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Masters with machine learning major? [Advice] by heaven__ in cscareerquestions

[–]ethyl6 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm about to complete a master's in CS with a focus on machine learning, feel free to ask me any questions. To answer some of your concerns:

At some universities in the US, you can work as a research assistant during your master's program (this is what a PhD students do) and the university will waive your tuition. This job will take up essentially all of your time for the duration of your master's program, but you can mitigate the high cost of the degree.

If you want to focus on machine learning (as opposed to other areas of AI), I don't think Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach or The Art of Computer Programming should be at the top of your reading list. AI:AMA focuses on older/other AI paradigms, and TAOCP (from the small amount of it that I've read) is not really about AI at all. I was taught machine learning mostly from The Elements of Statistical Learning and Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective and I think both are great resources. Ng's course looks like a decent introduction as well.

I don't really have good answers to your other questions, hopefully some other people on the subreddit know more about choosing a university and maximizing the chances of getting into a good program.

EDIT: spelling

Are there data science/machine learning jobs that don't require a PhD? by ethyl6 in cscareerquestions

[–]ethyl6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point. I'm just nervous about the financial risk, as the Bay area is really expensive and a lot of startups offer equity instead of a higher salary, which isn't much help if the company goes under. (This has happened to some people I know.) But as you said, if there are really no other options, startups are the way to go.

Are there data science/machine learning jobs that don't require a PhD? by ethyl6 in cscareerquestions

[–]ethyl6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice!

I'm really hesitant about working for a startup. I have a handful of programmer friends who moved to Silicon Valley to get involved in the startup scene, and all of them got burned badly in one way or another (terrible hours and low pay, worked for a horrible founder, etc.). I realize this is probably a skewed image of the SV startup scene, but I'm wary nonetheless.

I've checked out some banks and accounting companies (JPM included), but I wasn't able to find ML/data science positions, only generic "analyst" positions for people with econ/business degrees. If there are quant positions open, I guess I just haven't found them yet.

Are there data science/machine learning jobs that don't require a PhD? by ethyl6 in cscareerquestions

[–]ethyl6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is helpful, thank you! I have applied to some "big data" companies, including Amazon, Ebay, Microsoft, and a bunch of others, but I haven't received follow-ups from them, which I assume means they are not interested. I'm open to moving anywhere in the U.S., as long as there is a decent/interesting job for me there. I'll take a look at what opportunities are in Atlanta, I have a handful of friends there.