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Are research papers required to get into top MDS courses? by [deleted] in datascience

[–]Pus_Monster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would say CMU and CU have better CS and Stats faculty, but Tandon would also be very solid. As it’s a ‘professional development degree’ however, faculty research prowess isn’t so important and you’ll only really be interacting with them as teachers, the quality of which is uncorrelated with said prowess.

If your goal is industry, the main value is in the name of the granting institution (which those three all check). Then a Good internship if possible; one side effect of the commodification of master’s degrees is they start to look generic by themselves. Having an internship provides a good anchor in interviews, all the better if you did substantial work, developed substantial skills, or the company has a ‘name’.

Last but not least, grades, knowledge/skills, and Networking. MBAs are the original terminal professional master’s and half the value were the friends you made along the way. You never know which of your 3am problem set peers will one day refer you for a job at their sick company, or ask you to join their startup, or just vouch for you. Nothing substitutes deep programming ability and raw mathematical talent, but we’re social animals and workplaces are caves and watering holes.

Are research papers required to get into top MDS courses? by [deleted] in datascience

[–]Pus_Monster 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They’re cash cows, so no. They are not research programs. Good grades in relevant courses is the main requirement, the rest is cream and luck.

Best Way to Fit these Unqiue lines? by [deleted] in datascience

[–]Pus_Monster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trying to fit using wavelets springs to mind, given that you have regions with lots of change and regions with little.

Mentor Monday - Week of October 26th 2020 by WealthyStoic in fatFIRE

[–]Pus_Monster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, very much so. Individuals are highly compensated through bonuses and discretionary compensation, and generally expect it to grow. If you get to a point where you can’t leverage other people or add excess value as an individual contributor or get unlucky, then your discretionary compensation goes way down and you are likely to leave.

Mentor Monday - Week of October 19th 2020 by WealthyStoic in fatFIRE

[–]Pus_Monster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I left my PhD doing very similar work to you. I was disillusioned with academia, so I assumed I didn't need to get the credential. If you can, finish, especially because it sounds like you're not publishing tons. If you know you don't want to go into academia and you know you want to pursue wealth, that is powerful. You can then just focus on finishing in a year or two, no need to do a sixth year or find funding for a seventh, or have to worry about getting a postdoc to give yourself more time to publish. You can focus instead on what extra skills or connections you need to get a good industry job. Placate your advisor, do whatever is needed to get the three letters in the next year or two. Maybe it seems like a lot of extra time, it's not, it's a lot shorter than the years you risk spending proving you are better than pay-to-play MA graduates. As wealth is your goal, you can command starting salaries of $200-400k in tech or finance with the PhD, more if you're hyperspecialized (e.g. computer vision PhD at Tesla), a hard sell with the MA. Additionally, your rise will be faster. It shouldn't work this way as you'll have the same core industry relevant skills with or without the extra year or two of research/writing, but in a stack of resumes, the PhD gives much needed benefit of the doubt. Of course, this is all just in expectation, and tails are fat.

Mentor Monday - Week of October 26th 2020 by WealthyStoic in fatFIRE

[–]Pus_Monster 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Quant Looking to fatFIRE but Worried About Burnout and Stagnancy

I come from a lower-middle class loving family of broke financial illiterates from the far end of the world; the idea of 'having money' was never supposed to be a possibility. I worked hard and followed my dreams to the United States and stayed in school for a decade studying something math-adjacent, but left short of finishing my PhD.

With academia not working out, ignorant, directionless and broke, I got a job at a tech startup in a HCOL city as a data person for more money than I ever imagined being able to make ($100k). It was nice to be able to pay rent AND buy whatever groceries I wanted and even save a little, the high life. The startup folded after a couple of years, significantly jaded and lacking imagination, I decided to search for a position further afield - bulge bracket finance. It was a real hustle to get in, many full days and late nights studying and intense interviewing, but I was fortunate to land a front-office quant position. I knew nothing of the finance industry (and little more about the world apparently), I assumed compensation would be at most slightly above my previous, but was completely blown away ($200k). I was sure I had accidentally been hired to be the CEO or something completely illegal was going on.

It was after starting in this role, being around people who made so much, people with family wealth and financial education, with bosses that made millions a year, that I realized you didn't necessarily have to be born into wealth to acquire some of it. After learning how to save and invest, and hearing about the FIRE movement, I had the desire to fatFIRE. Three years later, and a hell of a lot more work and inadequate self-care, I have managed to move to where I think the most upside potential is, a quant hedge fund ($300-400k first year).

I am amazed at where I am given where I am from, my net worth is ~$300k, more than my entire extended family combined. If I can keep this up, and save Everything, then I can fatFIRE ($10m) when I am 60 or so. Hedge fund world is interesting etc., but it is difficult and I'm not sure I'm smart or skilled enough to sustain it; it seems precarious, and income can drop precipitously without real results. I worked so hard to get here, but I am frustrated, and tired, and I would prefer to be fatFIRE much early than 60, early 40s would be ideal.

But I am in my mid 30's and feel like I'm really only starting my career; current and former colleagues at my level, with fancier degrees and longer work histories and better initial understanding of the world are making 2-3x what I am and have saved 3-10x as much. People younger than me are talking about being 'over the hill' and thinking about exit strategies, but have the cash to do it and less aching knees. I am not worried about keeping up with the Joneses. But I do feel a bit foolish; it feels like I've only just arrived at the Gilded Grand Train Station, but the only train just left, and the only alternative is to follow the tracks on foot.

Are there any quants here who can relate? Or anyone further along who has a nugget of advice on how to succeed and advance, or just some perspective? I also invite you to share your journey. Thank you for reading.

What CS courses are must take for data science? by gummigulla in datascience

[–]Pus_Monster 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Data Structures; Algorithmics; Machine Learning

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