Texas MS Bridge #StudentSpotlight: Nina Laudon, MSM 2019

8 May 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science Bridge Program in Marketing

Student Name:

Nina Laudon

Graduating Class:

Class of 2019

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

University of Texas at Austin, Human Development and Family Science

About Nina:

Part of why I chose to attend UT was because of the opportunities I had in research as an undergraduate. I actually started college as a neuroscience major, participated in the Freshman Research Initiative doing nano-material research, and quickly realized that while I loved the research process, what I wanted to study was people. So as many students do, I changed my major. I wanted to continue pursuing behavioral research, but with more real world applications. I find human behavior fascinating in its irrationalism, and understanding consumer behavior through data insights and behavioral economics is my ultimate goal.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I’m proud of the work I’ve done in the past year at the Behavioral Science Lab (BSL), a startup that reveals the why of consumer decision making. Being a part of an organization that is revealing insights that big data misses has reinforced the belief that regardless of our reliance on technology, human connection has to be the final piece. I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to have worked with such wonderful mentors and I’m very excited about the future of the company.

Why did you choose the MSM Bridge Program?

I applied to MSM because it felt like one of the only programs that didn’t ask me to sacrifice being creative or being analytical. I’ve never had a firm right brain/left brain separation and marketing with a heavy emphasis on analytics seemed to be the perfect fit for me. I actually didn’t know that I could apply early until a couple weeks before the application was due, but having the opportunity to be involved a year early helped solidify my goals and interests for the program.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I’m really excited to be back in the program this fall, in an environment with a group of bright individuals who share my passions. I’m lucky to know two classes of this program, and to have two years of networking moving into my full time career.

More on Texas MS Bridge Student Spotlight:

Texas MS Bridge #StudentSpotlight is a new feature showcasing the talent, background, and aspirations of the McCombs Master of Science Program students! Learn more about the Texas Master of Science Bridge Program in Marketing on our homepage.

Current Texas MS Bridge students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

Texas MS #StudentSpotlight: Suyi Tu, MSBA 2018

3 May 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science in Business Analytics

Student Name:

Suyi Tu

Graduating Class:

Class of 2018

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

Zhejiang University, Information and Computing Science (Mathematics)

About Suyi:

I majored in mathematics in undergrad and have a solid foundation in modeling, programming and logical thinking. I’m fascinated by the amount of information conveyed in data and am convinced that I would love to work with data in the future.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I am a certified National Chess Master. I started playing chess at a very young age and have been playing it for over 15 years now. Chess has taught me not only to be persistent and considerate, but also to be creative. I use this creativity to apply lateral thinking in my everyday life.

Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I think the slogan for this program says it all: “To become a data driven story teller”. It embodied exactly what I sought to become and what kind of job I wanted coming out of school.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I am really looking forward to starting work in a field that I am interested in. I am ready to apply the knowledge that I’ve learned from this program to solve real-world business problems and deliver value to my organization. And through all of this, I am also excited to learn and grow even more!

More on Texas MS Student Spotlight:

Texas MS #StudentSpotlight is a new feature showcasing the talent, background, and aspirations of the McCombs Master of Science Program students! Learn more about the Texas Master of Science in Business Analytics on our homepage.

Current Texas MS students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

Texas MS Bridge #StudentSpotlight: Pamela Pimienta, MSF 2019

24 April 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science Bridge Program in Finance

Student Name:

Pamela Pimienta

Graduating Class:

Class of 2019

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

University of Texas at Austin, Economics

About Pamela:

I am the youngest of 4 from The Woodlands, TX. Growing up with three older brothers I developed a competitive mentality. I love to push myself not only physically with sports but I also love to challenge myself academically. During my undergraduate years at UT I have participated in greek life and played for the UT Women’s club soccer team.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I am the first person in my family to pursue a Masters degree.

Why did you choose the MSF Bridge Program?

McCombs has some of the best programs in the country that a public university offers. The curriculum will teach me new skills and further develop the ones I have gained during my undergraduate years at UT.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I am looking forward to meeting the other students in the MSF class of 2019. The other bridge students that I met in the MSF program last summer are intelligent and driven. I am also looking forward to the curriculum. I am excited to learn new skills through these classes that will help me with my future career.

More on Texas MS Bridge Student Spotlight:

Current Texas MS Bridge students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

Texas MS Bridge #StudentSpotlight: Mark Babbe, MSBA 2019

18 April 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science Bridge Program in Business Analytics

Student Name:

Mark Babbe

Graduating Class:

Class of 2019

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

University of Texas at Austin, Marketing

About Mark:

I am originally from Chicago, Illinois and moved to Texas in 2005 with a hope for better weather and a better life. I grew up playing almost every sport and constantly spent time in the Texas outdoors. Upon graduating high school, I came to UT Austin with the hope of becoming the best version of my self that I know I can be. Today, I am happy to have the friends and family that support me in whatever I do, and I look forward to what my future holds.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I am definable most proud of what I have achieved academically. I was always in competition with my friends to be the smartest, but now I realize just how beneficial that competition was. I graduated Salutatorian of my high school and am now at a top university, achieving my dreams.

Why did you choose the MSBA Bridge Program?

I applied for an MS in Business Analytics because I have always been numbers driven, and realized that I can use it to build on my undergraduate degree. Data is what drives our future decisions and it was so exciting to see a program that offers just that.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I am looking forward to learning, but ultimately doing things I never knew were possible. Technology advances every single day and to be apart of that journey will be something I’ll be forever grateful for.

More on Texas MS Bridge Student Spotlight:

Current Texas MS Bridge students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

MS Finance Imri Ganiel Recipient of Prestigious NCAA Scholarship

18 April 201816 February 2023 by canipec

Each year, the Master of Science in Finance attracts some of the top athletes here at The University of Texas at Austin and beyond. Triathletes, swimmers, baseball stars, football players, and even an Olympic gold medalist, the MS in Finance recognizes that the dedication athletes give to their sports translates directly to the dedication they can give to business. So it comes as no surprise that one of our very own Master of Science in Finance students was awarded a scholarship to recognize his excellence in both academics and athletics.

MSF Class of 2019 student Imri Ganiel was one of two recipients of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, alongside fellow swimmer Madisyn Cox. The one-time $7,500 scholarships are awarded after each corresponding sport season (fall, winter and spring). The NCAA awards 29 scholarships to men and 29 scholarships to women for each term. It is just the fifth time in UT history that a pair of Longhorns have claimed this honor in the same calendar year and the first since 1988. Ganiel and Cox mark the 27th and 28th athletes at the University of Texas to earn this prestigious scholarship.

As a swimmer, Imri began his career at the age of 12, and throughout the years represented Israel as a part of the Junior and Senior national swim teams, ultimately going on to represent Israel at the 30th games held in London. After completing Israel’s mandatory military service, he was recruited to swim for the University of Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving Team. He was a member of three national championship title teams, with four Big XII titles. With an original undergraduate goal of pursuing medicine, Imri realized senior year that his interests were in finance and the economy.

Upon completing his undergraduate degree, Imri wanted to gain a solid foundation in business and finance skills that could open more possibilities for him in the future. “I was looking for a program that would not only teach me a lot, but challenge me. I knew UT has a great business school, which helped make the decision a lot easier.” The fact that the program was completed in 10-months and was open to all undergraduate majors attracted him as well as a Biochemistry undergraduate. “I had no previous background in finance or business; therefore, I was looking for a program that will teach me a lot. I enjoy being a student and, through my experience as a student-athlete, was confident I could handle the academic intensive course load.”

Imri cites training as an athlete as strong preparation for the academic rigor of the program. With 9 water workouts and 5 weight room workouts weekly (a total of around 22 hours!), he entered the program with strong time management and organization skills. “I knew what I had to do every day in order to successfully complete all of my assignments and projects. I would try to do a bit every day rather than trying to cram everything the last night.” Imri also saw the importance of “non-school” days on the weekend, but ultimately, prioritizing his training and academics helped him succeed. “Scheduling my time and working hard all semester long has definitely saved me during midterms/finals time, especially when it came to getting more hours of sleep.”

Now as a MS in Finance student, Imri has excelled in his studies. When dealing with an academically intensive program, Imri believes that his experience as a student-athlete has helped him stay organized and succeed in this program. Currently enrolled in extra courses, Ganiel has maintained a top degree of academic excellence in the program.

The MS Finance program is excited about Imri’s future. “I accepted a position as an analyst with Raymond James’ oil and gas equity research team in Houston and will be starting in mid-June.” Beyond that, he sees many possible paths in finance open to him. We are proud to have him as a Texas MSF future alum and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

The Texas Master of Science Programs would like to extend a warm congratulations to both Imri and Madisyn on their well-deserved scholarships.

Texas MS #StudentSpotlight: Siddhant Shah, MSBA 2018

17 April 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science in Business Analytics

Student Name:

Siddhant Shah

Graduating Class:

Class of 2018

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering

About Siddhant:

Hailing from the Silicon Valley of India – Bangalore, extensive experience in the field of analytics working with top Fortune 500 clients from industries such as retail, financial services and health insurance. Given enough money to sustain for a lifetime, I’d spend it all on backpacking across the globe, meeting new people and learning about their culture, and also playing football (soccer) in different parts of the world. HUGE MANCHESTER UNITED FAN!

Proudest Accomplishment:

My biggest achievement was being able to successfully build a prototype of a cost-effective medical device to help correct limb deformities among orthopedic patients, which could potentially make the procedure more accessible to financially distressed patients. This novel idea was built in collaboration with a reputed orthopedic surgeon himself, who was highly appreciative of our efforts. The project was also a trigger to me realizing my true analytical capabilities and love for creating out-of-the-box solutions using quantitative methods, driving me towards building a career in Data Science.

Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

In the constantly evolving space of Data Science and Analytics, the learning curve is extremely steep! I truly believe, on the job learning is never good enough to take your career to the next level. Therefore, even with 4 years of relevant work experience, I decided to pursue the McCombs MSBA program, being taught by distinguished industry experts, with a comprehensive curriculum designed to serve needs of students like myself.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

As we draw closer towards the end of an important semester of the program, I look forward to finishing it with a strong academic performance and apply my learnings from class to the capstone project next semester. Coursework aside, we have our fair share of fun too and I have a West Coast vacation planned with a few friends for winter break, involving a road trip along the beautiful pacific coast highway one.

More on Texas MS Student Spotlight:

Current Texas MS students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

Texas MS #StudentSpotlight: Sarah Tafolla, MSM 2018

10 April 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science in Marketing

Student Name:

Sarah Tafolla

Graduating Class:

Class of 2018

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

University of Dallas, Business and Spanish Literature

About Sarah:

I grew up in Colorado Springs, but I found my way to Texas, and I love it! During college, I studied Business, Spanish Literature and received classic liberal arts training as part of the core at University of Dallas. And while I enjoy learning every discipline, I took a special interest in marketing, which led me to UT’s Master of Science in Marketing program. When I’m not busy being a student, I love to travel (I’ve done two study abroad programs, one in Rome and one in Costa Rica), read, play tennis, work on crossword puzzles, and occasionally get my fix of adrenaline through bungee jumping or skydiving.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I’m most proud of my Spanish thesis because of all it represents. I’m half Mexican, but not a native speaker. My grandparents refused to teach my father Spanish because his family had immigrated to the US and had trouble with the language barrier. Studying Spanish in college was my way of connecting to my heritage and honoring my grandparents. Although I have a long way to go until I consider myself truly fluent, 35 pages of academic writing in Spanish is a pretty good testament to how far I’ve come.

Why did you choose the MSM Program?

I only had one class in marketing during college and that simply wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to learn more, and I knew I would need some technical skills to be competitive if I wanted to pursue a career in this field. The MSM program’s mix of analytics, strategy, and marketing theory perfectly fit the bill. The McCombs network, the affordability, and the idea that I could stay in Texas all contributed in MSM becoming my top choice.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I’m happy to say that thanks to this program, I’ve accepted a Consulting Analyst position at Accenture for next year! I’m most looking forward to applying what I’ve learned in this program to my job. MSM has given me an edge, and I can’t wait to represent this program and show my company and clients what my education is worth. However, I know I will truly miss the people in this program. I’m thankful I’ll be staying in Austin, and I might just drop by professors’ office hours sometimes!

More on Texas MS Student Spotlight:

Current Texas MS students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.

New Venture Marketing Students with Dr. Srinivasan

9 April 201828 February 2023 by canipec

It’s getting to that time of year when our Master of Science students are starting to stress (just a little!). The end is in sight, finals are coming up, capstone projects are coming to a close, and many of them are starting to think about careers that await them. So amidst all this hard work, it’s nice to see our students getting a little break. Dr. Srinivasan of the Master of Science in Marketing Program and her New Venture Marketing students went to dinner as a group as a little reward for all their hard work.

New Venture Marketing is part of the cutting-edge MSM curriculum that combines quantitative analytical skills with the kind of qualitative decision-making marketers in digital age are making. The course asks students to think as a CEO might about marketing strategy from start to finish. Utilizing case studies to examine applied marketing principles, students can learn from real-world outcomes of different types of marketing decisions. Students get to alternate from the viewpoint of entrepreneur and investor to see multiple angles of an entrepreneurial venture.

The MS in Marketing curriculum is top-ranked thanks in large part to professors like Dr. Srinivasan. Dr. Srinivasan was recently named Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, Dr. Srinivasan will lead a committee Texas McCombs faculty and staff to create a practical action plan that will push the school’s ambitious diversity and inclusion goals forward.

MS Application Ready: Now Which Test to Take?

6 April 20189 April 2021 by canipec

The Standardized Test – Oh My!

You’ve got all your materials lined up for your chosen Master of Science Program, and you’re staring down the testing requirement. GRE or GMAT? GMAT or GRE?

Can’t decide? Need some help preparing? Look no further.

Usually the first – or the last – thing our applicants complete for their application is their standardized test. It can be overwhelming. Which test should I take? What if I don’t score high enough? How to I prepare to ensure that I do? Can I retest? All of these questions and more are answered right here!

If you’ve started your application process, you’ll know that the Master of Science Programs accepts either the GRE or GMAT (we accept both the in-person and at home versions of both exams). One of the many questions our admissions team is asked is, “Which test do you prefer?” Either one! Our committee generally does not have a preference. However, once you’ve submitted one test score, if you need to retest, check with your specific program regarding your retest. Some admissions committees will be open to you swapping tests while others may ask you to take the same test again.

There are some pros and cons to each test, so use these tips to help decide which test might be right for you.

Choosing a Test

The GMAT is looked at by most large consulting and investment banking companies because they use your score as a baseline qualifier for the recruiting process. If consulting or investment banking are in your sights, this means that the GMAT is the best choice because you could take it once and use your score for both your MS application as well as your career recruitment profile.

The GMAT is simply more common among business school students, so recruiters will have more experiences assessing skills of applicants based on the GRE. However, if you’re in a field like our MS Marketing degree, which typically does not operate through recruiting, you may be better suited to the GRE.

Most graduate business programs only started accepting the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT within the last decade. Alumni and hiring companies are simply more familiar with the GMAT and its score scale. However, as it currently stands, the MS degrees here at UT see about half and half scores submitted each year, and our students have an excellent post-graduation career placement rate. So while the GMAT is still the prevalent exam within most business schools, our students are seeing success no matter which test they choose to take.

Preparing for the Test

Whether you’re taking the GRE or GMAT, we strongly encourage that you dedicate some time to studying for and preparing yourself for the test. Most students are spending anywhere from 50 to 200 hours preparing for standardized tests. There is no minimum score for any of our MS degree programs, but they are a strong factor in the admissions committee consideration of your application. Keep in mind that since we are quantitatively-based Master of Science degrees, our admissions committee is especially taking into consideration your quantitative test scores. Don’t ignore the qualitative side, though! As business degrees, we’re interested in candidates who have great communication skills as well as an ability to handle data and numbers.

Sometimes it’s the little things. Bear in mind that the GRE is about 3 hours long and the GMAT is about 3 and a half hours – so you need to be mentally ready! Don’t cram the night before, get a good night’s sleep, and eat beforehand. No one wants to go into a test on an empty stomach!

GMAT Test Prep Resources

For the GMAT, look no further than MBA.com. No longer a website for just MBA applicants, our MS applicants can utilize these resources to help them get ready for the GMAT. This page will help you understand how to spend your time studying, how to manage test anxiety, and there’s even a quiz to come up with your own customized study plan! You’ll also want to take some practice exams. GMAT offers a number of official practice exams – you’ll need to download the free test prep software to access their two free practice tests. These two are almost identical to what you’ll see on test day, so it’s important to take it seriously and note where you’re having issues.

As you go through the practice tests, it’s as important to understand what the test is asking you to do as it is to understand portions you are struggling with. Consider keeping an error log to identify not only what section you struggle at but also if there’s a time pattern (did you miss most of your questions around the two hour mark? This can help you mentally prepare to give yourself a boost around that time in the real test!).

GRE Test Prep Resources

Consider starting at ETS’ own free resources. They provide some great options to review Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and the Analytical Writing portions of the test. There are also options to take sample tests via POWERPREP online. It will not only get you ready for the format of the actual test (navigating between questions, types of questions, etc. ); it will also give you a good gauge of what materials you need to brush up on more.

Feel like you may need a little more preparation? Here are some recommended practice tests and resources you can get new or used to help you get ready.

Barron’s 6 GRE Practice Tests (Barron’s)
Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions & Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions (ETS)
Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep (Princeton Review)

Retesting

If you take your test and feel like you could score higher or you’ve submitted your application and the admissions committee has asked for a new score, try not to stress over your retest. Check out this blog regarding preparing the retest – you’ll see the FIRST piece of advice is to lower your anxiety. There’s also some great advice on accessing more practice tests and checking which resources you used to prepare the first time. Identify new resources, identify points of struggle, and work on improving those rather than doing another holistic study review. The upside to a retest is that you should be at least somewhat familiar with what’s coming, which is a significant portion of the battle when it comes to test-taking.

We hope our GRE/GMAT Testing blog was helpful! If you have additional questions regarding submitting your test scores to the MS in Business Analytics, Finance, IT & Management, or Marketing programs, utilize our websites to reach out to our admissions team to get your questions answered. We look forward to your application to join #TXMS!

Texas MS #StudentSpotlight: Raisa Varejao, MSF 2018

4 April 201816 February 2023 by veronicasun

Program:

Master of Science in Finance

Student Name:

Raisa Varejao

Graduating Class:

Class of 2018

Undergraduate Alma Mater:

Fucape Business School, Economics and Accounting

About Raisa:

I am originally from Brazil and got my undergraduate degree in Economics and Accounting there as well. I also worked as a financial advisor in Brazil and as a commercial analyst in a venture capital firm. I love to write about macroeconomics and finance and lately have had an interest in FinTechs. Apart from school, I like to stay active. When I was younger I used to do Muay Thai, and after moving to Austin, I have become very attracted to running and ran my first half marathon last month.

Proudest Accomplishment:

I am proud to have completed my Masters in Finance and two bachelors degrees before the age of 25 and to have gained finance and programming skills. I’m also very proud of the great network of friends that I’ve been able to have met here in Austin. Outside of school, I am incredibly proud that I had the opportunity to fight Muay Thai professionally.

Why did you choose the MSF Program?

I decided to join the MSF program because I wanted to gain and develop a more in-depth knowledge in finance. I knew the program would help me exceed in my career and provide me the opportunity to gain international experience.

What are you most looking forward to in your program?

I am looking forward to learning as much as I can before my time in this program comes to an end. However, I also can’t wait to apply the knowledge that I acquired throughout this program in my professional life!

More on Texas MS Student Spotlight:

Current Texas MS students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.