learn how to do that.

Sarah Lacaillade, a master’s of accounting student, has benefitted from her access to ACELAB. “Going into the job market, they ask me if I have used this program or this tool, and my answer is always YES because Bentley prepared me and the technology Bentley has is just state of the art.”

If you are wondering what career opportunities are available with a degree in accounting, find out more about Bentley’s undergraduate and graduate accounting programs.

No two MBA students are alike. If you plan to join their ranks, you can be sure that your reasons for pursuing an MBA, your personal life, and your financial resources won’t be the same as anyone else’s. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right MBA program for you.

At Bentley, we’ve created three different MBA programs specifically to address those differences. Our options include one part-time program and two full-time programs, all of which are distinctive in their format, purpose, and student body. So if you’re currently exploring the merits of part-time versus full-time MBA programs, take a look at the descriptions below. One of them might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time MBA Options: Which Program Is Right For You?

The Emerging Leaders Program — A Full-Time MBA Program

Work experience required: 0 to 3 years.

Program identity:The Emerging Leaders Program is a full-time MBA program created for the purpose of giving students the foundational business knowledge they need to launch a successful career in an area of their choice. It also offers a strong network of support for students and the opportunity to learn from peers with different backgrounds and perspectives.

Who takes this program:Recent college graduates with little to no work experience. A variety of undergraduate degrees are represented — everything from liberal arts to business. Students can expect to get an overview of the connections between different business disciplines (accounting, finance, the supply chain, IT, etc.) as well as a more in-depth look at one business area of their choosing that fits with their career goals, such as accountancy, law and taxation, leadership, business analytics, information systems, or marketing.

Time to complete:Up to 2 years.  

When classes take place:Both day and evening hours. Students take four courses per semester, once a week, at 2.5 hours per session for 15 weeks.

Online options:Most courses are in person, in a classroom. However, some evening courses have an online “hybrid” option where students may, if necessary, join the class in real time via the Internet. In that case, students participate in the class just as they would if they were in the classroom, with access to all class materials and the ability to “raise their hand” electronically, as well as participate in group activities simultaneously with the class.

International study: All students are required to participate in one scheduled “global business experience” abroad. Faculty members design the experience with a particular academic aim in mind. Working in conjunction with a host university at the location, students combine cultural activities with business and learn more about local enterprises through seminars and class projects.

Career outcomes: Students coming out of the Emerging Leaders Program have built an impressive résumé based on the foundational knowledge and experiences they have acquired and are well-positioned to launch their career in whatever area they choose. They have the advantage of being able to hit the ground running, having more business knowledge and a broader understanding of how organizations work than non-MBA job candidates. For in-depth knowledge in a particular field, students can choose from eight concentrations to specialize their knowledge or elect to take advantage of the MS+MBA program.

Student experience: Most Emerging Leaders students live in the surrounding area off-campus but there is some on-campus graduate housing. They spend a considerable amount of time with one another both in class and during after-class activities, working collaboratively and sharing their perspectives and experiences.  

The Bentley MBA—A Full-Time MBA Program

Work experience required: 5+ years.

Program identity: This intensive MBA program consists of a single, small cohort that forms a diverse but tight-knit group of focused professionals. Collaboration, discussion, and debate are emphasized as is the sharing of professional experiences to help the group learn. Exploring your individual leadership style is a significant part of the program. Due to the program’s intensity, Bentley MBA students focus solely on their academic pursuits and are not able to work for the duration of the program.

Who takes this program:People who already have deep knowledge of their field — whether it’s marketing, finance, logistics, medicine, science, law, or something else — and want to see how that specific content knowledge fits into the bigger picture. Students in this program want to know how organizations work and are typically striving for advanced management positions or preparing to start their own company.

Time to complete:11 months.

When classes take place: During daytime hours. Courses consist of eight to 10 sessions of about 4.5 hours each, which take place in “blocks” over the span of two weeks.

Online options: None. In-classroom participation is required.

International study: The Bentley MBA has three trips built into the program — one within the U.S. and two internationally. There is a prearranged academic focus, and students work with local companies on specific projects.

Student experience: Students in the Bentley MBA program typically live in nearby off-campus housing. Because of the structure of the program, students are together most of the day, four to five days a week (plus study time) and get to know one another very well. The resulting student experience is remarkable in that they learn as much from their classmates as they do from faculty.

The Professional MBA—A Part-Time MBA Program

Work experience required: 3+ years.

Program identity:This program is for working professionals, to be completed while they continue to work. It is part-time and flexible, designed to fit in with students’ personal and professional lives. Because they can continue to work while taking the courses, students experience minimal income dislocation and career disruption. They can also immediately apply the concepts and skills learned in class at their current job.

Who takes this program: Students in the Professional Program come from all industries and a variety of jobs (everything from nursing, to law, to science). No matter what their background, the common goal is to understand more about business principles and learn key skills, like decision-making, business strategy, and management. Some students hope to gain more relevant, up-to-date skills with the objective of changing professions; others want to broaden their skill set to compete for higher-level jobs within their current organizations.

Time to complete:Students have up to five years to complete the program, but most complete it in about two years. The time varies from student to student — some scale back on classes as needed, while others leave work periodically to take on additional coursework.

When classes take place:There are a variety of course formats, including evenings, week-long intensive courses, and blended formats, with the vast majority, offered online.

Online options:Most classes in the Professional Program are offered in an online  “hybrid” format. Students can either attend the class in person or participate in real-time via the internet. In that case, students participate in the class just as they would if they were in the room, with access to all class materials and the ability to fully participate in group activities simultaneously with the class.

International study: The part-time program offers students the option to take a three-credit study abroad course. Called a “global business experience,” students choose a travel destination from the offerings available that semester. Trips last anywhere from seven days to two weeks and include visits with local business leaders, cultural tours, and alumni gatherings.

Student experience: Thanks to the flexibility of the online hybrid learning environment, students come from a variety of geographies. The opportunity to learn from other working professionals in the classroom enhances the experience and provides students with a broader business perspective.

Choosing the program that’s right for you — whether it’s a full-time or part-time MBA program — is an important decision. If you have additional questions about any of the MBA programs here at Bentley, please contact us to speak with a member of our admissions team, or visit our website for detailed information about our curricula, study abroad experiences, and state-of-the-art resources.

Bentley's MS in Information Technology earned high marks recently in Eduniversial's annual rankings of best graduate IT programs in North America, coming in 25th for the second year in a row. Eduniversal bases its rankings on three main criteria: program reputation, salary of first employment, and student satisfaction. The rankings are often used by students and employers to determine the quality of an institution, its programs, and its graduates.

Bentley's MSIT program prepares its graduates to be technically advanced leaders in the information technology discipline, with a curriculum that instills the knowledge and skills needed to tackle business problems with IT solutions. Graduates of this program embark on careers that include business and IT consultants, business/systems/risk analysts, project managers, and system architects, and are poised to advance quickly in both managerial and technical roles.

Bentley's MS in Marketing Analytics recently ranked # 21 in Eduniversial's annual rankings of best graduate Marketing programs in North America. Eduniversal bases its rankings on three main criteria: program reputation, salary of first employment, and student satisfaction. The rankings are often used by students and employers to determine the quality of an institution, its programs, and its graduates.

Developed in consultation with marketing, database and marketing research firms, the Master of Science in Marketing Analytics (MSMA) program meets the changing needs of today’s global, information-driven marketing environment. Students gain the critical expertise in qualitative and quantitative analysis that is in high demand among leading companies across a range of industries.

Graduates of the Marketing Analytics program benefit from longstanding recruiting and placement relationships that Bentley has with regional, national, and global marketing firms. Recent graduates have accepted positions at some of the world’s leading organizations — Arnold Worldwide, Chadwick Martin Bailey, Cognos, Digitas, eDialog, EMC Corp., Epsilon, Fidelity Investments, Global Gillette, Marriott International, Members Plus Credit Union, and State Street Corp., among others — with positions including marketing coordinator, marketing analyst, senior research analyst, manager of strategy, and director of Internet marketing.

Bentley's MS in Accounting earned high marks recently in Eduniversial's annual rankings of best graduate accounting and auditing in North America, coming in 28th. Eduniversal bases its rankings on three main criteria: program reputation, salary of first employment, and student satisfaction. The rankings are often used by students and employers to determine the quality of an institution, its programs, and its graduates.

Bentley is a long-standing and recognized leader in accounting education. The MSA was the first such program in Massachusetts to gain the prestigious separate accountancy accreditation from AACSB International — the Association to Advance Colligate Schools of Business. Graduates of this program are highly sought after by leading employers for their ability to understand today’s complex global financial marketplace, work across multiple business disciplines and use the latest technology to solve complex challenges.

Recent graduates have accepted positions at some of the world’s leading firms — Accenture, Carlin, Charron & Rosen, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Fidelity Investments, Global Gillette, IBM, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Putnam Investments, State Street Bank & Trust, among others — with positions including senior associate, tax associate, auditor, senior financial analyst, and senior manager of financial analysis.

Claire Ma (MSMA ’16) first considered a career in marketing analytics during her internship at Hearst Magazines.

As part of this Digital Marketing internship, her goal was to perform a simple demographic analysis on an online survey to more strategically plan customer events. At the time she was completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree, but her curiosity as to what other answers laid in the data led her to pursue a Master of Science in Marketing Analytics (MSMA).

The internship showed Ma the power in understanding data. In today’s technology-driven world, companies can collect more information on customers — and potential customers — than ever before. Ma wanted to harness this power and learn to better understand her customers.

Using Data to Enhance Marketing

Coming into the master’s program from a background in marketing, Ma knew the value that data analysis would provide her as a marketer. A key aspect to succeeding in marketing is being able to spot trends and adapt accordingly; utilizing data begins to eliminate the human error in that process.

“I believe in order to be successful in marketing, one should not only be able to catch the trend but also be able to translate the trend from a data standpoint,” explains Ma. “Analytics can give my decisions solid supports.”

Her desire to learn more about the analytics field brought Ma to Bentley University for a Master’s in Marketing Analytics. For Ma, the decision to study at Bentley was threefold: the curriculum, Career Services, and location.

Choosing Bentley

The business world, as Ma knew, is about real-world applications of theories. She wanted a university that would allow her to deepen her knowledge in marketing and begin using her new analytical skills before graduation. She had this opportunity through Bentley’s many course projects, which often included real clients and “tightly related to real life.”

In addition, Ma applied her learnings to on-the-job experiences. While at Bentley she worked as an email platform development intern at Turbine and as a web marketing intern at inSegment, using tools vital to the field of marketing analytics, such as SQL.

She also attended many Career Services events, which she says were especially important to her as an international student. She attended seminars on how to speak and behave in interviews, watched panels where those in the field explained the various opportunities within the career, and met contacts at many networking events.

And of course, Bentley being located just a few miles away from the plethora of resources in Boston didn’t hurt either.

Working in Analytics

Ma cites her business background at Bentley as being key to her success at her current job as a business analyst at Wayfair.

Her job consists of cleaning data and selecting the right data, which requires considering the context in which she finds it. For Ma, it’s a challenge she enjoys because it “requires business acumen to recognize what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s useful, and what’s outdated.”

Ma is excited by the rapidly growing field of analytics. She expects more people to enter the field as the need for analysts increases with our growing access to data. The types of analysts needed will vary, from text mining to picture analytics to voice analytics. With all these new opportunities, keeping a business mindset when approaching data will continue to be essential to interpreting data in a way that is beneficial to a company.

Your GMAT or GRE score, your college transcript, and your résumé are all critical components of your MBA application and, taken together, tell a story about you. But the more compelling story — the one many admissions officers are most interested in — is revealed in your MBA personal statement. A thoughtful, well-written, and genuine portrayal of yourself and your goals and motivations could very well be the thing that clinches your acceptance.

Need help managing the application process? Download this free guide for a month-by-month timeline to complete your graduate school application stress-free.

In contrast to an essay, which answers a specific question asked on an application, a personal statement informs the reviewer about you in a more direct way. The essay and the personal statement have similar goals — essentially, to show why you’re an excellent candidate for the program — but the personal statement gives you plenty of freedom as to how you’ll go about doing that. Its open-endedness sometimes makes it trickier to write, but a little additional thought and preparation is really all you need to craft a successful personal statement for your MBA application.  

Tips On Writing A Winning MBA Personal Statement

We asked a member of the Bentley admissions team, Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admission Can Ahtam, for advice on how to write a personal statement based on the hundreds of applications he reviews every year. In talking about some of the more successful MBA personal statement examples he’s seen over the years, here are some strategies that will make your statement stand out.

Choose a meaningful goal.

Ahtam is surrounded by business-hungry students every day, and that’s good — it’s the reason they’re at Bentley in the first place. But he also hopes every student wants more than just money and a high-ranking career. Ahtam likes reading a personal statement, for example, written by someone who is inspired by a member of his or her community or by some element of their unique background — a person who wants to give back.

Ahtam himself, originally from Turkey, graduated from the Emerging Leaders MBA program in 2013. His own application told the story of his Turkish family’s hardships and his hardworking father who managed to start his own business in spite of it all. He also wrote about how he continues to be inspired by Muhtar Kent, the Turkish-American CEO of Coca-Cola. The fact that someone who shared his heritage was able to make a significant impact on one of the most recognized companies in the world gave him the motivation to succeed as well.  

How have the people and circumstances in your life and community impacted you? How will your success enable you to help others? Your partnership with the university will be more valuable if you can give meaning to your goals.

Focus on just a few points.

Every good essay is made up of just a few major points that are then expanded upon. Before you even start writing, stop and think. What skills and motivations do you have that are a good match for the program? Then, what life experiences can you use to demonstrate those? Look through some MBA personal statement samples and see how many major points you can identify. Though there might be many points you’d like to cover, choose only the most significant. Trying to cover too many things diminishes the importance of each, diluting the overall effect you’re trying to achieve.

Going in-depth on your chosen points not only makes a more powerful statement, but it also shows the admissions team that you are passionate about the subject. Ahtam notes that some applicants include references to back up any facts they present — this is a good indicator of the writer’s interest in the subject and shows he or she has spent a fair amount of time and effort researching it. An additional bonus: Being able to support your ideas with facts is an exceptionally useful skill in the business world.

Use specific examples.

Ahtam has seen too many students say, “I want to work for a Fortune 500 company,” or “I want to work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms.” Who doesn’t? Do your market research and choose a business you admire, then write about that. “Saying that you want to work for XYZ brand because they’re innovative or socially responsible or adaptive shows not only that you’re aware of the market, you’re also attuned to yourself and what you want,” he says.

Another example: If you’re interested in leading a corporation, say why. Stories are a great way to add specifics and interest at the same time. Examine a successful (or unsuccessful) group project you’ve participated in or a challenging work experience, and tell how it impacted you. Details and anecdotes make your MBA personal statement more memorable.

Be purposeful in your writing.

Avoid empty talk. If you find yourself filling the page with a list of things that attracted you to the university, you’re wasting words — the reader already knows the school’s selling points. Instead, choose one thing about the program and use a portion of your personal statement to tell why you’re interested in it. The admissions officer will be impressed with your knowledge of the school and feel good about the fact that the program can offer you what you need to reach your goals.

To enroll in one of Bentley’s three MBA programs, visit our website for the requirements, deadlines, and online application forms. Or, reach out to a member of our graduate admission team for additional information about the admission process or our programs.  

Your GMAT or GRE score, your college transcript, and your résumé are all critical components of your MBA application and, taken together, tell a story about you. But the more compelling story — the one many admissions officers are most interested in — is revealed in your MBA personal statement. A thoughtful, well-written, and genuine portrayal of yourself and your goals and motivations could very well be the thing that clinches your acceptance.

Need help managing the application process? Download this free guide for a month-by-month timeline to complete your graduate school application stress-free.

In contrast to an essay, which answers a specific question asked on an application, a personal statement informs the reviewer about you in a more direct way. The essay and the personal statement have similar goals — essentially, to show why you’re an excellent candidate for the program — but the personal statement gives you plenty of freedom as to how you’ll go about doing that. Its open-endedness sometimes makes it trickier to write, but a little additional thought and preparation is really all you need to craft a successful personal statement for your MBA application.  

Tips On Writing A Winning MBA Personal Statement

We asked a member of the Bentley admissions team, Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admission Can Ahtam, for advice on how to write a personal statement based on the hundreds of applications he reviews every year. In talking about some of the more successful MBA personal statement examples he’s seen over the years, here are some strategies that will make your statement stand out.

Choose a meaningful goal.

Ahtam is surrounded by business-hungry students every day, and that’s good — it’s the reason they’re at Bentley in the first place. But he also hopes every student wants more than just money and a high-ranking career. Ahtam likes reading a personal statement, for example, written by someone who is inspired by a member of his or her community or by some element of their unique background — a person who wants to give back.

Ahtam himself, originally from Turkey, graduated from the Emerging Leaders MBA program in 2013. His own application told the story of his Turkish family’s hardships and his hardworking father who managed to start his own business in spite of it all. He also wrote about how he continues to be inspired by Muhtar Kent, the Turkish-American CEO of Coca-Cola. The fact that someone who shared his heritage was able to make a significant impact on one of the most recognized companies in the world gave him the motivation to succeed as well.  

How have the people and circumstances in your life and community impacted you? How will your success enable you to help others? Your partnership with the university will be more valuable if you can give meaning to your goals.

Focus on just a few points.

Every good essay is made up of just a few major points that are then expanded upon. Before you even start writing, stop and think. What skills and motivations do you have that are a good match for the program? Then, what life experiences can you use to demonstrate those? Look through some MBA personal statement samples and see how many major points you can identify. Though there might be many points you’d like to cover, choose only the most significant. Trying to cover too many things diminishes the importance of each, diluting the overall effect you’re trying to achieve.

Going in-depth on your chosen points not only makes a more powerful statement, but it also shows the admissions team that you are passionate about the subject. Ahtam notes that some applicants include references to back up any facts they present — this is a good indicator of the writer’s interest in the subject and shows he or she has spent a fair amount of time and effort researching it. An additional bonus: Being able to support your ideas with facts is an exceptionally useful skill in the business world.

Use specific examples.

Ahtam has seen too many students say, “I want to work for a Fortune 500 company,” or “I want to work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms.” Who doesn’t? Do your market research and choose a business you admire, then write about that. “Saying that you want to work for XYZ brand because they’re innovative or socially responsible or adaptive shows not only that you’re aware of the market, you’re also attuned to yourself and what you want,” he says.

Another example: If you’re interested in leading a corporation, say why. Stories are a great way to add specifics and interest at the same time. Examine a successful (or unsuccessful) group project you’ve participated in or a challenging work experience, and tell how it impacted you. Details and anecdotes make your MBA personal statement more memorable.

Be purposeful in your writing.

Avoid empty talk. If you find yourself filling the page with a list of things that attracted you to the university, you’re wasting words — the reader already knows the school’s selling points. Instead, choose one thing about the program and use a portion of your personal statement to tell why you’re interested in it. The admissions officer will be impressed with your knowledge of the school and feel good about the fact that the program can offer you what you need to reach your goals.

To enroll in one of Bentley’s three MBA programs, visit our website for the requirements, deadlines, and online application forms. Or, reach out to a member of our graduate admission team for additional information about the admission process or our programs.  

March 2017

Anthony (Tony) Suchman, MD, MA, FACP

While on campus as a Health Thought Leadership Network visiting scholar, Dr. Suchman:

• Presented a seminar titled: Tending the Space Between: Interdependence and the Relational Core of Integrated Health Systems
• Learn about Bentley's health-related research & initiatives
• Attended a networking reception with local colleagues and Bentley faculty and staff
• Advised multiple Bentley faculty members engaged in health-related research

Tony is a primary care physician, organizational consultant, and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Suchman's current work focuses on organizational change and how people can work together more effectively across all levels of health care.

Read Dr. Suchman's profile on the University of Rochester website, profile on Relationship Centered Health Care's website, & recent publications on Google Scholar