Business Analytics is one of the most in-demand fields, as businesses look to move away from traditional ways of operating to more technology and analytics driven ones.
One of the unique aspects of the field is the fact that it is applicable in every industry, which means business analytics programs attract students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Of course, a majority of them are engineers, but over the years, we have had students belong to even commerce and business management backgrounds successfully secure admits into business analytics graduate programs. One example that stands out in this regard is that of a student who had an architecture undergrad and a couple of years working in her family realty firm.
So, what could convince the Admissions Committee members to grant admits to such students (who seemingly came from altogether unrelated backgrounds)?
It’s their purpose, or intent, or motivation behind wanting to study business analytics.
And there’s only one place in your entire application where you can express this intent or motivation, and that is in your Statement of Purpose.
By now, you’d have easily figured out why the SOP is such an important document for your application to business analytics programs.
And this article covers how to write a convincing Statement of Purpose for business analytics.
How to write a stellar Masters in Business Analytics SOP?
If you focus on the term ‘Business Analytics’, it becomes obvious that you need to showcase two sets of skills through your SOP:
- Business (Resource Management, Team Leadership, Project Planning, etc.)
- Analytics (Decision-making using data)
Now if you want to understand in broad terms how you should structure your SOP and what mistakes you should stay away from, you can refer to The Ultimate Guide to Drafting a Stellar Statement of Purpose.
And finally, we present a couple of Business Analytics SOP samples. Both students applied to a program in Business Analytics, and brought with them varying profiles – one of them had relevant experience in the form of an internship and the other through an undergrad project. It is because of the differences in their profiles that their SOPs were structured in their own unique ways.
Sample 1
This is the example of a student who successfully applied for an MS in Business Analytics at Columbia University.
’Data! Data! Data! I can’t make bricks without clay!’.
Sherlock Holmes’ exasperated expression of the significance of data is testament to its essentiality in our modern world. While Mr. Holmes was referring to data wile solving a case, it goes without saying that, in the context of the business sector of today, every problem needs pertinent data-based interpretation and solution. I have gained cognizance of this very fact while working on several college projects.
One of these, a research project under my college professor, was on on website domain classification. I formulated SMART questions, created a dataset with URLs and their domains in a MySQL database, integrated and customized other useful databases with my own, and used queries to process data. The Linear SVM approach was chosen to classify websites under a domain and the model was run on the data sheets to give an output of 99.89% and 98.6% accuracy using RFCs and Linear SVCs respectively. We presented and published the paper under the 5th IEEE-International Conference on Advances in Science and Technology (ICAST)-2022.
Another project engagement of mine was inspired by the difficulty my mother faced who, being an excellent cook, would often find it difficult to think of new dishes to create with the ingredients on hand. Creating this __________ project, my work included crawling local Indian recipe websites using Selenium, storing raw recipe data in spreadsheets, and using the Google Translate API to translate recipes from local languages to English. I used libraries such as Pandas in Jupyter notebooks to clean, organize and format data to JSON input to feed a genetic algorithm-based model and selected key data points for model functioning. I also gathered the final analysis of customer responses to an extensive survey I designed and converted the findings to visual charts. We faced various challenges pertaining to system characteristics, version compatibility, erroneous library dependency paths, and inconsistent module referencing which we overcame by automating both rollbacks to compatible program versions and correct path and module reference. We finally presented the paper at the IEEE International Conference on Trends in Quantum Computing & Emerging Business Technologies (TQCEBT 2022) and published it in IEEE Xplore.
While my diverse experiences thus far have exposed me to the significance of data collection, data mining, and analytics to improve and grow businesses, it has also deeply motivated me to pursue higher domain erudition toward a prosperous career ahead. To accomplish this, I wish to pursue my Master’s in Business Analytics/Information Systems. After graduating, I aspire to work as a business/data analyst in managerial or leadership positions in firms like Netflix, Google, Amazon, Disney, etc. I want to be a part of revolutionary projects that use data to identify trends and patterns and develop pertinent strategies. I would strive to provide intelligent data solutions and decisions on challenging issues using tools like Excel, Tableau, Looker, SQL, Power BI, Cloud, etc, to increase sales, customer satisfaction, and build consumer loyalty toward company products. In the long run, I wish to be a leading figure as a director of creative business intelligence in the aforementioned companies and be involved in __________.
My dexterous performance in my projects and employment was possible due to the solid knowledge base from my IT engineering undergraduate studies, which also laid the foundation to graduate school. Being exposed to an eclectic selection of fundamental courses in the field of Data Analytics and Business, like Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Analysis using R programming and Python, Advanced Databases, Entrepreneurship, and Cloud Computing, helped me understand how they can be used in combination to provide solutions to business problems. I explored related tools and carried out research in the form of case studies and capstone projects. A consistent top performer, ranking amongst the top 5 students, I took the initiative to enhance my skills by garnering various certifications such as the Amazon AWS, Google Project Management, Google and IBM Data Analytics professional certifications, and Accenture’s AI Ascend Program in AI & Big Data Analytics. In addition, I attended notable seminars like the Microsoft Student Ambassador Summits as an active Student Ambassador, Google Developer and Women Techmakers Meets as a team member, and IEEE Conferences, where I presented my research papers and networked with industry experts.
Furthermore, to gain industry exposure, I interned at “Teach for India” in “The Bookworm Society” subsidy, which helped instill the habit of reading among underprivileged children. I collected and analyzed data to formulate effective marketing strategies to help increase reach of the subdivision. I also participated in designing the content for social media engagement according to my findings. I worked with spreadsheets and visualization tools to analyze business data and present findings to the department head. Upon completion of the internship, I received a letter of appreciation from the organization for my efforts. This exposure polished my data-driven decision-making skills.
I also worked as a student intern as part of a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Microsoft Gold. I was trained in Azure Cloud Computing to create and deploy a WordPress website managed from an Azure Virtual Machine environment. This exposed me to common problems faced in said software fields, contributed to cloud solutions, and enhanced my technical problem-solving skills.
My exposure to analytics also includes my current employment. As a Sub-Editor and Analyst at Kidadl, an edutainment platform for parents and kids. I oversee the management of writers, provide them with feedback from outcomes of data analysis performed on the content published online and modify articles to conform with SEO optimization, findings of patterns that fit the booming trends in target readership, and company guidelines. With my diligent and driven work ethics, I managed to improve the quality of published content on the website and was awarded ‘Best Employee’ during the initial period of my employment.
Besides academia, my passion for leading has led me to participate in several extracurriculars. Being a Microsoft Student Partner, I created and led many teams to conduct day-long workshops. I was also affiliated with the Computer Society of India as a core council member in the Student Chapter of my institution. I have also worked with the Terry Fox Cancer Foundation to raise funds for cancer patients. I have participated in multiple Model United Nations as a delegate. On the cultural side, I completed the 7-year Bharatnatyam Indian cultural dance course, passing all examinations top of the class. My interest in sports led me to participate and win in several state-wide chess tournaments. This way, I developed an affinity for creativity and strategic thinking. My communication skills, teamwork, and drive to give back to society were also strengthened through these participations.
After such enriching technical experiences, I believe it is the opportune time for me to pursue my graduate studies in MS in in Business Analytics from ____________. The courses, including ___________, _____________, and ___________ will help prepare me for a rewarding career ahead. Prof. ____________’s research in ___________ and Prof. ___________’s research in _____________ has impressed me deeply, and I seek an opportunity to contribute to it. Moreover, being part of ______________ and _______________committees, and participating in diverse extracurricular activities, will allow me to develop a holistic personality.
With the expertise that I have garnered through my experience, I can assure the Admissions Committee that I possess the caliber, determination, and commitment that is expected from incoming students. I hope the Committee responds favorably to my application and helps me fulfill my dream of being a part of the Fall 2023 incoming class.
Sample 2
This is a student who secured admission into the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at Carnegie Mellon University.
Being an avid fan of the show “Shark Tank,” I read a lot of articles about entrepreneurs’ journeys and watched interviews with Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary, two of my favourite entrepreneurs on the show. Mark Cuban emphasised how analytics and AI were the future of all business models and stated how he used data to give his basketball team, “The Mavericks” a competitive edge. A similar sentiment was expressed by Kevin O’Leary, who claimed that Tesla is more of a data company than a car company due to its focus on using acquired data to further the field of automated vehicle development. The fact that copious data is being utilized by all business lines made me realize that information is currently the most valuable and interesting commodity we have ever had. My interest in studying how businesses may utilize data and analytics to improve their decision-making was sparked by my passion for business and entrepreneurship.
My first step on the journey of learning was an internship with Axis Bank Limited as a Business Analyst. I worked with their Business Intelligence Unit on the “Personalisation Project”. While maintaining various databases, I performed data analysis and data visualization to glean helpful insights from the data. I learned PySpark, SQL, Hive, Microsoft Excel and Python. My journey, from using handwritten rules and ratios for segmenting customers to optimising the process using machine learning algorithms like the K-means clustering algorithm introduced me to the power of Artificial Intelligence in the business world. Based on customer segmentation, I ideated and created different personas and created reports with detailed storyboarding and in-depth data on customers. This helped our advertisement, marketing, and web development teams to develop campaigns and strategies and modify their application to attract and retain customers by providing personalised communications and offers to them. Collaborating with cross-functional teams on a daily basis for ideating and reporting taught me the fundamentals of effective communication and teamwork in the industry.
Another internship as a Data Analyst and Research Intern at ENGRAV Aviation Services and Systems gave me insights into the practical applications of data and programming. Using Python and Java I performed software testing on their proprietary cloud-based ERP software called EMQIM-FTDL and provided insights to optimise the process, thus reducing overhead costs and enhancing business efficiency.
To further improve my knowledge of Business Analytics, I am pursuing an Online Certification course, “Integrated Program in Business Analytics” at the prestigious University of IIM Indore which gives me exposure to the fundamentals of statistics, computer programming, and machine learning using Python, R programming and various other technologies. This has stimulated my interest in data applications and business analysis and fuelled my desire to delve deeper into its various facets through a master’s graduate program.
The robust foundations laid during my undergraduate studies enabled the successful implementation of the aforementioned endeavors. My interest in data science was piqued by studying various courses such as Data Warehousing and Mining, Database Management Systems, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Web Development, Discrete and Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Structures and Algorithms and many more. Many classes were held in virtual mode during Covid times and this offered me the opportunity to sign up for several online courses on platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and YouTube on Data Science and Programming, User Experience, and Digital Marketing.
During my undergraduate degree, I worked on a “Sentiment Analysis” project, in which we created a model using BERT and Hugging Face to predict the sentiments of a given input extracted from social media platforms. We achieved a test accuracy of 92% using a Twitter dataset. My final year project, “Virtual Assistant,” aimed to assist people with various disabilities by using voice commands. The inspiration for this project came from my interactions with people with various disabilities. I conducted extensive research in the fields of automatic speech recognition, natural language processing, deep learning and neural networks. We used Python, RASA, and ASR to create an interactive interface that could perform simple functions such as sending emails, playing media files and performing analysis on datasets by simply using voice commands. We also added a face lock security feature using CNN.
Furthermore, I worked on other projects such as an “online job portal” and “online grocery application”. They introduced me to the fundamentals of human psychology, stakeholder involvement, design thinking and user experience design. My department commended me for creating interfaces for these projects. Being a zesty football fan, I worked on an independent football analytics project that made me cognizant of the power of analytics in sports.
In addition to coursework, I actively participated in extracurricular activities. As the President of the Rotaract Club of my college, I headed a team of 150 volunteers and organized various team-building events including an online International Model United Nations with more than 250 participants worldwide. In addition, I co-founded a mental health awareness club on campus, taught Mathematics and English to underprivileged kids and organized other fundraiser events. Opportunities for cultural and athletic engagement during college days were crucial for my holistic personality development. While my team won the inter-department dance competition, I also captained the college soccer team and we were runners-up in the football tournament. Participating in all these events has contributed to the development of my communication, marketing, team-building, and leadership skills and attests to my multi-tasking abilities.
I’ve come to appreciate Peter Sondergaard’s vision, encapsulated by the phrase “Information is the oil in the twenty-first century, and analytics is the combustion engine,” which emphasizes on the importance of developing innovative business models based on actionable data-driven insights as the primary strategy for gaining a competitive advantage. I aspire to work as a project manager in the near future. In this role, I wish to assess the company’s functional and technical requirements, develop business strategies, manage stakeholder satisfaction, and be involved in budgeting and forecasting to increase the organization’s competitiveness in the modern business world. In a world where consumer satisfaction is the key to thriving, I aspire to leverage the knowledge gained in business analytics, marketing analytics, customer analytics, and user experience to launch a business consultancy. I intend to assist small-scale firms in capitalizing on the booming online industry by equipping them with effective branding, product, and marketing strategies and empowering them to make data-driven decisions.
I believe that pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics degree at the ____________ is next logical step toward achieving my career objectives. Courses in ___________, ____________, and ____________ will equip me with the knowledge and tools to assist businesses in making better use of their internal resources, developing pricing strategies, and marketing their products to outperform their competitors. Studying electives like ______________ will assist me in achieving my long-term goal of launching a consulting firm by educating me on various methods of customer acquisition and relationship building. I wish to study under tutelage of ____________ as well as Professor ____________, whose extensive work in _____________ inspires me. Being an avid soccer fan, I was delighted to learn about the collaboration between ____________ and ____________, where they developed a leadership program for business professionals focusing on the global sports industry. I would love to work with the _____________ and have access to the resources to conduct my own research in the entertainment and media industries.
To conclude, my technical acumen, combined with my tenacity, dynamism and eagerness to learn new things shall make me a valuable addition to the program. I hope the Admissions Committee finds my candidature worthy of a positive response.
Now remember, that while we have covered the basics of how to write a SOP for business analytics, when it comes to MSBA programs, most universities ask you to write additional essays that supplement what you write in the SOP.
And your application will be judged on the basis of these additional essays as well. And at Collegepond, we give equal emphasis to ensuring that our students’ responses to these supplementary essays or questions match the quality of their SOP.
Surely, if you’re looking to secure admits to your top-choice Business Analytics programs, you might want to benefit from our experience. All you need to do is to let us know that you’re interested by dropping your contact details below and we’ll reach out to you at a time convenient for you.
