Student Perspective: Emma Ewers, MSBA ’20

The first memory I have of the University of Notre Dame was standing on the football field under the goal post when I was twelve years old. I do not remember how I ended up there, but I remember knowing that I was in a special place. Fast forward to my decision to go to graduate school, and I happened across the MSBA program at Notre Dame during my research. This program fit everything that I was looking for: a strong focus on data courses without requiring coding experience, a close-knit community, a passion for helping improve our world through business, and a very impressive alumni network. Throughout the application and interview process, I felt welcomed and knew that the Mendoza family was special.

During the program, I had the wonderful opportunity to learn from both extraordinary faculty members and incredible classmates. They challenged and encouraged me to develop my skills and provided an amazing support system. The courses in the program were heavily focused on data and allowed me to gain an understanding of how data could be used to drive business insights. This became evident during the capstone experience where I was able to take what I had learned in the classroom and apply it to a real business problem. Working with other Mendoza students and the sponsors enabled me to see how I could operate within a business environment and provide actionable insight. I also had the opportunity to learn a variety of different coding languages, machine learning methods, data visualizations and so much more. I learned so much, not only about data analysis, but also about myself and my abilities. Overall, this program provided me with a foundation to go out and use business analytics to make a difference.

Outside of the program, the Notre Dame community provided an experience like no other. From football games, to analytic workshops, to burger night every Wednesday, I grew to be a part of the Fighting Irish family. I was able to participate in intramurals and do volunteer work outside of the classroom that allowed me to feel a part of not just the Notre Dame community, but South Bend as a whole. I am incredibly thankful for the friendships I have made and know that these people will be there to support me in future challenges and successes. Though this year had its ups and downs, I could not have asked for a better experience at Notre Dame and am forever grateful for this past year in South Bend. Go Irish!