A Conversation with Minerva Incoming Graduate Student Hailey Bixler

This is part of a series of profiles introducing students from Minerva’s incoming Fall 2024 graduate class. If you would like to learn more about our programs, please visit our website.

Completing her Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Hailey Bixler opted to pursue Minerva's Master in Decision Analysis (MDA) program to deepen her technical knowledge and apply it effectively in practical settings. Beyond her proficiency in data and logic, Hailey places a high emphasis on achieving purposeful and impactful outcomes in her projects. She views Minerva's approach to higher education as a superior alternative to traditional universities, as it seamlessly integrates analytical methods with real-world applications. Juggling her studies with her role in the software engineering industry, Hailey eagerly anticipates acquiring the skills necessary for contributing to high-level decision-making within companies, aspiring to ascend to managerial roles and eventually emerge as a leader in her field.

Hailey stresses the importance of data-driven decision-making:

“Through my computer science degree, I've come to understand that decisions and data serve as the driving forces behind everything that unfolds in our world. Many of the interactions we have stem from decisions made by both individuals and computers. In today's era, the abundance of data on every conceivable topic empowers us to leverage it in ways previously unimaginable.”

Hailey is excited for Minerva’s project-based curriculum, real-world applications, and ability to personalize assignments to her interest—so that she can work on projects she is passionate about—as well as the interactive nature of classes. She is looking forward to learning more about critical thinking, biases, and decision-making frameworks.

“I definitely found that the best way to learn something is by actually applying it to the real world. I see a lot of disconnect between what is being taught in traditional institutions and what's actually used in the real world. At Minerva, it seems like they encourage you to connect both.”

Another thing that Hailey is looking forward to is Minerva’s diverse international community, especially given the MDA’s efforts on keeping people connected across the globe through community programming clubs based on mutual interests.Growing up in a small town, she is really excited to be able to collaborate with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

“I was surprised when during one of the calls I spoke to a woman based in San Francisco, where I will be located for my job. Now, we have planned on co-working and studying together, which is awesome.”

Hailey shares her surprise with Minerva’s test-blind admission process which takes into account a variety of different backgrounds, as well as the challenges sections which evaluates applicants based on who they are, and not the socioeconomic environment they were surrounded by. She has the following
advice to people considering applying to the MDA program:

“For anyone seeking genuine value from their education, it's important to see a degree as more than just something to put on a resume. If the only aim is to have a title, then any program, even the cheapest option, could do the job. But if the real goal is to learn and grow, to gain experiences that will shape your future, then it's crucial to choose a program that knows how to teach effectively and help you develop. In this regard, Minerva stands out as a prime example.”