Warrington combination degrees: Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MSE) student Carolina Borroto answers questions about what it’s like to be a combination-degree student, what she’s learned in her master’s program and making the transition from the Heavener School of Business to the Hough Graduate School of Business.
Q. What was your major as an undergraduate student?
A. “My major was business administration with a pre-law specialization.”
Q. Why did you decide to pursue your undergraduate major?
A. “When I first toured UF as a junior, an upperclassman friend of mine told me about a new type of major that UF offers that allows you to do a business background with a specialization in the type of career you want to do. The specializations ranged from pre-med to engineering, and since I knew I wanted to go to law school, I wanted to give myself the business background to run my own business or firm while still taking classes on the law and philosophy.”
Q. How did you hear about the master’s program you are enrolled in?
A. “When I started my Fall 2016 semester, I started to look at the combination degree programs so that I don’t have to graduate a year early. I looked on the Heavener website and saw the multiple programs they offered. I then emailed Parker [Van Hart, MSE Program Director] because I wanted to inquire if it was a combination degree program, and luckily, I was the first one to join the program as a combination degree student.”
Q. Why did you decide to pursue that master’s program?
A. “The kind of law I want to go into is very client-based and I wanted to understand the entrepreneurial mindset to be prepared for making sales, signing contracts and representing a business. This program also offers so many practicum-based classes, allowing me to put into practice what I learn and the experiences are used as a teaching tool as well as work experience.”
Q. How have you benefitted from the time you’ve already spent in your master’s program?
A. “One of the classes I got to take is called Gatornest. This consulting class pairs you and your team with a business that is in need of help and relies on a solution and business plan created by your team to execute that solution. I had the opportunity to work with What Drives Winning, and they were so impressed by our business plan and teamwork that they offered us a part-time internship to help implement the business plan we created and see the changes we suggested to help them be successful. I also got the chance to network with multiple entrepreneurs, even an attorney that I consider a mentor, out in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley area thanks to the UF in Silicon Valley Immersion Program lead by the program.”
Q. What career do you plan to pursue after you complete your master’s degree?
A. “I will be attending the University of Miami School of Law in the fall of 2018. I hope to operate in either the business industry or the sports and entertainment industries.”
Q. Why should other students consider a master’s degree from the UF Hough Graduate School of Business at the Warrington College of Business?
A. “A master’s degree is unique from an undergraduate degree in that you have more hands-on experience and team projects that develop your interpersonal skills and be exposed to multiple industries, whether they be business-based or not. A master’s degree takes what you learn as an undergraduate and digs deeper into those topics and subjects. You learn specific problem-solving skills that you will implement into your life and you network with not just your fellow students, but the alumni of those programs.”
Q. Can you describe the academic experience in your master’s program?
A. “Most of the time that I spent out of class came from working with group projects or teams to handle case studies. While I came into the program balancing both master’s course work and my undergraduate course work, I found myself to time manage really well due to priorities and deadlines. Most assignments are due on the weekend in my master’s course work, so I was able to meet with teams at those times but complete my undergraduate work during the week. It was fairly easy to meet with my team members in the program.”
Q. What are your tips for the application process?
A. “Take practice tests and really find out what your strengths and weaknesses are to determine whether the GRE or the GMAT is right for you. Reach out to your mentors or professors who know you personally and have seen your growth over time, for they can talk about you really well and can talk about your ability to grow and learn. For the essay, I was able to find inspiration from previous work experience, but you should look for characteristics that showing your desire to learn but also show you as a student. If you unsure about anything with the application process, email or ask to meet with the program director personally. If you do get into the program of your choice, you will meet with your program director multiple times for class schedules and more, so you might as well meet them now and gain insight to help have a great application.”
Learn more about the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship.
