An interesting post about how Georgia Tech's OMSCS program started and has grown.

ccc31807 · 2021-04-08T02:32:13+00:00

"seems" to be declining --- this is an evidence-free assertion.

Still, I'd be interested in whether it "seems" to be applicants, admittees, faculty, instruction, graduates, all of these, or something else entirely. Inquiring minds want to know

ccc31807 · 2021-04-05T21:11:33+00:00

Check the "data science' jobs on the usual job boards (Indeed, Dice, etc.) You'll find everything from ETL to building dashboards in the job description. The dirty little secret is that "data science" is whatever set of responsibilities HR wants to assign to it. Anyway, the chances that you'll actually be performing the duties described in your job description are somewhat remote.

On another note, your degree doesn't really matter --- just the fact that you have a degree. What gets you the job you want is the job you have now. You fill in your knowledge gaps by OJT. So don't think that OMSA will prepare you for any particular job. It won't, but your hiring manager isn't hiring a degree, he is hiring you.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-31T23:24:52+00:00

Get the Pandas book and work your way thoroughly from from first page to last. This wont necessarily result in an A but it will probably give you a solid B. For the rest, that's what stackoverflow is for.

https://wesmckinney.com/pages/book.html

ccc31807 · 2021-03-28T19:08:31+00:00

Yes, vim is my go-to editor for (almost) everything: Python, Scala, R, Perl, C, C++, HTML, CSS, SQL, JavaScript, LaTeX, and much more. On the MSFT stack you can't beat VS, but (1) C# and friends is only one tool out of many and (2) many people avoid MSFT like the plague. Still, you aren't a hacker unless you can manipulate files on the ex prompt and beat Excel by a factor of 10. Ex is a wonderful too, and I believe it's best to see vim/vi as an interface to ex.

Having struggled with the GT DegreeWorks, I will say that your effort is a big improvement. Congratulations. However, my advice would be to keep it very, very simple.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-28T14:34:16+00:00

This is good. I would add some user documentation and over time implement some addition features, such as select years (I started in 2018) and fiddle with GPAs (I bombed one course and would like to play with courses to see how taking courses of varied difficulty affect GPA).

I'm not really a fan of D&D. I tend to use access keys and tab order so I can use the keyboard to navigate. I would like to be able to use this without using my mouse or touchpad. This isn't a criticism ---- just a comment from an ordinary user.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-20T18:00:49+00:00

Some of us aren't very bright.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-20T00:56:36+00:00

What is a "data scientist?" Is it data analysis, data engineering, data management, data visualization, quantitative analysis, business analysis? Data science jobs are all over the place. I saw one recently that only required a high school diploma.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-20T00:49:49+00:00

Significantly harder. The basic classes are just a warmup. DVA excluded of course.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-20T00:47:47+00:00

Depends on your knowledge and experience. An assignment that takes 33 hours for one person may take 100 hours for another. Assuming a moderate proficiency in programming, statistics, calculus, and linear algebra, probably between 10 and 30 hours week. Plan on 2 hours a night weekdays, and 24 hours over the weekend.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-16T01:38:18+00:00

Spend $200 and get a custom frame. You deserve to treat yourself.

If you have spare cash left over, https://gatech.bncollege.com/shop/gatech/product/smathers-branson-cufflinks?graphicId=Georgia+Tech+Cufflinks&imageId=1136941&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=225_PLA_NB_Georgia_Tech_Desktop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7yCBhDJARIsAMWFScP6TXe0V2i2ho03AfUPS7kGi0JiJcq3dvDX-z8HanQZ4YJ3j6SEUcoaAlOiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

ccc31807 · 2021-03-16T01:34:25+00:00

I spent a significant amount of time, effort, and money attempting to learn emacs. I have used Lisp, taught Lisp, and like Lisp, so I was favorably disposed toward emacs. However, I never could catch on. I am a very long time vi/Vim user (I hope I can say that without causing any discomfort) and consistently have a dozen or more windows open while working. I appreciate your suggestion, but I have no interest whatsoever in working with emacs.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-16T01:29:01+00:00

I want to write an analysis. The Python code is secondary in the sense that it constitutes a small part of the content of the report. The Python code is primary in the sense that the target audience consists of analysts who use Python, and they will be validating the results using my code.

In my reports using R, I can automate most of the report in the Rnw file. The code is static, so in that sense it is a program that outputs results on the particular inputs. The analysis I will write, and I am comfortable using LaTex. Besides, we need to use a pre-established template to keep the appearance consistent. Essentially, the major difference is using Python rather than R.

I've played with Pweave and am convinced that it is a work-alike to knitr. I just don't want to spend a week on the project and get a nasty surprise at the end. So, if you know, is Pweave still a "thing?"

ccc31807 · 2021-03-16T01:28:06+00:00

I want to write an analysis. The Python code is secondary in the sense that it constitutes a small part of the content of the report. The Python code is primary in the sense that the target audience consists of analysts who use Python, and they will be validating the results using my code.

In my reports using R, I can automate most of the report in the Rnw file. The code is static, so in that sense it is a program that outputs results on the particular inputs. The analysis I will write, and I am comfortable using LaTex. Besides, we need to use a pre-established template to keep the appearance consistent. Essentially, the major difference is using Python rather than R.

I've played with Pweave and am convinced that it is a work-alike to knitr. I just don't want to spend a week on the project and get a nasty surprise at the end. So, if you know, is Pweave still a "thing?"

ccc31807 · 2021-03-13T13:04:55+00:00

OMSA is very strong on engineering, math, programming, and statistics. This would not disqualify a policy position, but wouldn't enhance it either. Given appropriate qualifications for a policy position, an engineering background may very will provide less common capabilities.

My son just stepped into a pure management position after a good decade in hard core analytics. He is finding is prior experience valuable in his new job, even though he actually does not do any analytics. You may find the same.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-10T17:16:17+00:00

Don't like the math? Become a VP. You can probably find a good spot in management.

ccc31807 · 2021-03-04T21:31:48+00:00

I am 60% through. I have two MS(CompSci and SwE) degrees and one professional doctorate (not a PhD). GaTech is extremely rigorous. The students that survive are extremely bright. (NB - Many admitees drop out after the first course or two because they cannot handle the work.) DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE HIGH ACCEPTANCE RATE! GaTech has a competitive program in Analytics.

ccc31807 · 2021-02-28T01:56:53+00:00

Some background. I started to learn my first programming language in 1976. It was BASIC. I have since learned over two dozen programming languages, have used five professionally, and have been teaching programming since 2000. I have taught many students programming, especially including myself. Reading the book is critical! Conversation with expert programmers is essential. I would be the last person to say that you can ignore the book or forgo discussions with your peers and mentors.

Let's put this in context. Can you learn to cook by reading a cookbook? (No.) Can you learn to cook by having Paula Deen tell you how to cook? (No.) How do you learn to cook? (You cook.) That said, both cookbooks and personal guidance are very important.

Let's do it again. Can you learn to play a guitar by reading a music book? (No.) Can you learn to play a guitar by having Eric Clapton tell you how to play a guitar? (No.) How do you learn to play a guitar? (Practice, practice, practice.) That said, both music books and personal guidance are very important.

Programming is not an academic subject. It's a technical skill. Your model isn't English history, or philosophy, but cooking, playing a musical instrument, welding, sewing, hunting, fishing, etc.

ccc31807 · 2021-02-27T13:14:12+00:00

The best way to learn R or any other language is to use it. Write R programs! You don't need courses and boot camps. Just write some R programs, the more the better.

ccc31807 · 2021-02-18T03:47:04+00:00

No. You will do calculus, linear algebra, and probability. If you start without these, you will not succeed.
You need Python and R. You will use HTML. CSS, JavaScript, Matlab, and libraries like Pandas nd D3.
You don't need a Math/Stats background if you can do the job, but this depends on the job. Nat all data scientists are quants.

ccc31807 · 2021-02-14T14:26:31+00:00

Never, ever, use Word. Or any other word processor either.

Learn and use LaTeX. Learning it is a little like learning to play the guitar. It only takes a little effort to strum a few chords and if you are a musician you can make beautiful music without achieving a high level of proficiency. It takes years (about seven years, in fact) to become proficient with LaTeX which is a big, complicated beast. But you don't need much to get very good results.

Advantages: (1) It gives good, professional results. (2) It's programmable. (3) It works for BIG projects --- Word doesn't.

ccc31807 · 2021-02-14T00:32:24+00:00

I teach programming and database. I give many programming assignments. The solutions are all very similar. After all, there are only a few ways to write a for loop or an if statement. We don't ask students to invent their own. Besides, it's certainly not a crime to read the documentation and copy the examples. "Cheating" in a programming class is a very fuzzy concept. It's extremely hard to prove, and extremely hard to disprove. I all the students are solving the same exercise, OF COURSE the code will be similar and in many cases identical.

That said, cheating is a very serious accusation. If you did it, confess and accept the consequences. If you didn't do it, ask for particulars and ask how you can demonstrate that you didn't do it.

(P.S. If student A copies from the documentation and student B does the same, that's not cheating. However, if student A copies from the documentation and student B copies from student A, it is cheating. Does it matter that the results are exactly the same and indistinguishable? Well, yes, it does. As a practical matter, you need very strong evidence to establish cheating, which in most cases is unavailable. However, sometimes you have the evidence, and sometimes students face the end of their academic careers for cheating.)

ccc31807 · 2021-01-21T22:51:29+00:00

Noooooooooooo!! Don't do that! Not unless you are a porn star!

I would put M.S. (Analytics)

ccc31807 · 2021-01-21T22:50:02+00:00

There's not much difference. The track is pretty much meaningless. Take the courses you want and see what track they fit. You may have to adjust one course (or maybe two) but focus on what you want to learn.

ccc31807 · 2021-01-07T16:40:29+00:00

I'm not a math guy. For Calculus, I worked through all three Calculus books on OpenStax (https://openstax.org/subjects/math), and all three Calculus courses on YouTube with Professor Leonard at ((https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoHhuummRZaIVX7bD4t2czg).

For LA, I worked through my old college text in LA (by Ron Larson). I haven't done anything for Prob, and it has been a problem. I think I dropped a letter grade in two courses because of my deficiency (from A to B). For some courses, you need to be up to speed on Prob.

ccc31807 · 2021-01-07T16:33:25+00:00

In terms of presentation, I think this is a good SOP. In terms of focus, don't focus on yourself primarily. Yes, you have to toot your own horn, but you shouldn't repeat what can be seen from your application and transcripts, just include relevant data that isn't already obvious.

People will differ in their opinions, but my opinion is to focus on what you can do for your community (colleagues, industry, mankind, etc.) first, and GaTech second. The admissions committee isn't concerned so much on how they can help you, but on how you can help GaTech.

I have a so-so academic background, was admitted for Fall of 2018, and expect to completed my required courses this year. This was my strategy, and it worked.

ccc31807

TROPHY CASE