When I first started looking at graduate programs, Fuqua’s MSQM: Business Analytics checked a lot of my boxes — it’s a great school and the curriculum was right up my alley. I want to share what makes the program special to me since I think this will reveal aspects of the program that you can’t learn just by reading marketing material.

1. Far away doesn’t mean ‘remote’

Like most of my classmates, I have a full-time job. Unlike most of them, I live across the world from North Carolina in Beijing, China. I also have a two-year-old and a baby at home. I think I am better positioned than most to testify as to what makes the program worth the sacrifices (financial and temporal), and what makes it so special.

Before entering the program, I was a little hesitant about doing an online program. I’ve done online learning before, and without proper institutional support, it can end up feeling like you’re just paying to watch expensive YouTube videos. I’m happy to say that Fuqua does a great job of providing that support. Great classmates, enthusiastic professors who take their classes just as seriously as the on-campus ones, and a well-organized structure helped me feel like a full-fledged member of the school, despite having to balance family life and a twelve-hour time zone difference.

2. ‘Team Fuqua’ is not a buzzword

If you’re like me, years of mandatory camaraderie activities make you wince a little when you see the word “team.” I’m here to tell you, straight from the cynic’s mouth, that the program truly is structured so that you feel like part of a broader whole.

There are a few ways Fuqua creates this culture. First, each cohort of students is split into different teams. I initially thought this would just mean some perfunctory group projects. But covering such a great breadth and depth of material, you really do need to rely on your teammates to fully understand each week’s lessons. It’s not always easy — but I believe helping someone learn about a topic (or having a few good-natured debates) is the best way of developing a thorough understanding of it.

Teamwork is also a great motivator. A little friendly competition between groups and the knowledge that the rest of your team is relying on you are great ways to feel invested, especially if you’re like me and you’re a little too old to care about your report card. I’m on the phone with my team multiple times a week, and I find myself looking forward to our regular discussions.

3. Balance of rigor and flexibility

The structure of the program itself is also very friendly for people with unusual schedules like me. I won’t lie — midnight lectures can be tough. Thankfully, the professors are very accessible and eager to help, and Fuqua’s administration is active, caring, and quick to help settle any non-academic questions (no, they didn’t pay me to write this!).

My teammates are also very understanding. When my kids are sick or feeling fussy, they’re eager to lend a helping hand in any way they can. Everyone takes the same classes, but structuring your workload really comes down to you. For some of my teammates, that means powering through five-hour shifts on weekends or late at night. For me, it is bits and pieces each day during downtime at work. It’s a challenging balancing act, but the program has exceeded my expectations and done a lot to make it accessible for those with families and demanding schedules.