MSL Online’s First Graduates Reflect on the Program’s Impact

Northwestern’s MSL program has opened up a new world to me. No matter which industry you are in, the law plays a large role in why things are the way they are, and this program helped me realize that.

The program was vast and yet tailored to all us science and math kids that were never really taught how to apply our skills into the real world of business and regulation—that is what this program gave me and many of my classmates.

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to work with many of the talented professors and fellow students in the program; it exposed me to a breadth of new ideas and modes of academic analysis.

There is no “I” in team, and none in “MSL” either; there is a collaborative piece [of this program] that allows you to be successful in everything you do. There are people who have the experience to help or guide you—you just have to know which question(s) to ask, but also how to cultivate varying experiences to achieve a collective goal. 

The healthcare field is heavily regulated and the program provided an understanding of how to comply.

As someone that has been in the regulatory space my entire career, I approach contracts, negotiations and legal matters with a greater understanding of producing win-win results.

Utilize your academic and professional background that reside outside of law to your benefit. Approaching law and legal studies from the STEM perspective opens up a new avenue of analyzing issues and identifying areas where the law may be used to effectively advance business opportunities, professional development, or address pressing issues.

The best advice was more through their actions; through their dedication to the program and students’ learning and by being so readily available. 

The best advice I received from a professor in the MSL program was from Lynn Cohn in Negotiations: “Sometimes if the deal isn’t working out, the best option is to walk away.”

My favorite memory from the MSL program was the boat tour of Chicago and the Wrigley rooftops experience during Power Week. It’s important to do things like that outside of the classroom so you can develop a more personal connection with your cohort.

Without a doubt, the best memory that I have of the program (beyond graduation) was having the opportunity to meet all of my peers during the Power Week. Up to that point, we had only met online and via Sync Sessions. Bringing the MSL-O students together in Chicago was a great opportunity to build camaraderie and also cover several pressing topics that are most effectively conveyed in a face-to-face manner.

The [Power Week] excursions (THE CRUISE, the baseball game, everything!) were an absolute joy. It was also so incredibly fun to be able to meet everyone in person.

The most challenging part of the program might be time management. As a professional taking class with people from all around the world, you have to be really good at your time-management skills.

Maintaining balance and remembering that I chose to do this for me and that I deserve to take time out of my regular life to focus on the education. It is difficult not to let “real life” get in the way but I have learned so many more time-management skills and allowed myself to focus on “me” in the meantime.

You really have to convince yourself (for years!) to really commit to yourself. This is an investment in yourself and you will get back however much you put in.

You must attend Power Week! The relationships you build will last a lifetime.

Prepare well, don’t miss synchronous sessions, and participate fully to learn and enjoy at the same time.

Given I was working full time while pursuing my degree, it was critical that I recognized what was expected of me each week, proactively developing a plan to ensure all of my goals were met — personally, professionally, and academically.

Do something every day! Even if it’s only 10-20 minutes, it helps tremendously to keep this part of your brain active. And you have access to some of the greatest professors in the country. USE THEM. Ask them questions, meet outside of class and don’t be afraid to speak up in class!