Political Science to CMU MSBA: Kiki’s DIY Application While Working

Updated 2026/10/16

Kiki graduated from National Chengchi University with a degree in political science (GPA 3.4/4.0) and went into the tech industry as a PM. After 2 years of work, she decided to apply for a master’s in business analytics (MSBA) and was admitted to CMU MSBA and UW MSBA. She handled the entire application herself while working, and made her own career pivot happen.

In this interview, Kiki shares how, while working as a product manager (PM), she used her evenings to research programs, write her SOP and prepare for interviews, and how she used the OfferLand.cc study-abroad platform to connect with alumni and get practical advice!

Kiki’s background (Kiki’s LinkedIn):

• IELTS: Overall 7.5
• GRE: 323 (V: 156 / Q: 167 / AWA: 3.5)
• Offers: CMU MSBA (final choice), UW MSBA

CMU MSBA: Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Business Analytics

At Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, “data” and “business” come together.

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is a STEM-designated, full-time master’s designed for students who are graduating or recently graduated (admitted students have an average of 1.1 years of work experience) and want to build their analytical skills and move into in-demand business analytics roles. The program takes just 9 months. On CMU’s future-focused campus, students learn to use emerging technology and data-driven thinking to solve companies’ hardest problems, and to turn complex data into insights that inform decisions.

The program combines advanced business analytics techniques, programming and applied machine learning. It aims to train students who go beyond using data and become problem solvers who “tell stories with data” (in the program’s words: tell stories through and extract insights from data). Graduates can work in business intelligence, supply chain management, marketing analytics, finance or consulting roles across finance, consulting, retail, manufacturing, insurance and information technology. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for data analytics roles will grow 25% between 2020 and 2030, which makes an MSBA all the more worthwhile.

The CMU MSBA Experience

When you applied, which CMU MSBA courses or resources appealed to you most? Now that you’re there, does it match your expectations?

What I valued most was that CMU MSBA has more coding-related technical courses. About 60% of the curriculum is fairly hardcore technical work (Python, SQL, Machine Learning modeling), and the other 40% is business decision-making and management. CMU also offers a Capstone Project in the last mini semester, where students work on a project with an outside company. I think these are great things to put on your resume and they help with the job search later.

I’m now in my first month, and the program really is as intense as I expected. Each week I have one statistics class, one programming class and two business classes. The pace is very fast. The R course, for example, covers all the coding basics in five weeks, and the instructor assigns homework so we practice repeatedly and understand it better. Also worth mentioning: the school’s MCC (Master Career Center) runs sessions for MSBA students almost every week, covering networking, behavioral question practice and mock interviews. I think this will help a lot when looking for internships or jobs, and it helps us get used to US workplace culture early.

So far, what do you think of classes at CMU, life abroad and socializing with classmates? Is there anything you wish you’d known or learned before coming to the US?

So far the pace of classes feels quite fast, and there’s almost no gap between assignments and career fairs, so time management is very important. I use the time between classes to revise my resume and prepare materials for career fairs, and try to get things done in pieces. This cohort has about 130 students and there’s a lot of interaction. Besides teamwork in class, people are happy to share job search resources and information about activities outside class.

I love this atmosphere of international students supporting each other and working hard together abroad!

As for life abroad, at first I wasn’t used to making small talk in English, especially with classmates or at networking events. But with more and more practice, I’ve gradually gotten used to American small talk culture and feel more comfortable talking with people from different backgrounds. If you can practice more everyday English conversation before you come, adjusting will go more smoothly.

Motivation and Switching Fields: From Political Science to Business Analytics

Why did you decide to apply for an MSBA (business analytics)? You studied political science, so why switch to business analytics?

I studied political science in college and then worked as a product manager (PM) in tech. I started with no programming or technical background. After two years of work I decided to apply to grad school because I wanted to try switching to a software PM role. I knew that to move toward software PM work, I needed a stronger technical background and data analysis skills so I could communicate with engineers. That’s what got me thinking about a business analytics MSBA. I also didn’t want to switch to coding as a career, so a program that isn’t too hardcore suited me: an MSBA was a good fit. I wanted to build up my data analysis and technical skills systematically, and eventually stay in the US tech industry in a PM-related role.

Was there an internship or a turning point at work that made you realize you were interested in business analytics?

As a laptop PM at ASUS, I had to analyze past sales and market performance using back-end data and adjust the product roadmap based on the numbers. Data-driven decisions made it much easier to convince my managers to adopt my proposals. That experience showed me how much I enjoy the process of “looking into data,” and it was the main reason I decided to apply for an MSBA. I found that I like working with data and using quantitative methods to improve product decisions.

SOP and Essay Writing: Connecting a Humanities Background to an MSBA

How did you plan and write your SOP / Essay? Without a business background, how did you “frame” yourself in your SOP?

First, I think framing your story is very important. I split my SOP into three parts, “starting point, turning point, goal,” to tie it into one complete story:

• Starting point: my social science background at National Chengchi University trained me to research information, read context and persuade people.
• Turning point: during a Shopee internship in my third year, I worked with SQL and sales data. After graduating I became a product manager at ASUS, using SQL, Excel and sales reports to analyze product specs and regional sales, and helping the team find the SKUs most worth pushing. That process made me realize I needed to build my data analysis skills more systematically and in more depth, so I could use more advanced methods to forecast market trends and improve product decisions. This part describes the “turning point” that led me to pursue an MSBA.
• Goal: I said that after the MSBA I want to become a software product manager or data analyst in tech, helping tech companies drive product strategy with data.

When writing an SOP, I think listing your experience isn’t enough; you need a story that connects it. For example, I described how I’d proven at work that I could get results with data, then connected that to how MSBA training would take me further as a product PM.

What do you think are the most important things an SOP must not leave out?

These are the points I think an SOP “can’t leave out”:

Why you’re applying

• Start by explaining why you want this degree “right now”
• For example, I said that after 2 years as a product manager I realized my advanced data analysis skills fell short, so I wanted an MSBA to strengthen my data analysis. I also mentioned a trend I’d noticed in tech: the rise of AI made me see how important it is to integrate software and hardware, and that building a good product requires strong software applications too…
• The point is to show the Admissions Committee (AdCom) a “clear reason for applying”

Past experience

• Try to connect your past experience to the program
• For example, I mentioned analyzing sales data at Shopee and ASUS to improve product decisions, which maps to the core of an MSBA: use data to drive data-informed strategies. You can also mention soft skills, like a PM’s collaboration skills and stakeholder management skills… so AdCom sees that you have technical skills and can also work with a team to solve real-world business problems

Make your career goals specific

• An SOP shouldn’t just say “I want to learn analytics.” You also need to write “what you’ll do after graduating,” ideally with short- and long-term goals. If you can tie them to the school’s resources (courses, capstone, location, alumni network) and explain how those resources will help you reach your goals, it will be more convincing
• For example, I said my short-term goal was to “become a data analyst or software PM in tech, using data to improve product strategy,” and my long-term goal was to “become a Product owner leading a product team and driving product innovation with data insights”

How did you convince schools you could switch fields? (For example, how did you make up for programming and data skills?)

Outside work, I enrolled in National Taiwan University’s information systems training program, studied Machine Learning & Python and earned a certificate. I also completed a SQL certificate course online on Datacamp, which showed I had basic programming skills.

US MSBA Application Strategy and School Choice: Going for Round 1

How did you plan your school strategy and application timeline? Working full time, how did you fit in test prep, essays, interviews and everything else?

Before planning my timeline, I took time to learn the basic rules of US master’s admissions. Master’s programs usually admit for Spring and Fall terms. If you apply for 2025 Spring, you start in January 2025 and deadlines fall between August and October 2024. For 2025 Fall, you start in September 2025 and most deadlines are between December 2024 and February 2025. I aimed for 2025 Fall and targeted Round 1 (deadlines in October and November), because applying in R1 usually shows commitment and gives you an edge when competing for spots.

Once that was settled, I worked backward to set a Deadline for everything: GRE/IELTS test dates, first and final drafts of my SOP and Essays, recommendation letters, and finishing my online course certificates.

Since I was preparing while working full time, I set myself an ideal timeline:

• January to March: start choosing schools and prepare for the GRE/GMAT, using a first attempt to test the waters.
• April to June: focus on the test, aiming for a target score within two or three attempts.
• July to August: switch to IELTS/TOEFL, hoping to hit the target on the first try, and retake quickly if not.
• August to September: finish the first draft of the SOP/PS, start asking professors or managers for recommendation letters, and sign up for or complete relevant online courses.
• October to November: register on each school’s application portal, ask friends, family or alumni to help revise the SOP/Essays, make sure the online course certificates are in hand, and get ready to submit before the R1 deadline.

This plan let me break the application into stages while keeping up with work, and made sure I could give each step the attention it needed.

When choosing MSBA programs, which courses or resources did you look at? What criteria did you use?

Curriculum

I prioritized curricula that emphasize hardcore skills and made sure there were more coding classes than business ones, because that’s where I most needed to catch up. CMU’s Customer Analytics and Machine Learning Methods and AI courses, for example, combine statistical modeling, machine learning and business decision-making. Courses like these help me connect analysis with business strategy.

Capstone Project

A capstone project means you work with a real company on a project using its data. It builds your portfolio, and you learn how to apply models to real business situations.

Alumni and career resources

I looked at the Career Center’s support and how active the alumni community is, because alumni networking matters a lot when you’re job hunting in the US after graduation.

Did you have “safety” or “dream” schools in Round 1? Why CMU / UW / USC MSBA?

My Round 1 school list:

• Dream schools: UT-Austin / CMU / USC (MSBA)
• Reach schools: UW MSBA / UM MSIM
• Safety school: UIUC MSIM
• On my Round 2 list but never applied to: NYU MSIS / Purdue MSBAIM / UMich MSBA / UW MSIS

When preparing for grad school, besides doing lots of research and understanding how programs differ, it’s just as important to examine your interests and figure out what you really want instead of blindly switching to coding.

My goal was to combine my product management background in tech with hard skills in data analysis and stay in the US tech industry in a BA/DA/SW-PM role. I had no plans to become an engineer (Software engineer, Data Scientist and BI engineer weren’t on my target list), so every program I applied to was in information management or business analytics, under an iSchool (school of information) or a Business School.

Once you’ve settled on the type of program, you can check rankings on the 2025 QS ranking/ US News, and I also highly recommend these articles:

• School Selection Strategy for US Data Grad Programs: What’s on My List? (in Chinese)
• My Full US MSBA Application Record, Part 3: How to Choose Schools (1) (in Chinese)
• 2023 MSBA Application Notes: 12 Practical Tips for Applying to MSBA Programs (Part 1: Test Prep & School Selection) (in Chinese)

Speeding Up Your Application Through Networking and Forums: Connecting with Alumni on OfferLand

You mentioned finding Fiona through OfferLand.cc to help revise your USC SOP. How did you get in touch with her, and how did she help?

I saw a post on OfferLand.cc where Fiona shared her experience applying to USC MSBA. USC MSBA was on my list too, so her experience seemed very relevant. I then messaged Fiona on IG, introduced myself, explained that I was working on my SOP and asked for some advice. She was very kind, happy to reply, and gave me direction and suggestions for revisions.

What advice did Fiona give you on applying, or even on your career? What experience or Insights would you like to pass on to future applicants?

Fiona reviewed the structure and content of my SOP and reminded me to make “why USC MSBA” more specific. She suggested mentioning on-campus resources such as the Trojan network, so the admission committee could clearly see my motivation and plans. She also shared how she made use of school resources while studying, such as going to Career Fairs and industry panels, building relationships with professors and actively looking for internships, all of which helped her gain practical experience connected to industry.

The insight I found most useful was to think beyond the application itself and work out how you’ll get the most learning and networking out of the program once you have the offer. I’d really like to pass this on: before you apply, start thinking about what skills you want to build and what connections you want to make once you’re in the program, so the whole experience abroad means more.

Interview Prep: Showing Your Value with Confidence

Which MSBA interviews did you have? Were there common question types? What was the format and process?

CMU was the only school that gave me a live interview. Interviews are mostly one-on-one online video calls, usually 30 minutes to an hour. Common questions include:

• Why Business Analytics? Why apply now?
• Why Tepper? Why CMU?
• Short-term and long-term career goals
• Teamwork experience
• Leadership experience
• What can you bring to this program?

Basically, the questions center on your motivation for applying and your past experience with teamwork and leading projects, plus questions tailored to your resume. I was asked why I moved from a political science degree to a PM job in tech. I had been worried about lots of technical skills questions, but my advice is to prepare more for behavioral questions, know your resume and strengths, and remember to prepare for the Q&A at the end. I asked three questions: what past cohorts’ backgrounds were like, whether there were skills they’d suggest strengthening before starting, and what work-life balance is like in the program.

Did you face any especially challenging questions in the interview? How did you prepare?

The hardest question was What can you bring to this program?, because you have to show what makes you unique and valuable in a short time. I prepared by practicing my stories with the STAR method (Situation-Task-Action-Result) so my answers would be clear, structured and memorable:

1. List the examples from your work and academic experience with the most impact, such as how I coordinated cross-functional work as a PM at ASUS and used data to drive decisions. I could bring business acumen and data-driven insights to group projects
2. Personal skills and traits: I emphasized that as a PM I’m good at teamwork and solving problems. As a Product Manager, I used cross-functional coordination and leadership to successfully launch 4 new product lines
3. Mention what you’ll contribute and what you want to learn: I hoped to apply my practical experience in class, contribute to classmates and group projects, and learn from peers and faculty to further develop my analytical and leadership skills

How would you suggest preparing for Behavioral Questions and questions like Why this Program?

For Behavioral Questions:

• Pick 3 to 5 of your most representative examples. They can be projects from work or teamwork at school, and together they should cover “teamwork, leadership and problem solving.” Make sure each one has a clear Situation, Task, Action, Result. Once your stories are shaped, practice saying them out loud so they sound natural and convincing.

For Why this Program / Why this school:

• First research the school’s curriculum, alumni network, career resources and culture, and match them to your career plans. Focus your answer on how you’ll use these resources to reach your goals instead of just saying “it’s a great school,” and back up your motivation with specific examples (particular courses, student communities, alumni events). When I applied to CMU MSBA, for instance, I said that CMU’s reputation in computer science plus the Tepper School of Business’s alumni network in tech would make networking in the tech industry much easier for me.

Advice for Future Applicants

What advice do you have for applicants preparing while working, or without a business background?

If you’re preparing while working or don’t have a business background, I think it’s important to make good use of your work experience. Show the practical results from your job so the admission committee can see you’re able to solve real world business problems. Examples like these are perfect for your SOP or interviews.

I’d also suggest connecting your work experience to your learning goals: explain why you want to go deeper into this field and how you’ll apply what you learn in the master’s to your future work. Finally, put together some quantified results and examples ahead of time, so you can show your value quickly and clearly in your SOP or interviews.

Looking back, what do you wish you’d done earlier? What three things were most worth spending time on during the application process?

I strongly recommend registering on application portals early! That’s how you find out in advance what materials you still need. In my case, CMU and UT Austin both required applicants to submit a linear algebra grade. To get my CMU application in before Round 1, the day after my IELTS test at the end of August I resigned myself to signing up for Coursera’s Linear Algebra online course, and within a month I finished the course, passed the exam and got the certificate.

For humanities students with a background like mine, I also recommend building a programming foundation early through online courses and certificates, learning Python, SQL, R and other business analytics concepts. That lets you present your skills confidently in interviews and your SOP, and eases concerns about a “non-business background.”

To compare more MSBA alumni’s backgrounds and application approaches, see What Is an MSBA? A Guide to Applying for a Master’s in Business Analytics, which brings together the experiences of 9 alumni.