Step into the world of tech consulting, earn exclusive scholarships, and gain high-impact professional experience—no business background required. The annual 3+1 Case Competition pairs Indiana University undergraduates from all majors with a dedicated Kelley MS in Information Systems (MSIS) graduate student. Together, each team will collaborate to solve urgent, real-world business challenges.
MSIS 3+1 Case Competition: The ultimate launchpad for IU undergrads
Register by January 30
Sign up as an individual or part of a team of three.
147
IU undergrads (total of 49 teams) participated in the 2025 competition
Stackability
each scholarship adds up toward funding a future MSIS degree
$1K-3K
in scholarship prizes for finalists
No business experience needed
This competition is unlike any other because of its namesake structure. Teams of three IU undergraduate students are assigned one MSIS graduate student who serves as a professional coach and mentor for the entire week of the competition. Designed to be accessible for all skill levels and perspectives, this competition provides a unique interdisciplinary experience where students will:
- Gain technical skills: Learn from Kelley experts in cybersecurity, digital analytics and AI, and digital transformation with AI, applying cutting-edge concepts to real business case challenges.
- Receive top-tier professional mentorship: Benefit from direct guidance from your MSIS graduate coach, who collaborates with you and your team to translate business concepts and strategic thinking into a winning presentation.
- Develop career-winning competencies: Sharpen your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, improve teamwork, master high-stakes public speaking, and demonstrate professionalism—all key skills valued by top employers.
Students with a variety of undergraduate majors, including social work, molecular life science, and supply chain management, discuss the hard and soft skills they learned by participating in the 3+1 Case Competition for master's program scholarships.
Description of the video:
1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.667 (upbeat instrumental music)
2 00:00:16.390 --> 00:00:19.600 - [Jordyn] I had never heard of a case competition.
3 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.820 I was actually a social work major in undergrad,
4 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:26.770 so business, technology, case competitions,
5 00:00:26.770 --> 00:00:29.830 nothing that I've ever really had experience with.
6 00:00:29.830 --> 00:00:31.730 - [Samson] They asked me about my major, and I told them,
7 00:00:31.730 --> 00:00:33.330 and I really stressed to them
8 00:00:33.330 --> 00:00:34.700 that I wasn't a technology person
9 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:36.720 and that honestly kind of scared me.
10 00:00:36.720 --> 00:00:38.380 And they told me that's an even bigger reason
11 00:00:38.380 --> 00:00:39.213 to do this program.
12 00:00:39.213 --> 00:00:41.160 They take people from all walks of life.
13 00:00:41.160 --> 00:00:43.860 - [Vincent] You don't really need to have a technical
14 00:00:43.860 --> 00:00:44.693 background to know everything that's going on in the world
15 00:00:44.693 --> 00:00:45.526 of IT.
16 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:48.830 - [Daniel] It can give you some more insights
17 00:00:48.830 --> 00:00:51.100 into how the world works,
18 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:55.297 and how businesses fix some of their most complex problems.
19 00:00:55.297 --> 00:00:56.340 - [Mitali] It's a great opportunity
20 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:58.760 to not only learn how to solve
21 00:00:58.760 --> 00:01:01.064 a complex technical problem in a short amount of time,
22 00:01:01.064 --> 00:01:03.663 but also how to effectively present that solution.
23 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.470 - [Carley] For me, the two most helpful parts
24 00:01:13.470 --> 00:01:17.980 were the mentorship and the teamwork aspects.
25 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:22.670 - [Vincent] We were able to really work together, that all
26 00:01:22.670 --> 00:01:24.740 our minds, like, from three different perspectives from the
27 00:01:24.740 --> 00:01:25.670 case can just come together
28 00:01:25.670 --> 00:01:29.110 and make one very big, beautiful solution.
29 00:01:29.110 --> 00:01:31.970 - [Samson] Anyone who is attracted to the case competition
30 00:01:31.970 --> 00:01:34.530 is gonna be a hard worker and a good person.
31 00:01:34.530 --> 00:01:36.190 - [Jordyn] I was a little bit nervous at first,
32 00:01:36.190 --> 00:01:40.260 but it taught me so much about collaboration, teamwork,
33 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:42.740 under, you know, obviously strict deadlines,
34 00:01:42.740 --> 00:01:44.450 'cause you only have a week,
35 00:01:44.450 --> 00:01:47.660 and we were able to put together a presentation
36 00:01:47.660 --> 00:01:49.300 that we were all so proud of.
37 00:01:49.300 --> 00:01:50.930 - [Carley] Coming from my science background,
38 00:01:50.930 --> 00:01:53.000 I had worked with a lot of people,
39 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.090 but never on that type of project.
40 00:01:56.090 --> 00:02:00.100 So, that project management aspect, um,
41 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:03.860 and different type of collaborative thinking
42 00:02:03.860 --> 00:02:08.233 has been really helpful as I was starting MSIS.
43 00:02:08.233 --> 00:02:10.180 - [Samson] I mean, the judges gave us a lot of criticism,
44 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.650 but honestly, a lot of it was constructive,
45 00:02:12.650 --> 00:02:15.530 in which I incorporate in my presentation skills today.
46 00:02:15.530 --> 00:02:17.500 - [Noah] It really teaches you those core soft skills
47 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:19.150 that you really don't get in undergrad
48 00:02:19.150 --> 00:02:20.750 before you do the MSIS program,
49 00:02:20.750 --> 00:02:22.890 so that way you're ready to most succeed technically,
50 00:02:22.890 --> 00:02:24.850 and, uh, with the soft skills as well,
51 00:02:24.850 --> 00:02:26.320 whenever you enter the MSIS program.
52 00:02:26.320 --> 00:02:28.140 - [Carley] I had never done a case competition,
53 00:02:28.140 --> 00:02:30.750 my teammate had never done a case competition,
54 00:02:30.750 --> 00:02:32.300 so having that insight
55 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:34.850 really made it more of a learning experience
56 00:02:34.850 --> 00:02:38.540 rather than, uh, just a project to do.
57 00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:40.660 - [Daniel] I would say this is a tremendous learning
58 00:02:40.660 --> 00:02:42.267 opportunity, and it can help give you some more guidance
59 00:02:42.267 --> 00:02:44.080 for the rest of your life,
60 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:46.930 in terms of where you want to go, and what you wanted to do.
61 00:02:52.490 --> 00:02:54.640 - [Vincent] This case competition is really worth it.
62 00:02:54.640 --> 00:02:55.640 Whether you win or not,
63 00:02:55.640 --> 00:02:58.560 it's more about the experience, and less of the result.
64 00:02:58.560 --> 00:02:59.393 - [Samson] And it was truly an experience, uh, that I'll
65 00:02:59.393 --> 00:03:00.226 never forget.
66 00:03:02.370 --> 00:03:05.420 - [Jordyn] I was so happy that I put myself out there
67 00:03:05.420 --> 00:03:09.520 to just grow some of my skills, meet a few new people,
68 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.410 and just have a new experience of undergrad.
69 00:03:12.410 --> 00:03:14.830 There is really nothing to lose.
“I really stressed to the program that I wasn’t a technology person, and that honestly kind of scared me. They told me that’s an even bigger reason to do this competition.”
Samson PollakUndergraduate major: Supply Chain Management
Your week in MSIS
Throughout a week at the beginning of Febraury each year, the Kelley MSIS 3+1 Case Competition offers IU undergraduates an opportunity to explore MSIS before committing to a degree, an experience that can boost soft skills and empower future careers.
Your first day
Kickoff your MSIS experience, meeting your team and getting an introduction to your MSIS graduate coach.
Mentoring and analyzing your case
Attend a case analysis workshop, spend time getting to know your MSIS mentor, and begin exploring your case study with your team.
Q&A and team building
Get your questions answered during a Q&A session with current MSIS students and collaborate with your team—applying your unique skills to real-world business challenges—before submitting your case presentation.
Present your case
During a 30-minute slot, you and your team will showcase and answer questions about your newly gained business skills to a panel of judges.
Winners are announced at the end of the day during the awards reception.
The MSIS advantage
The MSIS program actively seeks the diverse critical thinking and viewpoints brought by majors outside of information systems. Regardless of your background, your unique perspective is crucial for innovative technology and business strategy. Not only can your background offer a unique lens within the 3+1 Case Competition, but you’ll discover during your week how those skills can also amplify a career in information sciences.
Prizes and stackability
The 3+1 Case Competition connects ambitious IU undergraduates directly with the MSIS admissions committee. All finalist teams receive valuable MSIS scholarships* to support their graduate education. Winning teams walk away with substantial scholarships toward a future MSIS degree. For students who participate and win the case competition multiple years, scholarships can add up, creating an even larger financial reward toward a future in MSIS.
*Scholarships are contingent on being admitted to the Kelley MSIS program. Award of scholarship does not imply admission to the program.
Ready to discover new skills in business?
Whether you’re ready to participate or still have questions about how the MSIS program can propel your career, our admissions team is available every step of the way.
Frequently asked questions about the MSIS 3+1 Case Competition
No. Teams are intentionally multidisciplinary, and the program encourages students from all walks of life, from creative thinkers and communicators to researchers, designers, and strategists. Regardless of your background, the 3+1 Case Competition opens doors for undergraduates to gain new skills in business and discover future career posibilities in information systems.
The competition runs over a one-week period in February. Most teams meet several hours during the week depending on schedules and ambition. It’s designed to be manageable alongside classes and other commitments.
You can sign up as an individual or as a team of up to three undergraduates. All finalist teams earn scholarships, which are contingent on being admitted to the Kelley MSIS program. Award of a scholarship does not guarantee or imply admission to the MSIS program.
Not at all. Many students participate purely for the experience, skill development, and networking opportunity.
1st place Upperclass Division: (from left) Abby Armour, Jordan Fein, and Amy Kinney. They are standing with Bipin Prabhakar, chair of the Information Systems Graduate Program.
2nd place Upperclass Division: (from left) Katie Sweet, Nicole Caruso, Stephanie Sack, and Maria Farace, a current MSIS student mentor.
3rd place Upperclass Division: (from left) Abigail Parrish, Nina Kern, and Caoimhe Knutson. They are standing with Bipin Prabhakar, chair of the Information Systems Graduate Program.
1st place Underclass Division: (from left) Will Fox, Niko Kilo, and Will Schrama. They are standing with Bipin Prabhakar, chair of the Information Systems Graduate Program.
2nd place Underclass Division: (from left) Natalie Kinnick, Cam Lueck, and Jade Zhao (not pictured). They are standing with Bipin Prabhakar, chair of the Information Systems Graduate Program.
3rd place Underclass Division: (from left) Annika Dashaputra, Kai Hagiwara, and Sahasra Peruri. They are standing with Bipin Prabhakar, chair of the Information Systems Graduate Program.