Student Perspective: Mike Allen (MSBA ’21)

Mike Allen, a 2021 Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) candidate, shares reflections from his journey
as a non-traditional student in Notre Dame’s Chicago-based business analytics program.

Decision-making in any industry is complicated, especially due to the modern proliferation of data. Developing the ability to make sense of that data and make data-driven decisions effectively is a critical business skill.

I chose Notre Dame’s M.S. in Business Analytics program to learn from a world-class faculty, and to benefit from interacting with classmates who are also practitioners. This experience has accelerated my growth and prepared me to pursue my career goals as only Notre Dame can.

As an older student, I doubted whether I could be successful in today’s classroom. During the very first immersion week, the faculty, staff and my classmates showed how deeply they care about my success.

That’s the Notre Dame spirit, and it extends far beyond the classroom. It is an undeniable force for good that ties generations together, and enables individuals to set aside their doubts in pursuit of larger goals.

To find my way, I only needed to be open to that spirit, and return it in kind.