Carson Woods, Kelley MSM Class of 2026
Age: 22
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Indiana University Bloomington, Neuroscience
Pre-MSM Work Experience: Summer Internships with IU School of Medicine
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to attend business school because I wanted to gain the introductory business acumen that I lacked with a degree in neuroscience. I realized through my internships I was more passionate about doing the administrative, Excel, and organizational aspects of work rather than the clinical/science aspect.
Why did you choose Indiana Kelley? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Indiana Kelley because I have already been in Bloomington my last 4 years of school so I felt if I was confident and comfortable in the location, I could then translate that into the classroom by being more engaged, willing to learn, and connect with my classmates in an effective way.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the class?
Because I don’t have a business degree, I feel my attentiveness is a meaningful contribution as I have a mindset to learn all I can. Additionally, coming from that neuroscience background, my ability to handle complex problems has been translated to the classroom as I feel confident that I can find a creative solution to many of the challenges we are presented with.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a big fan of the UFC and watch the matches almost every weekend I can.
Post-MSM career interests:
Analyst at a Life Sciences/Health Care Consulting Firm, Pharma Operations/Supply Chain, Doing Real Estate, Working for a Life Sciences company or a Supply chain company
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Make sure to be authentic and tell your story for what it is. I didn’t think that a neuroscience major would be the best fit but by leveraging and communicating the strengths I developed during my major, I was able to gain favor and end up being admitted to this program.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Communicate more throughout the process. The advisors were great in answering any questions I had so use them to help you out and by doing so, they get to know you and know that you are interested.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Obtaining the letters of recommendation for the program simply because it was hard to navigate the communication and remind professors or employers to write the essay since everyone is busy.
What is your initial impression of the Indiana Kelley students/culture/community?
They are very driven to succeed, passionate about completing their goals, and more extraverted than I expected. Kelley students foster a community where they can help each other while also competing in a healthy way.
What is one thing you have learned about Indiana Kelley that has surprised you?
Every single professor is here to help you out and genuinely does care about you. However, to get this level of care from your professors you must also show that you care, listen to them, ask questions, and do your best within the classroom. Kelley professors were much better than the professors I had in my undergraduate years by far.
