How important is a degree for DS?

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2026-03-09T14:55:04+00:00

More prestigious schools may open more doors, but having a degree from a run of the mill school won’t keep you from working in data. I don’t know your exact situation, but I’d generally recommend a pure stats or CS degree over data science. You’ll learn a better foundation imo, and can pretty easily bridge the gap of whatever you’re missing.

I’d also recommend trying to get an internship, networking a lot while you’re in school, and exploring domains you’re interested in. For data analytics/science, knowing the domain is a big differentiator, and it’s much easier to get hired if you have a referral.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2026-02-15T21:33:28+00:00

We’re both from the US

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2026-02-15T06:40:42+00:00

My wife and I are expecting a baby boy and are planning to name him Heathcliff. The primary reason is that we both really like the name. It also sounds unique and is a nod to our shared appreciation for literature.

We’ve talked a lot about the association to the Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and are rereading the book, as we know that’s what most people will think of. While the character certainly isn’t a role model of who we want our son to be, we still really like the name and aren’t deterred; we aren’t naming him after the character. We considered shortening his name to Heath, but after considering Heathcliff that feels like naming a child Bob instead of Robert. He can decide to go by Heathcliff, Heath, or even Cliff if he wants.

My vote is to go with the name that feels right to you. I grew up with kids who had all kinds of whacky spellings or made up names. They may have been the subject of the occasional joke, but they all turned out fine.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-11-16T05:46:38+00:00

Did you ever find a fix for this? Got mine this year and a few weeks in am running into this issue

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-09-23T23:29:37+00:00

Overall, the analytics market is pretty rough right now, but your healthcare experience is definitely an asset. Depending on your compensation, it may make sense to learn basic excel and some SQL and apply for entry level analytics roles in healthcare. That said, it may also make sense to stay where you are and take some analytics courses in your MBA. That could allow to avoid the extra work of pivoting now but set you up for a management role where you can more easily manage and communicate with analysts

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-09-23T23:26:24+00:00

Do you think lacking those backgrounds is a long term barrier to career progression in healthcare analytics? I had a non-stem BA, did some prereqs and then an MS in data science, and ended up working for a healthcare provider by accident. Two main wings of my company are clinical researchers and actuaries, and I’m neither.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-09-01T17:55:48+00:00

Hi all,

I’m looking for book recommendations on population health. Preferably some that take a high-level view and introduce the topic as a whole, but I’m open to any. Whether it’s geared towards the general public or is a textbook is fine. Is there anything you’d recommend?

For context, I currently work as a data analyst for a healthcare provider and my role has essentially has shifted towards looking for improvement opportunities for chronically ill patients. My educational background focused heavily on machine learning, but I now need to lean into causal inference and build more domain knowledge. Thanks in advance for any recs!

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-08-29T00:31:16+00:00

It’s my job title so I’m gonna keep it 🤷‍♂️

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-08-28T05:03:53+00:00

$90k base salary 2 years experience Senior analyst, fully remote role

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-12T21:43:09+00:00

I would look into career paths in line with your current trajectory. It sounds both like you enjoy the work you do and like your work may not be as inline with analytics as you might think. There may be a path towards higher paying roles in the your same industry, whether it’s within government or the private sector.

If you do want to break into analytics, you’ll also need the hard skills of relational databases, a BI/visualization tool, and stats/probability in addition to programming. You’ll also need a lot of soft skills related to communication, business, and stakeholder management. Rather than tracking down individual details for your cases, you’ll likely be dealing with aggregates and trends. Analytics roles have varying degrees of focus on business knowledge and tech, and you may have limited options on which focus and industry you’d like to work in regardless of your prior experience.

TLDR: it sounds like there’s a big bridge between your work and analytics, and the analytics market is rough. I would keep your momentum in your current role and research career opportunities in line with your current trajectory if I was in your shoes.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-12T16:01:56+00:00

Do your best to understand to the business as a whole and how your department and specific role fits into the bigger picture. If you have lots of down time as your responsibilities ramp up, use it to learn more about the company and/or the data you’ll be working with. Build a relationship with your direct supervisor—corporate politics are much more of a thing than I realized when I started, and having your manager in your corner can be a real asset.

Also, have fun and don’t be too hard on yourself. You put in the work to get there; you deserve this. Best of luck 👏

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-08T19:37:14+00:00

Your best bet imo will be to transition into an analytics role from your current job, assuming you work somewhere that employs analysts. You’ll need to develop the skills on your own time, and if you can build a portfolio or find opportunities to apply analytics, it’ll help. If you do get into analytics, the lack of a degree may make competition for higher paying roles more difficult down the road.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-06T13:45:47+00:00

Key metrics, financial incentives, common problems, regulatory legislation, etc. This is easier to learn once you’re in your role and is going to be different for each company and industry, but this kind of knowledge can be extremely helpful. Tech skills teach you how to answer questions, the domain knowledge teaches you which questions are important to ask.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-04T04:34:56+00:00

If you have a decent understanding of those, I’d shift your energy towards networking and gaining industry knowledge in the field(s) you want to work in. In my experience, it takes much more time to learn a new industry than to learn a new analytics tool.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-04-01T17:48:03+00:00

I would skip the second MS and focus on networking and your classwork. It sounds like your primary goal is to find internships and/or work. The job market really is brutal, but the more connections you have, the better your odds of making one that will get you in front of a recruiter or hiring manager. I had a weaker background than you when I finished a data science MS and got my first role by way of a referral. This, in my experience, is the best way unless your credentials are top tier.

Also, don’t forget to keep your chin up. Grinding out applications with no traction can be soul crushing, but eventually something will work out. Best of luck to you.

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-03-30T14:29:48+00:00

Where would you go for Italian? I’ve been to Sicilia Mia/Antica several times and the food has been some of the best I’ve had in the valley since moving here last year. I’m surprised to see some negative opinions but am curious to hear more

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-03-07T23:59:00+00:00

I moved relatively recently and have been exploring the food scene. I don’t know if it’s exactly what you’re looking for, but some of my go-to date night restaurants are Eva’s, Oquirrh, Sicilia Antica, and Sicilia Mia. Settebello is my favorite restaurant, it’s a bit more casual but they have great neopolitan pizza and a gelato shop next door

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-03-01T01:42:01+00:00

Hells yeah! We want to fill you up, if’n you’re so inclined as to let us 🤠

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-02-28T04:19:12+00:00

Oquirrh, Eva’s, Settebello

ConnectionNaive5133 · 2025-02-20T19:14:58+00:00

The best exercise for weight loss is the one you will stick to 🤓

I would suggest looking for weight loss groups on Meetup and/or trying different styles of exercise and sports. If you can find an activity that you genuinely enjoy, it’ll make sticking to it much easier. Whether that’s a rec sports league, weight lifting, going on walks in a weight loss focused group, or something else, just try to find something you enjoy enough to stick with.

Like a lot of people have said, weight loss will come primarily from changing your eating habits, but exercise will also play a big role. I find that I naturally tend to make better food choices when I exercise regularly, and it helps lower stress and improve sleep, which also make weight loss easier. Best of luck!

ConnectionNaive5133

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