Residential MSBA Student Experience

Enhance Your Experience

The William & Mary MSBA program is a rigorous yet rewarding program. In addition to full-time classwork, you will interact with a diverse cohort of students from across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. You will grow your network with the support of a world-class faculty.

Experiential learning and exceptional instruction, all in the heart of America's second-oldest institution for higher learning. Colonial Williamsburg is regarded as the birthplace of our nation and is the perfect small-town setting for an immersive and transformative one-year journey. Outside of academics, students are supported by their fellow classmates, dedicated program and career staff, and a small-town community that takes pride in their Tribe.

Student Life

Program Events

Living in Williamsburg

Student Life

From the beginning, you'll work closely with your classmates in team-based learning, from conquering the ropes course during orientation, to tackling challenging projects with your learning team, to mastering your technical skills and business acumen during the end-of-program Capstone.

Our students are intellectually curious, hard-working, and enjoy a healthy level of competition. You'll find MSBA students engaged in Tribe athletics, organizing community initiatives, exploring the Williamsburg area, and dominating trivia night. Through our program, students cultivate close relationships and become a family because they live and learn closely together.

In addition to professional opportunities, our students are integrated into many aspects of the William & Mary campus and the greater-Williamsburg community. You'll find MSBA students involved in athletics - organized and recreational, the arts, volunteer work, and more. Whether you are a new student to William & Mary or are simply moving over to the Mason School of Business, you are immediately welcomed into our family, our Tribe!

Academic, Professional & Personal Experiences

Orientation

Jumpstart your job search during Orientation with three days of events that introduce you to the curriculum and give you lessons in how to navigate career fairs as well as a chance to refine your skills with mock interviews and "Speed Networking" events. You will bond with your classmates with fun activities, including our popular Ropes Course. You will leave orientation excited to begin your MSBA journey and cultivate relationships that will strengthen over the duration of the program.

Field Experience

Corporate Treks

During your fall and spring breaks, we offer optional, free trips to the DC area to visit key high-tech employers and organizations such as Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, and Ellucian to hear about the latest trends and how analysts are applying their skills to support organizations across a diverse set of industries.

Capstone Projects

To demonstrate your accumulated knowledge at the end of the program, each MSBA student completes a comprehensive business analytics project from start to finish. Real business problems and data sets are provided by multiple clients with the goal of representing multiple functions and industries. Each capstone team chooses a project, defines and frames the complex problem, develops a systematic approach to solving it using analytics, generates an innovative solution, and persuasively conveys that solution using data visualization techniques and communication skills.

Advanced Skill Sessions

In the field of analytics, there are constantly new tools to add to your toolkit. To keep abreast of the latest techniques, the MSBA program offers co-curricular training in a variety of subjects like Alteryx, Tableau, AWS, Github, Regex with Python, etc.

Tech Day

Each fall, Tech Day brings students and leading business organizations together for a day-long event focusing on trends in data science, analytics, and the latest innovations in Artificial Intelligence. You'll have the opportunity to network with potential employers and attend industry panels during this special day dedicated to tech.

Conferences & Competitions

Grace Hopper Celebration

The Mason School proudly supports women in technology and annually sends outstanding MSBA candidates to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, which is the largest gathering of female technologists in the world. Registration and travel scholarships are available.

Career and Analytic Conferences

Throughout the year, there will be opportunities for students to participate in career conferences like NBMBAA and Prospanica, as well as specialized conferences dedicated to analytics.

Case Competitions

In the spring, the MSBA program sends a team of students to compete in a regional analytics competition for cash prizes.

MSBA Council

The MSBA Council is an arm of the student government in the business school and is integral to your student experience. The MSBA Council organizes events throughout the year to support community initiatives and boost morale. From Thanksgiving potlucks to food drives to intramural sports teams, the MSBA Council brings students together to support one another in the Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

Executive Partners

The Executive Partner program is a unique mentorship program only available through William & Mary's School of Business. You'll have access to a network of active, semi-active, and retired C-level executives from a broad range of industries, all located in the Historic Triangle. EPs are available for career advice, mock interviews, and resume reviews. You will also find EPs supporting a variety of academic and professional development events throughout the year.

Global Events

Our community includes a diverse group of faculty, students, alumni, Executive Partners, and corporate leaders who share a common interest in creating a stimulating, personalized academic and professional environment. With a growing emphasis on management issues that span the globe, international students add valuable insight to the experiences shared in student teams and classroom discussions. Approximately 30 percent of our current MSBA student body hails from outside the United States.

Global English Program

In partnership with the Reves Center, the MSBA program offers an optional 4-week intensive preparatory program for incoming international graduate business students. This summer program combines advanced English language training, academic skills, and visits to regional businesses.

Global Celebrations

Throughout the year, the Global Student Association plans fun cultural events like Diwali, Chinese New Year, and more.

Living in Williamsburg

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business MSBA program will no doubt be a tough academic challenge, but it isn't all about coding and analysis. Located on a historic campus in Williamsburg, students enjoy activities like reading in the Sunken Gardens, kayaking on the James River, and golfing at nearby courses. Social opportunities abound, with cafes, nearby cities, and numerous recreational options. Despite the hard work, you'll forge lifelong friendships and have more fun than you imagined.

Ashley Chiasson '22

"It has been super beneficial for me to work in groups because I've learned so much from my teammates. I've built some strong relationships and made many connections with people in the program who I know I will stay in touch with through my professional network and throughout my career."

Residential MSBA Student Experience

Student Life

Academic, Professional & Personal Experiences

ExpandAll Expand

Corporate Treks

Capstone Projects

Grace Hopper Celebration

Career and Analytic Conferences

Case Competitions

Global English Program

Global Celebrations

Living in Williamsburg

Ashley Chiasson '22

Audiences

Resources

student life, program events, Living in Williamsburg

Student Life

Student Life

Academic, Professional & Personal Experiences

ExpandAll Expand

Living in Williamsburg

Living in Williamsburg

Ashley Chiasson '22

Audiences

Resources