RYAN
management information systems '22 (outstanding grad)

WHY WEBER STATE?

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While growing up, Weber wasn't at the top of my list of schools, but when I started visiting campuses for the schools I wanted, there was just something missing. Then I visited the Weber State campus and met with advisors and faculty members and I was blown away with how welcoming and personally interested in students they were. WSU is really a student-focused school. As I looked more into Weber, I realized how high-performing its graduates and faculty were. Weber is the hidden gem of Utah higher education, the perfect combination of quality and value. I couldn't be more grateful or proud to a be a Wildcat!

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WHY MIS?

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I decided to major in Management Information Systems after giving it a lot of thought. When I started at Weber I had decided I was interested in information technology, but was not sure how to pursue it. I knew I could learn the technical skills, but I also wanted to use and improve my softer skills as well. MIS is the perfect combination of technical and personal skills. You learn technically what it takes for an organization to use technology to accomplish its goals, but you also learn the business foundations behind those goals, and the management skills to accomplish them. I love bringing together knowledge and skills from a wide variety of disciplines, and I feel that MIS does that perfectly for me.

It is also important to realize that you don't have to be a "tech person" to pursue MIS. I have never though of myself as a tech-savvy person and didn't grow up programming or working with technology. I like to say, however, that we don't expect people pursuing a medical degree to start out as "medical people" or to have grown up doing things in healthcare. It is something you have to learn. The same is true for information systems. You are not born knowing how to work with tech, but the MIS program at Weber will teach you valuable skills that will prepare you to succeed in your career. No matter where you come from, there is a place for you in MIS at Weber.

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INCREDIBLE ACCESS

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The best and most unique thing at the Goddard School is how invested the professors are in your success. All of the Goddard School professors are experts in their field who have chosen to teach because they value student interactions. Your professors want to connect with you and mentor you, and they make every effort to be approachable and accessible. I have reached out for help many times and always felt heard, valued, and helped. The professors at Goddard know what you need to learn to be successful, and they are right there to help you along whenever you need it. 

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FACULTY IMPACT

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The faculty at Goddard School have been one of my very favorite aspects of Weber State. Dr. Randy Boyle was one of the first professors I met, and his openness and encouragement helped me finally make the choice to major in MIS and to set goals for graduate education as well. Dr. Taowen Le and Dr. Grace Lixuan Zhang helped me gain my passion for data analytics and the powerful impact that data science can have on the world today. 

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ADVICE

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For students considering or entering the Goddard School remember that all the resources you need to succeed are available to you. Your professors are ready and willing to help, your advisors are knowledgeable and helpful, resources like the career center or individual clubs are always open. Even your fellow students have things they can teach you. The best thing you can do in the Goddard School is to take a look around, identify where the resources are, and then make sure to use them.  

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WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

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I will graduated from Weber State in April 2022 and then I will attend graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University in August 2022 to pursue a Master's degree in Information Systems Management with an emphasis in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics. I want to work in a career where I use data to gain unique and actionable insights that help people and organizations work smarter and improve their positive impact on the world around them. 

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