5 Common Questions About Applying to MSIT

Stephen Dowling interacts with a wide range of prospective students in his role as associate director of Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program. Thanks to those interactions, Dowling has a grasp on the common questions and concerns potential students have about the application process.

To help make that process a little easier, Dowling shared five common questions he hears from prospective students — and his answers. 

What is the most common question you hear from prospective students, and what's the answer to that question? 

We are often asked if work requirements are a firm part of the application process – and yes, they are. The MSIT program is not meant for those just beginning their careers. Rather, MSIT intends to provide a foundation for future leaders in the IT space, which means that our students must not only have work experience but have demonstrated a capacity for future leadership potential. 

How can an MSIT applicant make their application stand out? 

Personalize the application, and make it clear you are interested in us specifically. Emphasize the aspects of our program and curriculum that would be most beneficial to you and make the case that MSIT and not just “graduate school” is your next step. 

Do part-time students interact with full-time students at all, and if so, what does each group gain from that cross collaboration? 

Yes! Part-time and full-time students take classes together on Saturdays. The part-timers benefit from this as they meet more than one cohort during their time in the program and leave with that much wider of a network to draw on. The full-timers benefit from the still-working perspectives of the part-timers, who can speak to current questions in the larger IT field and how they are applying MSIT coursework to their day jobs.  

Why is it valuable for IT professionals to also have a firm business understanding? 

Understanding business fundamentals – finance, marketing, management – not only helps provide a framework for translating technical skills into practical business solutions, but provides a foundation for future IT leaders who will necessarily be deep in the weeds with budget, staffing, brand development, and so on. 

What types of jobs do MSIT graduates typically enter into after graduation? 

It’s the rare business that doesn’t have IT needs, and MSIT graduates receive job offers from a wide variety of companies and in a wide variety of roles. These include software engineer, network engineer, research analyst, security consultant, analytics lead – the list goes on!  

Want to learn more about MSIT? Sign up for an information session today.