For many prospective graduate students, the biggest questions aren’t just where to go—they’re about cost, career outcomes, and whether the degree will actually pay off.

For Kogod MS in Analytics alumna Alina, those questions were immediate and high-stakes.

While working in FP&A at St. Jude in Memphis, she realized she wanted to pivot toward analytics—without abandoning her finance background. At the same time, as an international student, she had to carefully weigh affordability, timing, and work authorization.

She chose the Kogod School of Business in Washington, DC. After graduating, she secured a role at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), increased her salary, and set a goal to pay off her student loans within a year.

Her path highlights a broader takeaway for prospective students: graduate school outcomes are rarely accidental—they’re built through strategy, skill development, and consistent effort.

Why Do Students Choose an MS in Analytics? 

For Alina, the decision came down to three key factors that reflect how many applicants evaluate analytics programs today:

A Career Pivot Without Starting Over

In her FP&A role, Alina built strong financial fundamentals—but saw growing demand for analytics and data-driven decision-making.

“I didn’t want to leave finance,” she explained. “I wanted to add analytics to it.”

An MS in Analytics allowed her to layer technical skills onto an existing career foundation, rather than restart from scratch.

Access to Opportunities in Washington, DC

Alina intentionally narrowed her search to the DC area, where she had family and saw strong career alignment.

For analytics students, DC offers proximity to:

• Global institutions like the IMF and World Bank
• Consulting firms and government agencies
• Frequent networking and speaker events

Timing and Work Authorization

After not being selected in the work visa lottery with her employer, grad school became a strategic next step she could control.

For many international students, graduate programs provide both skill-building and a pathway to extended work opportunities in the US.

Can International Students Afford Graduate School in the US? 

Cost is one of the most common concerns for prospective students—and Alina approached it with a multi-layered strategy.

Rather than relying on a single funding source, she combined:

• Scholarship support
• Personal savings for living expenses and partial tuition
• A student loan with a lower interest rate (through a US co-signer)
• Part-time work during the program
• Competition prize money applied directly to loan repayment
• Additional funding tied to strong academic performance and campus involvement

Her approach reflects an important shift in how students think about ROI:

Graduate school affordability isn’t just about tuition—it’s about the financial strategy you build around it.

How Do You Get a Job After an MS in Analytics? 

Alina’s job search process wasn’t based on shortcuts—it was built on consistency.

Apply Broadly and Be Patient

She applied to a high volume of roles through platforms like LinkedIn. Her IMF interview came months after submitting an application she had nearly forgotten.

Stay Active Between Roles

When her IMF start date was delayed, she accepted a short-term role at National Journal to maintain momentum and continue building experience.

Use Career Services—But Do the Work

She leveraged Kogod’s Career Development Center for resume feedback and interview preparation, but emphasized that improvement came through repetition.

“It was 50–50,” she said. “They helped me, but I also did a lot of work myself.”

For prospective students, this is a key expectation-setting point:
Career services provide guidance—but outcomes depend on individual effort.

What Experiences Help Analytics Students Stand Out to Employers? 

In interviews—especially for competitive roles like the IMF—Alina found that applied experience mattered as much as coursework.

Competitions and Hackathons

She participated in multiple hands-on opportunities, including:

• Kogod Case Competition (with prize winnings)
• A Google-sponsored hackathon (2nd place)
• A Shark Tank–style competition with external advisors

These experiences acted as demonstrated proof of skill, helping her stand out in technical interviews.

Faculty Support and Real-World Projects

Alina emphasized the impact of faculty mentorship and project-based learning.

In one course, her team worked with a senior leader connected to the World Bank/IFC ecosystem—who later shared her resume for interviews.

For students, the takeaway is clear:
The highest-value experiences often come from hands-on learning and applied projects and the relationships built through them.

Do You Need Coding Experience for an MS in Analytics? 

One of the most common concerns for applicants is technical readiness.

Alina’s experience offers a clear answer:

• Before the program: no coding experience
• After graduation: coding daily in her role

She described the learning curve as real but manageable with consistent practice.

For prospective students, this reinforces an important point:

You don’t need to start with coding experience—but you do need to be willing to build it.

Why Study Analytics in Washington, DC? 

For Alina, moving from Memphis to DC was both a cultural and professional shift.

She pointed to several advantages:

• Access to global organizations and policy institutions
• Frequent exposure to industry leaders through campus events
• Stronger support networks for international students
• Built-in networking opportunities across industries

Through Kogod programming, she attended events where she connected with leaders—including the CEO of EY—opportunities she noted would not have been accessible in a smaller market.

For analytics students, location isn’t just about geography—it shapes access, exposure, and career trajectory.

What Can Prospective Students Learn from Alina’s Experience? 

Alina’s path reflects a broader pattern among successful graduate students:

• Treat your degree as an investment—not just an academic experience
• Prioritize applied learning opportunities early
• Build skills that align with market demand
• Use institutional resources—but take ownership of outcomes
• Think strategically about location and networking

Her story isn’t about a single defining moment—it’s about a series of deliberate decisions that led to a strong outcome.

For prospective students considering an MS in Analytics, that may be the most valuable takeaway of all.