Victoria Bracken

​What degree are you pursuing and why?

I am currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Management degree. I chose this program because I found that it complemented my undergraduate career very well and would provide me with the resources and information to be effective in a management position. Living in Charlotte, I knew that having any kind of business repertoire and experience will take you farther than most, so having the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in business with no requirement of having a prior background in the field was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.

​Why did you choose the Belk College of Business over others?

Having earned my bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, I knew the reputation of the Belk College of Business and its success in teaching and molding the students within it. As an undergraduate student, I always wanted to take courses in business, but was never able to fit it into my schedule. The M.S. in Management program allows me to gain business knowledge that I can pair nicely with my undergraduate degrees. Having the Belk College of Business behind you is something that you can rely on to teach you the necessary and prominent topics in the modern world and it can open many doors for your future career.

​What can you share about your experience so far being an Ambassador, and what do you hope to accomplish this year in your role?

So far, my experience in being an Ambassador for my program has been enlightening. I am able to see some of the inner workings of the program and how it fits into the Belk College of Business. There are so many moving parts and different departments that all contribute to the success of the students in the programs here and getting to see it all working together is really cool! In my role this year, I hope to continue to advertise our program to people who may not have known about it. The M.S. in Management program is very young, as it’s second cohort is currently taking on the fall semester. It’s an incredible program and opportunity and I hope to continue making it known in the Charlotte area, as well as in the state!

What has been the best part of your academic experience so far?

I believe the best part of my academic experience thus far would be experiencing classes in a cohort. The courses that the Management program consists of are quite different from one another. We learn Accounting, Human Resources, Economics, Organizational Behavior, Information Systems Management, and more so where one person may not be great in a certain course, someone else in the cohort may excel and can help others and vice versa.

​How would you describe the Belk College of Business to someone considering a master’s program?

An entity of itself. The Belk College of Business is a well-oiled machine that has many moving parts. If you do what you should and you try and you utilize the countless resources that they can offer you as a student, you will not fail.

​Anything else you want to share that may help readers learn about Belk College graduate programs?

Make sure you take some time to look through all of the programs we have to offer. Many people think of graduate business degrees as only MBAs or a Master of Accountancy and while we certainly excel in those programs, there really is something for everyone. Even someone like me who had no prior experience in business courses found a program in business. Having a higher degree of education in business can take you so far, especially in Charlotte and should be something that students take into consideration.