Student Perspective: Molly Seaberg, MSBA ’20

I have always been awestruck by the University of Notre Dame. Ever since I was a little girl visiting my family in the area I would wander campus gazing at the architecture. Among my favorite things; stopping at the bookstore for yet another piece of Notre Dame gear, attending football games and cheering on the Irish all the while reciting the words “God, Country, Notre Dame.”

However attending for undergrad was not in the cards. Instead I studied music at Rockford University, where I earned a Bachelor’s in Arts, and in 2015, I earned my MBA while working at the same university as a graduate assistant.

In the years since, I have had the great privilege to work for one of the world’s largest aerospace companies. Having my MBA, in addition to a background in music, affords me a more unique outlook then some of my colleagues, but I  still lacked the focus or subject matter expertise to propel me forward in my career.

In the back of my mind I kept having this nagging feeling that it was just scratching the surface of my educational journey. I needed to find something that could set me apart as well as fill my need for greater knowledge. That is what led me to find the MSBA through Notre Dame.

I researched schools and class formats, including online, two-year programs and one-year programs. The one that best suited me was Notre Dame’s one-year, in-person program at its Chicago campus. Plus, honestly, how could I pass up the opportunity to finally attend my dream school?

My experience at Notre Dame has been better than I could have ever dreamed. I have been pushed and stretched well beyond my comfort zone, and I can say without a doubt I am better for it. The course work and professors are top notch. They truly care and are there to ensure you are learning the subject matter.

They talk through the tough items and make themselves available for conference calls and those late night email questions when you are trying to wrap up your homework. I also have become so close to my classmates and teammates that it will be hard to imagine the weeks ahead when we will no longer be seeing each other every other weekend or having our weekly Zoom chats. I know that the friendships forged are lifelong and it is exciting to soon join the alumni network to continue to foster and grow those relationships.

As I come to the end of the program, I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to join the MSBA program. It is one of the toughest yet most rewarding years you will experience. You will come out with a greater understanding of the subject matter and a cohort that will become like family.