The admissions interview is a brief (30-minute) informal conversation about your interest in, and suitability for the MSA program. You may be asked about the skills, talents, or aptitudes you might contribute if accepted. You should view the meeting just as you would a professional job interview; admission is competitive and seats are limited.

Videoconference InterviewsYou will receive a separate email from the Institute within two business days with instructions for your videoconference.

If you will be talking with us via videoconference, please consider the following to improve the interview process:

A webcam is extremely helpful; a working webcam is even better! Please test your sound, and video prior to the interview. Headphones and a microphone are often helpful for improving the sound quality of interviews.

Ambient noise is distracting; try to find a quiet place to talk with us.

Good lighting presents you in, well, a good light.

Bandwidth: make sure it’s adequate to ensure a good connection. In other words, don’t count on using your next door neighbor’s WiFi

If you arrive at the videoconference site before the admissions committee, please be patient; we may be finishing an on-site interview and will be with you shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Skills (ability acquired by training) -

Marketing – 1 year in interactive marketing, several years working in customer service and as a brand ambassador,

Business acumen – Post-graduate degree in Global Business Management Google Analytics – experience through trial and error (gaining a more holistic view of

understanding data) Growing set of IT skills Communication – In addition to Communication degree, I have experience in Customer service

and project coordination

Talents (natural ability)

Analytical – INTP personality Social – Great Communication skills Leadership – Coordinate school projects

Aptitudes (inherent ability) –

Hobbies

Trained Muay Thai for several years Play basketball every week

1. Tell me about yourself- Born and raised in Toronto- Studied Sociology and Communication Studies at York University- Global Business Management at Humber- Son of Vietnamese parents- First Generation - Traveled across Australia and Asia in 2012- Currently taking SQL and HTML and CSS – Perfect for SAS Advanced Programmer certification

o Also took statistics courses over the summer to improve quantitative standing-

2. Walk me through your resume. Briefly explain your roles/responsibilities in each of your positions and the specific dates of these positions.

Work Experience:

High School/University:

1. Retail/Customer Service/Hospitality:o The Helicopter Companyo Home Hardwareo Toys R Uso Parasuco

University:

o 3xcd Executive Compensationo Mosaico GMRo Oakdale Golf and Country Club

Post-University

o Consumer Marketing Intern – St. Joseph’s Communicationo Marketing Intern – Social Game Universeo Brand Ambassador/ Assistant Coordinator - Immersion Mediao Interactive Marketing – H2 Central Marketing

Australia

o Waiter - Variouso Telesales – Service Stream/Origin

3. Why do you want a career in Analytics?

#1 Passion – Love the idea of being able to solve problemsDeveloped a passion for solving problems through the use of data while working for non-profit financial literacy organization. Was able to use Google Analytics to record traffic for online and for social media.

#2 Analytics is the future - Analytics has become one of the most in-demand fields and there is a growing need for analytics specialists; Professionals who are able to understand both the technical side and the business side (business question). AND NCSU has developed the best program in the nation.

4. Why do you think Analytics is such a big part of the future?- Data is exploding. More and more data is being created every single day. And yet, there is a growing

lack of professionals that are able to analyze and draw out useful information from these data segments. Unfortunately, if you don’t take advantage of this data, you lose it.

5. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?In the future, I hope to use data analytics as a way to transform companies and bring valuable insight to critical problems of the future.

6. In what positions do you see yourself right after graduation and five years later?

7. Walk me through your career goals.- Having previously worked as a marketing/social media coordinator for a marketing agency, I have

seen the power of what data can do- Previous experience increasing social media communities through Hootsuite and Google Analytics- Future: use Data Analytics to transform companies and bring valuable insight to problems of the

future.- Work practicum with an organization like the Charlotte Bobcats or a technology company like Cisco

or SAS

8. Why do you want/need the MSA to achieve your goals?- NCSU’s program covers all areas of business (statistics, business, forecasting, soft skills –

communications, team-building, financial analytics, marketing analytics)- The best companies come to NCSU to interview graduates to be their future employees - Currently, my skills are not good enough to get a job in the analytics field

9. Why our MSA program?- NCSU has developed the most comprehensive Analytics program - It has become a model for other Analytics programs across the nation

- Michael Rappa has done a wonderful job starting the program in 2007 when no other programs had started yet.

- Many other schools have based their program on NCSUo Schulich and Queens have both mentioned NCSU as excellent programs and influences on

their own program.- School’s partnership with SAS- Proven track record of success

http://analytics.ncsu.edu/?page_id=1799

NCSU Program:

- NCSU has developed the most comprehensive Analytics program - It has become a model for other Analytics programs across the nation- Michael Rappa has done a wonderful job starting the program in 2007 when no other programs had

started yet.- Many other schools have based their program on NCSU

o Schulich and Queens have both mentioned NCSU as excellent programs and influences on their own program.

- School’s partnership with SAS- Proven track record of success- Research Triangle- Hunt Library – Centennial Campus- School’s partnership with SAS- Practicum sponsorships- Practicum with Charlotte Bobcats, barring that technology firms such as Cisco or SAS- NCSU’s leadership in the areas of analytics- Clubs: Basketball, tennis, rock climbing, rowing, Krav Maga.- Clubs: Agribusiness (agricultural business sector), consulting (We want to build a large network of

university, corporate, and entrepreneurial contacts who share our interest in service management), international business (The International Business Club brings together American and international students and allows them to share their interest in international business.)

- Courses: Marketing Science on Customer and Web Analytics

My Background:

- Born and raised in Toronto- Studied Sociology and Communication Studies at York University- Global Business Management at Humber- Son of Vietnamese parents- First Generation - Traveled across Australia and Asia in 2012- Currently taking SQL and HTML and CSS – Perfect for SAS Advanced Programmer certification

o Also took statistics courses over the summer to improve quantitative standing

NCSU Faculty:

Questions for the Committee:

1. How many students are interviewing for available spots at the interview stage?2. What would you say has been the program’s greatest achievement?3. How does the work practicum work? What type of projects do the students undertake during

their work practicum? 4. Do students typically get hired by their work practicum sponsors? 5. Who chooses the work practicum for the students?6. Do graduates of the program often end up in senior level positions or more entry level?

What is your strongest personal asset?o

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a student? Name 3 strengths that you have and why you consider these strengths. What would one of your friends/teachers/supervisors say about you?

o Loyal o Thoughtfulo Trustworthyo I don’t let people down

What would a supervisor or professor tell me are your strengths?o Solid work ethico Works well with otherso Knowledgeable