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Alumni Spotlight  |  Master's Programs

Alumni Spotlight: Mariah Cobbin, MBA Healthcare Administration ’23

mariah cobbin

Current occupation: Medical Student

What made you decide to pursue your degree as an adult?

I started my masters program right after I graduated with my bachelors. I decided to go back to school and get my masters because I knew that I was going to pursue being a Doctor (I’m currently in Medical School) and having my Masters would be beneficial for me in the long run, as I plan to open my own practice once I get a few years under my belt in the field.

Why did you choose to study at Tiffin University?

COVID happened during my Junior year of undergrad, so the NCAA gave athletes extra eligibility for the COVID years. The Coach at the University was interested in me and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity knowing that I would get more time to play the sport I love, while pursuing a higher education.

Describe your experience with the program, your cohort and faculty?

Nothing was a challenge for me, it was pretty simple and easy to operate and get used to. If any challenges ever arose, there are many resources available to help. Everyone was very nice, helpful, and easy to get in touch with. They can serve as a great support system.

How did you juggle work, life, and going back to school? Any tips?

I’ve been a student athlete involved with music my whole life, so the work, school, and athletic balance just carried over from undergrad and it wasn’t a hard transition for me. You will 100% be able to handle doing everything at once, it’s all about time management and making sure that you take advantage of all of the resources available and set in place to help you succeed.

What kept you motivated to stay in the program?

Playing sports was a big motivation for me, also I knew going in that I was applying to medical school. I knew that this degree would make it easier for me opening my own practice once I finish medical school. Always thinking about the bigger picture kept me motivated to finish!

What advice would you give to a prospective student who is thinking about going back to school?

I’ll always say go for it. No matter what sacrifices, risks, challenges you’ll have to face, if it will better your life and you can use it as a stepping stone to get to where you would like to be, always go for it!

TU’s motto is: Without risk there is no gain. Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you gained from it?

At first, I was planning to go right into medical school after undergrad. Once the opportunity was presented to me to get a masters and use my last years of athletic eligibility, everything changed. I knew that it could be a stepping stone for me and I could use the degree once I finish medical school to get to my overall destination as far as my career goes. So, I took the opportunity, packed everything up and moved to Tiffin without knowing much about Tiffin itself (the community/area). It ended up being amazing and it set me up in an even better position going into medical school. I made experiences and relationships that will last a lifetime. I’m now in medical school and can truly say that I’m grateful that I did take the risk and opportunity in Tiffin University! #GoGons