Explore how Hamid got into a Data Science Master’s despite having a Business Background!
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At the end of my undergraduate (Management Science), I was clueless about the kinds of programs I was eligible to apply for in graduate school. My primary motivation lies in utilising data science and analytics to leverage positive change in the development sector. I had a decent exposure to statistics/ computer science and econometrics in my undergraduate but lacked a robust base in either domain. Demonstrated excellence or exposure in these subject areas was a hard prerequisite listed for data science graduate programs. I found myself regretting not building these foundations earlier.
I took a month to reevaluate my options upon graduation and decided to dedicate 7-8 months to building a robust data science profile. I started with securing a research assistantship at LUMS and working on a data driven public policy project to yield tangible output from my work. At the same time I took on multiple online specialisations and certifications (many of which can be free of cost e.g, Coursera offers financial aid to students at almost a 100% rate) to diversify my skill set and fill gaps in required prerequisites. To demonstrate further interest and investment in the field, I worked on a personal project which used some advanced or recently developed techniques in the domain of data science. These experiences also pushed me to give back to my community at the business school (where I majored from). I wanted to contribute to the learning environment there and provide avenues for technical skill development. I ended up co-designing a graduate level data science course which met industrial needs better than traditionally taught content. This experience added a leadership and initiative element to my profile within my field of interest.
I also engaged extensively with my recommenders and discussed what I wanted emphasised in my recommendations (each speaking to the three initiatives i undertook).
I believe taking a proactive approach which shows dedication and commitment to your field along with demonstrated proof of output and verification (through recommendations) is what helped me succeed my dream admission in an MS in Data Science.
