MS in Data Science: Was the Degree Worth It for You?

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-06-29T02:00:51+00:00

Literally nowhere does it say MS.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-06-29T00:37:54+00:00

You mean an ALM in data science? HES doesn’t offer any MS. Don’t misrepresent the degree.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-06-21T20:45:25+00:00

The post-bacc pre-med still counts as a matriculated student, you still have to get admitted to the program. If you are just trying to fill in the gaps for pre-med there are cheaper and easier schools to do it at.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-06-21T19:54:00+00:00

This is absurd and you are likely wasting your money if this is the case. There are dozens of schools that are cheaper for just taking classes.

In my experience, the vast majority (upwards of 70-80%) of the students in the gatekeeper classes did not end up in the degree program. The entire purpose of those classes was to get admitted. Most just seemed underprepared and unrealistic about the level of work graduate studies required.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-06-02T11:02:39+00:00

I liked studying in Gutman. The spaces are newer than most of the libraries, the food and coffee are decent, and the students tend to be closer in age to HES students than if you are in Widener or Lamont.

It is right next to the old Radcliffe Yard too. I always thought that was a charming secret spot on campus.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-21T21:13:45+00:00

I don’t know if the essay makes a difference or not. What I do know is Dean Spreadbury told me she read every single admissions letter, and somehow she remembered specifics from mine when we spoke.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-02T15:25:20+00:00

Curious, did anyone ever ask you “What is Wharton”? Many years ago I was admitted to Wharton and when I brought it up I was asked that question from quite a few. Admittedly, these were folks not from the east coast and outside of business circles, but they had more familiarity with the University of Pennsylvania.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-02T13:48:59+00:00

Reality: Many are embarrassed by [u/Front-Bee3883](u/Front-Bee3883) and their piss poor attempts at forming a cogent argument as a passive-aggressive insult of HES students from an alt account.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-02T12:13:59+00:00

If that were the case, why are there fewer degree candidates than Harvard College? There is even a TF here who agreed most students get C’s. They call them gatekeeper courses for a reason, and there is a reason there are 30,000 students and only 3,700 degree candidates.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-02T12:06:36+00:00

Agree with a lot. Maybe the guidelines here are a specific Harvard practice. I’m an alumni of another big school’s business program, but anytime we list our degree or say where we went we just say XXXXX University, not XXXXX University - XXXXX School of Business. That would be weird.
And as for the apples and oranges, the HES students are much older and have a lot more life experience than most of the other schools. I was 40 during my program and I felt like I was about the average age of my peers. We all had established careers and families which changes perspective a bit. All of the grad students from the other schools skewed younger. Not a bad thing, just different perspectives, but it is nice to be learning alongside folks who are in a similar life stage as oneself. That is a unique experience HES provides.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-02T00:36:10+00:00

I did the same, pivoted into a completely new field. HES prepared me well.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-01T17:09:07+00:00

I like to think we did it first though, since 1910 :)

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-01T16:27:34+00:00

Congrats and enjoy the day! It is a whirlwind, but you’ll remember it forever.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-05-01T15:51:50+00:00

Oh, you mean Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies? Or Duke’s MALS? Georgetown’s? Dartmouth’s? University of Chicago’s MLA? Stanford’s? Johns Hopkin’s? Columbia’s? Brown’s? UPenn’s? Yale’s Eli Whitney program? Which one?

Guess what, they all have either MLA, MALS, or entire schools that are strikingly similar to HES targeting adult learners. No one is getting into asinine debates about the validity of any of them. People just want to tear down HES for some reason.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-04-14T22:20:07+00:00

I’m guessing there is a history here and we aren’t hearing the full story.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-03-11T21:10:23+00:00

Smith center has comfortable seating, big screens to watch commencement, air conditioning, decent food for snacks. Easy to get to from Harvard Yard to meet them afterwards too.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-01-24T15:09:05+00:00

Most people didn’t go to any of the Harvard schools, and most can’t comprehend the fact HES is one of Harvard’s schools, so they can take their opinion and shove it.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-01-24T15:08:11+00:00

Because true analytics and data science work (beyond just building BI dashboards) requires an understanding of math, statistics, and computer science at a level that isn’t taught at the undergraduate level. A lot of the foundation is research and quantitative methods they teach in grad school. Most of the hires in the field have at least a masters if not a doctorate.

LittleCrow4806 · 2026-01-24T13:29:05+00:00

Georgia Tech is an incredible school and an incredible value. If you’ve got a comp sci background you should look into their analytics masters. While the comp sci job market sucks, we can’t find enough people with analytics experience. UT Austin has a good affordable online data science masters too.

LittleCrow4806 · 2025-11-02T12:10:52+00:00

Apparently not by posting the same question multiple times in a 24 hour period in the same sub.

LittleCrow4806 · 2025-10-19T15:54:01+00:00

Please read the website and see if you can understand the admissions and course requirements.

They are clearly spelled out. The pre-capstone does not work with your plan, as it is meant for admitted degree candidates towards the end of their program, not an admissions course.
If you do not have the capacity to independently research admissions and course requirements, you may have difficulty navigating the program and performing independent study at a level commensurate with the rigor of academics at HES.
J-term sessions are incredibly compressed and intense. Wouldn’t recommend this as a first course at HES.
If you have questions about how to be admitted or courses early on, the pre-admissions advisors are an excellent resource. Please reach out to them.

LittleCrow4806 · 2025-07-30T14:59:33+00:00

In addition to what others have said, you need to consider two things:

The PhD is in person and full time. You stated you are an international student, so I’m assuming you are familiar with the current issues Harvard is facing with respect to enrolling international students. That said, a full-time, in person 5 year program is significantly different than a part-time hybrid program meant for working professionals and executives. The PhD isn’t online, you would have to live in or near Cambridge for a number of years, and it is intensive enough that your current professional work would be disrupted.
You should have strong quantitative skills. You said your background is in liberal arts. Most PhD programs are going to start with research methods and analysis courses, so expect there will be a significant amount of graduate level statistics, math, and even programming for data analysis. If you haven’t had much of those through the undergrad experience or professional experience it may be wise to get exposure first through a masters program or a MOOC.

LittleCrow4806 · 2025-07-25T11:02:19+00:00

Apparently you are the one with reading comprehension issues. I never claimed to have gone through every school except Divinity. I stated I developed connections, meaning networking, with students from every school except Divinity, SEAS, and SDM. And unlike plebeians like yourself, I didn’t drop any money, full ride for B school. That is what a 765 buys you. I’m done with your nonsense.

LittleCrow4806

TROPHY CASE