Marc Massicotte says he was nervous about going back to school after 20 years: Would he be able to balance it all, he wondered.

“The students and teachers created an environment that made it easy to acclimate and succeed in the classroom,” he says.

And after plugging away in the School of Business Flex MBA Program, he’s graduating, and planning – perhaps ironically – to continue on in law school.

“You may have concerns about your background or experience being different from the norm in the program you choose,” he says, talking to the next generation of students. “You will quickly find that those qualities will actually help you in your experience.”

Why did you choose UConn?
The MBA program was exactly what I was looking for with its course offerings, reputation, and flexibility for students with careers and families.

What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
My concentration is general business. Although I mainly focused on the area of management, as I approached the completion of the program, I decided to change to general business. This allowed me to take courses throughout all areas without restriction.

Did you have a favorite professor or class?
Although I have enjoyed all my classes, I would have to say my very first course, Managing Organizations, was the one that reinforced my decision to pursue an MBA in the first place. It covered a wide range of topics that laid a foundation for all the courses taken after.

What activities were you involved in as a student?
I am a student ambassador for the Flex MBA Program for the 2024-25 academic year.

What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
Prior to attending, I did have reservations about whether returning to school after 20 years would be a difficult transition as a non-traditional student. I quickly learned that “non-traditional” is an irrelevant term. The students and teachers created an environment that made it easy to acclimate and succeed in the classroom.

What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
This fall, I will be continuing my education in law school. I will continue as a police officer and hope to expand my responsibilities with UConn ARMS. In the long term, I plan to combine my MBA and JD education by starting a private practice or law-related business.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
The Business School’s focus on the importance of networking has elevated my ability to make connections outside of my immediate circle. This has created a network of professional and personal connections I will hold onto indefinitely.

Any advice for incoming students?
You may have concerns about your background or experience being different from the norm in the program you choose. You will quickly find that those qualities will actually help you in your experience and every student has the same thoughts in some way. I would assume it would be boring if every student in your cohort came from the exact same place in life.

What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
As an MBA student, I would say networking. I feel that you will never have the ability to make so many contacts in so little time as you will now. Take advantage, so you can build upon it after graduation. I would say this is true for all programs in the school, graduate and undergraduate alike.