Written by: Liz Kent
I started looking into the University at Buffalo’s Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS in MIS) program in 2017. However, at the time I didn’t feel like I had the capacity to meet the demands of master’s level course work. As a parent of young children and a full-time working professional, I felt my time should be spent focused on career progression and my children’s growth and development. How could I justify taking time away from those priorities and putting them into a full-time program? Was it even possible to successfully complete a full-time program while also working full-time?
I resigned that pursuing a master’s degree was an unachievable goal that I needed to let go of. Over the next six years the idea crept back into my head numerous times, but ultimately I could never justify making this type of investment in myself. This changed towards the end of 2023 during a development discussion focused on ways to close the technical knowledge gaps holding me back from making my next move. With the support of my family, I applied and was accepted into the MIS program. With my program not starting for another six to eight months, fear and doubt crept back in.
Starting a master’s program can be scary and intimidating for anyone, however as a professional now in the middle of my career, the risk felt higher. My personal and professional responsibilities are more demanding than ever, and at almost 40 I wondered what going back to school would look like. Would I be able to relate to the other students? Would I be able to learn in an evolved educational landscape? With a business background would I even comprehend the subject matter being presented to me?
Conquering the Challenges: Balancing Work, Family, and School
Well, here I am seven months into this 11-month program, and I couldn’t have been more wrong about my fears. The diversity of the program was comforting, my fellow students have such diverse backgrounds and experiences, making it easy to fit in. Additionally, classes are comprised of students from different programs, so we are constantly benefiting from different perspectives. The faculty and instructors have been instrumental in ensuring that students feel included and supported.
The number of electives to choose from is impressive. Students can customize the program to fulfill their unique interests and career goals. The courses I elected have been stimulating and challenging, but by participating in class and completing assigned coursework I have been able to excel. The content I’m learning directly translates to my job, allowing me to leverage these new skills to increase my productivity and effectiveness in a professional setting. Working a full-time job and taking full-time course load can be overwhelming at times, but with planning and prioritization I have been successful in managing both. Thankfully my management team is supportive of my career development goals and has allowed the flexibility needed to be successful both at school and at work.
In addition to the variety of courses, the opportunities outside of the classroom are just as impressive. From clubs to clinics, there are activities and opportunities for everyone. I was concerned that I would be missing out on opportunities due to my personal and professional responsibilities, however I have been nominated to be a Dean’s Ambassador, part of the DEI Committee and have completed work as a grading assistant. These opportunities have provided outlets for me to share my experiences, knowledge, and unique perspectives with others, but have also helped me to add more tools to my toolbox.
As a wife and parent to children ranging from toddler to freshman in college, it is easy to lose yourself to the daily demands and to become defined by these roles. Starting this program has allowed me to reclaim pieces of myself I thought I lost throughout my journey. Having the opportunity to join UB’s MS in MIS program helped me fall back in love with learning, and to utilize skills that I rarely get to tap into at this stage in my life. My experiences the last three semesters reminded of three things:
1. I am more than the roles I hold.
2. My success does not have to be defined by the support I provide to others.
3. I deserve to invest in myself. Not just because it will benefit my family, but also because it is fulfilling to me.
From the moment that I applied to the program, I received the same question from almost everyone I interacted with: “you have four children, you are working full-time, and you will be participating in this program full time. How are you going to do it all?” My answer has remained the same: “one day at a time, what other choice do I have?”
My only regret is not having enough confidence and determination to take this step earlier. To any potential applicants who find themselves questioning their ability to succeed in this program, don’t sell yourself short and don’t let fear dictate your future. Take the leap, invest in yourself, and do the scary thing! The only thing that outshines the quality of the education and the university’s numerous resources is the staff’s dedication to seeing the students succeed.
Interested in finding out more about UB’s MS in MIS program? Click here.
Bio: Liz Kent is a Buffalo native with a professional background in process improvement and implementation, system administration and defect management. She is currently working as a Business Data Consultant for a local regional bank. Liz is a mother of four and an animal lover, owning a small hobby farm with dogs, pigs and chickens. In her free time, Liz is an amateur photographer, Buffalo Bills fan and plant rescuer. Liz completed her undergraduate degree in Business Management in 2017 and is now pursuing her Master of Science in Management Information Systems at the University at Buffalo, so that she can grow her career in the field of data management and architecture.