NYC Data Science Academy Reviews
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Alex Baransky Verified via LinkedIn
Success dangling on a string, you need to reach out and take it
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Summary
The NYC Data Science Academy is a wonderful organisation comprised of passionate and deeply knowledgeable people. Their curriculum is top notch, fast but fairly paced, and teaches the skills needed to be successful in any data scientist position. The course requires completion of four major projects which not only gives you real coding experience, but enables you to walk away from the program with solid evidence that you have the coding skills and knowledge of theory required to be successful in the field of data science. Along the way, you will make many new friends and you will expand your network of data scientists to help in your job search. If you work hard to make the best effort you can, three months from now you will be writing a review just like me about how you made the right call to join the NYC Data Science Academy.
My Background
I graduated with a bachelor's in Biology from an Ivy League school in December 2017. While looking for jobs, I realized that if I wanted to land the kind of research position I wanted I had a much longer road in academia than I had originally anticipated. I ran into an old friend who had completed a web development bootcamp and he told me to look into similar programs. After speaking with another friend who is a CTO of a startup, he suggested that I look into data science programs because of the increasing demand in the field. I had some experience coding in Java, but nothing crazy and I hadn't really coded in years. I have always had an interest in computers and I really enjoy the problem solving aspect of data science, so I figured I'd take the risk to change career paths.
The Course
I had three specific things in mind when searching for the right program for me. These were:
- Multiple projects throughout the program
- Reviewed highly by graduates
- Programming languages taught include Python, R, and SQL
I think these are important qualities for any data science program, but they were specifically important to me because I was making the switch from a non-technical field.
First, the projects were a must because I wanted to leave the program knowing I had something concrete to show employers. NYC Data Science Academy has 4 dedicated projects so that when you graduate from the program you have solid evidence of your skills as a data scientist. The last is a capstone project which allows you to work with a real business on a real business problem. This is a great opportunity to prove your worth as a data scientist.
Second, I wanted to find a program that was rated very highly by its graduates. NYC Data Science Academy has some of the best reviews I've seen of any data science program, and for good reason. The instructors have a deep understanding of the material and they are both friendly and professional. The curriculum is as hard as it needs to be for a 12-week program, but the pace the instructors set is fair. The TAs are a tremendous resource and they are available for a reasonable amount of time to get your questions in. The course explores the most important aspects of data science and challenges you with case studies and coding challenges so that you can get a good idea of what to expect when you enter the industry.
Third, I was looking for a program that taught Python, R, and SQL. These three languages are the most highly saught after in data science jobs I have seen, so learning them gives you a solid base for most opportunities out there. Many bootcamps offer Python, R, or SQL, but few offer all three. NYC Data Science Academy is one of those few.
The Result
I was originally thinking about using free online resources to teach myself data science techniques, but after going through the bootcamp process, I am extremely glad I made the investment. I was able to accomplish in 3 months what would have taken me over a year to do by myself. I was also pleasantly suprised at how close I became with my fellow classmates. They were all wonderful and intelligent people and I now have a close network of capable data scientists who I can call upon in the future if I find myself in a rut. This is a massively valuable resource that I didn't even consider when applying for the bootcamp.
The job preperation workshops were also immensely helpful when preparing for the job search. Things like resume reviews, mock interviews, and coding challenges helped to ease me into the world of professional interviewing. I am now on my way to becoming an expert interviewer. There is also a networking event at the conclusion of the program which allows you to get in touch with a diverse group of companies looking to hire. The very next week after graduating from the bootcamp I was actively talking with multiple employers.
I remember reading in a lot of bootcamp reviews that what you get out is what you put in. I will reiterate this because it is absolutely true. This program is not a day care, its purpose is not to motivate you or convince you that this is your path. This program is meant to supply you with all the resources and tools you need to be successful in a data science career. If you go in with the mindset that you will work hard and do your best to learn more material than you thought you could, you will be successful. NYC Data Science Academy has everything you need to be a success, you just need to make the effort to reach out and take it.
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Silvia Verified via LinkedIn
Life Changing Experience.
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The experience in NYC Data Science Academy is life changing for me. I am a graduate student in New York University studyng Psychology. Before I entered the bootcamp, I had almost none exposure to coding, programming, not to mention machine learning.
The instructors are professional and helpful. Six weeks into this bootcamp, I found my current internship for a data analyst position. What I have leanred in the bootcamp helped me pass the technical interview and got me the job. I do appreciate it a lot.
If you come from a background that is barely related to data science, programming or statistics, this bootcamp will get you started on a career for a data scientist. Other than technical skills, the bootcamp will also provide you with an approachable platform for job opportunities. At the end of the bootcamp, there will be a hiring event where over 100 recruiters will come and talk to you. About 30-50% of the students will find a job on that event. Most of my cohort got an on-site interview from at least one company.
If you are looking for a job, then this bootcamp will be a perfect fit for you.
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Wenchang Qian Verified via LinkedIn
Just Love It, Just Do It
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First of all, unlike many bootcamp students, I didn’t come from a background with coding or science, nor do I have a master degree. And I am currently a data scientist working at a startup, helping brands to understand their customers better through an emotional lens using Natural Language Processing. This definitely to certain extent proves not only the rigorousness of the course disciplines and the willingness from the bootcamp to go an extra mile to help the students who don’t come from a ‘regular’ background to succeed.
I picked NYC DSA as the academy’s overall rating was simply the best across all data science bootcamps on the East Coast and the backgrounds of the instructors listed on the website were impressive to me. Coming from a business and consulting background, I consider myself very hardworking and competitive - I only wanted the best and NYC DSA was simply just it.
What I Loved about the Bootcamp:
- The Depth of knowledge of the instructors, especially Aiko Liu (Aiko really influenced the way how I think about data science problems and he paved a really good knowledge foundation for us)
- The Rigorousness of the course disciplines
- The fantastic quality of classmates (they will be your best friends and your network after you graduate in three months)
- The emphasis on solving practical business problems with data science skillsets (this is critical for you to find a job on the East Coast)
- The partnership with big corporations for capstone projects
Some Suggestions:
- I wish the academy could focus less on R and more on Python. Maybe they have changed the balance currently. During the time of my enrollment, it was 50% R and 50% Python. Although R is a very useful programming language for statistical analysis and visualization, Python is the dominant language in the data science field. If you are just about to attend the bootcamp, I would suggest you place a larger focus on Python and practice data science problems with Python as much as possible.
- I wish the academy could test or at least walk through some interview-level challenges/case studies methodologically to the students during the three months of experience. I believe this will not only prepare the students better in terms of what to expect from a data science interview, but also help the students start formulating thought processes related to solving data science problems.
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William Kye Verified via LinkedIn
Great Experience
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My experience with N?YCDSA with great. No bootcamp is perfect (there's a lot of information to pack in 12-15 weeks), but I thought NYCDSA did a great job of providing the teaching, resources, and curriculum to be a competitive job candidate after graduating. The atmosphere is very collegial where student and teaching assistant constantly are trying to help eachother and make sure everyone is getting the most out of the program. That being said, there is a lot of variance in where each student is coming from beforehand. So its important for each individual to seek help when necessary (which isn't very hard given how friend and accomodating the instructors are) After the bootcamp, Vivian and the others put a strong emphasis on putting us in the best position to succeed. Whether that was prep interviews, sending job postings, or just checking up. Overall would recommend! -
Michael Chuang Verified via LinkedIn
Great and supportive bootcamp experience
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To begin, my experience with NYCDSA was excellent. The curriculum was comprehensive, instructors were knowledgeable,and my cohort-mates, friendly. I set out to attend a data science bootcamp after spending several years in tech consulting and at a marketing startup as an implementation and integration lead. I decided to attend NYCDSA particularly because it looked to have the most rigorous curriculum and advanced student projects compared to other camps I had looked into. With that, it was definitely a challenging and time-consuming experience but one that I am grateful for going through. On the whole, I thought the material was very practical and accommodated the wide spectrum of experience levels that my cohort contained (from fresh college grads to experienced PHDs). The course covered broad topics in data science with enough depth to be applied in the real world, so I now feel empowered to further my learning and tackle even harder data/tech problems after the camp. The instructors are all capable and are more than willing to help troubleshoot technical problems that will inevitably come up. The cohort is 40+ students so their time is obviously at a premium and you should expect to drive a lot of your own learning. However this actually made for stronger connections within my cohort as well since we were able to rely on each other to review our understanding of concepts, collaborate on projects, and have fun after hours. After the bootcamp, NYCDSA notified me of many potential job opening as well as acted as a recommendation. I felt as though they were always prepared to support me given that I had everything prepared on my end as well. Obviously not every student will have a completely smooth experience with the job search process, but I’m confident that anyone who is willing to put in the effort and dedication in learning the material and crafting their applications will be able to advance a career in data after attending. Since graduating, I started a contractor role at Spotify, which eventually lead me to secure a full-time position at Facebook several months later. And while I put in considerable personal effort to secure these roles, I also know it would not have been possible with the skills and support I received (and continue to receive) from NYCDSA. -
Fan Zhang Verified via LinkedIn
Amazing bootcamp. Highly recommend
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I had a truly rewarding experience at NYCDSA. The staff is professional and friendly, and the material is relevant for a wide range of data professions.
Before I joined NYCDSA, I had researched and reviewed several other similar boorcamps. I think NYCDSA really cares and help you to success.
The program helped me to open the doors to several opportunities for me and the staff sets time aside to help you position and present yourself well for job interviews. I have accepted good amount job interviews since I have graduated from NYCDSA, and felt very well prepared for the interview process. Five stars!
If you are less familiar with coding (which I was), then you really need to do your pre-course very well. Because once the bootcamp starts, the foundation is very important. Patience and getting comfortable with the process of coding is absolutely essential.
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Zhenggang Xu Verified via LinkedIn
Great experience in NYCDSA
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1. Why NYCDSA:
Before I made the decision, I did some research online (course report and switchup). I chose a few bootcamps with highly positive reviews and visited all of them. Finally I picked NYCDSA because the curriculum is comprehensive and the instructors are very nice to me during my visit.
2. My overall experience with the bootcamp
- The curriculum covers most of the items listed in the typical job descriptions/requirements of a data scientist. As long as you are good at these skills, you should be confident in the job hunting. Of course you need to put a lot of effort on developing the skills, and the bootcamp can give you a clear roadmap from programming 101 all the way to deep learning algorithms. Besides the regular coursework, you are required to finish 4 projects in which you can practice what you learn during the class, and get a good sense how to deal with real-life data. If you put enough time on it, you will be proud of yourself and impress other people by what you have done. They are not just some bullet points on your resume.
- The instructors are incredible. They have a deep understanding about what they are teaching, in both theory and practice levels. Students are always encouraged to ask questions during the class or outside of the classroom. Whenever I had questions they can give me quick answers almost all the time.
- I learned a lot from my classmates. The class profile of my cohort is highly diverse, from math PhD to Harvard MBA, from psychologist to investment banker. The common interest in data science gave us a chance to sit in the same classroom for 3 months. I made friends with many classmates, especially the ones I did group projects with. We learn from each other, share job information and interview experience with each other. I feel very privileged to study and work together with so many smart and interesting people here.
- The career assistance is great. The bootcamp did many different things to help us on job hunting, including job placement workshop, resume review, hiring partner event, alumni referral, even some online webinars when the bootcamp is over. I received several emails from the bootcamp regarding open positions every week. They also provide mock interview on both HR and technical sides. You job hunting will be much different if you make fully use of these resources.
There are still more good things about the camp than I listed here. For people who want to switch careers to data science I sincerely recommend this bootcamp for you. Just make sure you spend enough time on the pre-work before you come to the class.
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Xu Huang Verified via LinkedIn
Great bootcamp. Highly recommend
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I learned about NYC Data Science Academy (NYCDSA) by googling. I was searching for more systematical training and professional hring guide in Data Science after taking numerous online courses by myself. I chose on-site NYCDSA bootcamp because 1. More efficient than Master Degree, 2. High reputation and reviews received from NYCDSA alumni, and 3. A perfect match for me who has advanced degree in STEM and wants to switch career. I'm so glad that I made the decision to join NYCDSA.
One of the best things about the NYCDSA is that you are required to finish 4 intense main projects that cover nearly all the key skills you'll need for Data Science jobs and job searching: Python, R, Machine Learning, Big Data, Deep Learning, etc. I needed to show the best of what I'd learned and my coding skills to present, to learn how to collaborate with teammates who have different background and ideas, and more importantly, to meet deadlines!
After the bootcamp, I'm well equiped with an 'arsenal' for job searching: polished resume highlighting my Data Science projects & experience; professional links as your show case: GitHub, NYCDSA blog posts, etc; interview questions & exams, including one-on-one mock interview practice; connections with hiring partners and a whole set of job searching follow-ups and support...... I'm so lucky to have those helps from NYCDSA, and entire cohort of friends and connections.
I highly recommend NYCDSA bootcamp to whoever want to seek/switch to career in Data Science.
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Weijie Deng Verified via LinkedIn
Amazing Data Science Bootcamp
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I was recommended by one of my friend, who almost had the same background as me and had a job after graduation <from the NYC data science academy Bootcamp>. I came from a business background, and I knew nothing about python until I started the Bootcamp. After 3-month intensive training, I started from zero knowledge in coding to someone can really use machine learning to solve some business questions, and guided me into the world of data science. The instructors are very knowledgeable and very willing to answer all my stupid questions. The curriculums are well-designed and taught the machine learning theories twice, very helpful to me. I enjoyed my time in the NYC Data Science Bootcamp and learned a lot from this onsite Bootcamp. -
Chuanhao Nie Verified via LinkedIn
Transformative Bootcamp
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I attend NYCDSA because one of my friends' recommendation that the bootcamp offers hands on experience of data science. Actually, the bootcamp is as good as I expect. I will never forget the 3 month learning experience. I study very hard but at the same time I feel like I grow a lot.
The bootcamp's courses cover everything related to data science, not only the advanced parts such as machine learning and deep learning, but also fundamental skills such as Python, R, SQL. My background is finance. But after studying in the bootcamp, I feel like I am prepared for a data science job.
The teachers and teaching assistants here are very knowledgeble. In addition, the classmates you study with have strong academic/working experience. Most of the students here have master or phd degree with 2-10 years' working experience. I would highly recommend NYCDSA.
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Anthony Romano Verified via LinkedIn
Good Starter
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In the past I've used a lot of online courses to try and learn how to use python in my day to day work but I never felt like I "got it." This in person experience was well organized, provided relevant material and challenging homework. The first day of the class really scared me and had me thinking I bit off more than I can chew, but by the end I felt like I'd learned a lot and am thankful to the instructor Tony for his in class comments and examples. I would recommend this course to anyone who is already conducting data analytics but is looking to branch out to python. The course provides a lot of food for thought and made me feel like I have a solid foundation in python now.
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Nacho Moreno Verified via LinkedIn
Transformative, enterely recommended
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I attended the 2018 Summer bootcamp and was a great experience! Not only academically but also from a personal perspective. I am currently living in Spain so travelled and relocated all the way from Barcelona to join the NYC Data Science Academy. NYCDSA curriculum is really comprehensive and the information and assistance you get prior to joining the bootcamp from the acadmy’s staff is really good. It’s assuring coming from that far to know what to expect from the bootcamp and to see how responsive the staff was to any queries I had.
I have a background in Location Intelligence with no coding experience (just a bit of SQL) and managed to follow the lessons well enough! Not without effort though. The curriculum is gradual and comprehensive, from mainly coding practice and basic statistics to Machine Learning and then more advanced topics like Deep Learning and Big Data.
Personally I also think is a great experience, the bootcamp allows you to connect and create a Data Science network at the same time you interact with your cohort mates which will be like your family during the 12 weeks that lasts the bootcamp.
Just one warning! Prepare yourself for working hard during the bootcamp, the more you work the more you will get out of it!
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Samuel Mao Verified via LinkedIn
Transformative Bootcamp
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For anyone who is seriously considering a career in data science, I strongly recommend this bootcamp. My background in MS business analytics has nothing to compare with this bootcamp in terms of Machine Learning and Data Engineering. If you only check out 5/10 of a data science job requirement, this bootcamp will make you 10/10, if you put in the work and time. On top of this, every cohort will allow you to meet people who share the same ambition from diverse backgrounds (profession, educational degree, country). One more thing that must be emphasized is that the faculty and staff here are extremely helpful and instructive. Again, I strongly recommend this place if what I have described above are what you are looking for.
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Alexey Malafeyev Verified via LinkedIn
Deep Learning course by Jon Krohn was very good...
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Thank you to Jon Krohn for his approach to teach the lectures and for all his systematic organization of all his materials. Also, for being very attentive to the questions and trying to get back with the constructive help ASAP. And a bit of a personal impression: the mashine vision part of the course was better prepared with the interesting and easy to get examples whereas the NLP part could have been more elaborated, but it is by default the case if you compare these two areas. But, knowing how easy Jon was able to organize the steps for the forst noticed I trully believe it is just a matter of a few more thought on that for him and his Co. It may be also true that one more day of classes would be very nice addition to cover the materials better. The other missing thing was a simple example on how you would deploy the network in any environment to be ised in production.
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Gurminder Kaur Verified via LinkedIn
Great Experience, Highly Recommended!
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I am very glad that I took the decision of joining NYC Data Science Academy to pursue the field of Data Science. The 12-weeks intensive program equips you with a strong and solid foundation for Data Science, even if you come with no background in data at all. The staff is easily approachable and highly knowledgeable. The academy makes sure that you have a good experience to showcase at the job interviews through four different projects (one of them being a live project, solving a real-world business problem for a company). The academic setup, which includes instructors as well as Tas, is excellent and ensures that you have required support and guidance at each and every step throughout the program.
They have a strong professional network and even hold a hiring event towards the end of the bootcamp, where you have the opportunity to interact with various companies (across different industries) looking for potential Data Scientists. The academy supports you throughout the process of finding the right job, even after graduating from the bootcamp. Vivian was very helpful with my interview process and providing the right feedback so I can be better prepared and get the job I desired.
Of course, as with any learning process, the real onus of making sure that you get the most out of the bootcamp lies with you. This is a very intensive 12 weeks program and you need to make sure that you dedicate this period fully to Data Science.
I thoroughly enjoyed the learning process at the bootcamp. It helps you grow not only as a Data Scientist but also as professional through the diverse mix of students coming from different academic and professional backgrounds. I highly recommend NYCDSA to anyone who is seeking to make a career in Data Science.
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Xiaowei Cheng Verified via LinkedIn
Great Experience
A very good place with knowledgeable staff.
Highly recommend.
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Igor Gitlevich Verified via LinkedIn
Excellent Data Science Bootcamp
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The bootcamp program of NYCDSA is designed to take the skillset of every student to the next level regardless of the preliminary expertise. Covering basics of R and Python during the pre-work and first month of the bootcamp follows by a deep dive into the essence of every popular machine learning algorithm, as well as implementation details and caveats in both, R and Python. The understanding of these caveats combined with more common knowledge will facilitate and ease the continuous learning and career advancement for years to come. It is important to note that to get most out of this bootcamp, full dedication is required.
Anyone who is serious about having career in data science and willing to do the hard work to make it happen should seriously consider this 3-month program. The materials of the courses are superb, and the instructors are world-class, willing to take the time to answer every question with enough attention to ensure that understanding of students progresses. Finally, the academy’s professional networking events and job search-related workshops give a great boost to the job finding opportunities. I enjoyed my time at the academy and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Yun Wang Verified via LinkedIn
Research Scientist
I highly recommended the deep learning course for anyone. Jon is the best teacher. He actively responses to your questions and teaches you in a easy-understainding way. I am very happy that I made the right decision. Starting from zero to having an application idea for my research.
Thanks Jon!
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Daniel Bubb Verified via LinkedIn
Intensive and carefully designed curriculum that will help you succeed!
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NYC Data Science Academy was essential in helping me to make the transition from a career in academia to the field of data science. It is a very intensive course that is filled with statistics, coding, machine learning, natural language processing, big data, and other topics. Frankly, there were too many topics for me to apprehend while the bootcamp was running, but one of the great features of the course is that you are able to go back and review key lectures - which I periodically do as my understanding of the field deepens. Another great strength of the curriculum is that you are exposed to a variety of instructors who have different backgrounds and approaches. I can think of distinctive strengths for Drace, Aiko, Luke, and Zeyu in their presentation and shared perspective. Vivian and Chris gave terrific seminars on seeking employment and how to interview. Finally outside lecturers such as Bernard Ong held court and imparted their wisdom and that comes from a wealth of experience in the field.
One other strength of the program is in the variety of lecturing styles and the mix of labs, guided activities, and more conventional lectures. I think this allows people with a variety of learning styles to flourish and speaks to the thoughtfulness in constructing the curriculum. The projects are essential to applying the concepts and give you an opportunity to sharpen your coding and analysis skills.
In the end, as I said previously, it was all a bit much for me to take in during the bootcamp, but there are a series of materials - such as Jupyter notebooks, pdf slides, and videos that I continue to refer back to as I progress in the field. For me, the challenge was less about the difficulty of the material but the sheer volume. I tend to get interested in something and don’t want to hear much else until I feel like I have a deeper understanding. Only then do I like to move on. Were I to do it over, I would be a little more disciplined about indulging my curiosity and pay a little more attention to the flow of material and presentation because they really know what they’re doing and what you need as you progress.
tl,dr:
I highly recommend this Bootcamp, it was of tremendous value to me. 12 weeks of instruction from deeply knowledgeable instructors who possess keen business acumen and know how to help people get jobs. It was a very enjoyable experience for me to be surrounded by interesting and smart people from all types of backgrounds and each with something unique to contribute to the cohort.
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Sam Marks Verified via LinkedIn
Fellow
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I had a truly rewarding experience at NYCDSA. The staff is approachable and friendly, and the material is relevant for a wide range of data professions.
The program opened doors to several opportunities for me and the staff sets time aside to help you position and present yourself well for job interviews. I accepted a job from one of NYCDSA's hiring partners, and felt very well prepared for the interview process. Five stars!
Side note: One recommendation I have for those less familiar with coding (which I was), is to embrace the "have you tried googling that?" culture within Data Science and programming as a whole. While the tendency at a supportive bootcamp is to ask your instructors how to debug a line of code or build an ML template, more often than not the answer is a google search away, and there are TONS of excellent resources out there. Patience and getting comfortable with the process of finding the answers to your questions online is absolutely essential.
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Michael Caballero Verified via LinkedIn
Great bootcamp experience!
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I highly recommend NYC Data Science Academy to folks driven to pursue a data science, analysis, or engineering career. I participated in the 12-week onsite bootcamp with the Spring 2018 cohort and can attest to NYCDSA helping graduates land roles in each of these areas.
There are two reasons that NYCDSA was the right fit for me to jumpstart my career.
First, I was attracted to the academy’s strong regional network and job placement support. Vivian and the NYCDSA staff are responsive to your career interests and will put you in touch with relevant folks in the field. In addition, the NYCDSA curriculum is continuously re-evaluated for relevance. While NYCDSA helps bridge a career transition, the challenging task of skill acquisition and evaluation is on you!
Second, I wanted to participate in a program with diverse learners. Bootcamp attendees range from STEM PhDs like myself to folks with BA/BS with professional experience in analytical fields. It was an exciting process to learn from each other as we worked on group projects or talked about homework challenges. Exposure to working on teams with divergent backgrounds is extremely valuable in a practical sense and reflects how some data science teams are structured.
Overall, NYCDSA has established a process that works and is committed to continuous improvement. It was a pleasure to participate in this program with friendly students and supportive staff. NYCDSA helped me expand my technical skillset and secure a full-time data scientist role.
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Franklin Dickinson Verified via LinkedIn
Positive Experience
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I was part of the full-time spring 2018 cohort, coming with a BA in social sciences and a previous business analyst role. I had down prior intro python/R/maching learning classes on Coursera and they proved a good starting point.
The bootcamp mainly involves buidling a portfolio of projects, each utilizing a new skill taught through the weeks, using mainly first R followed by Python. Also time is spend on SQL in the beginning and intro neural networks and big data architecture.
The program is legit and skills gained are real.
While instructors and management were always friendly and making efforts to assist when asked, everyone was very busy and there was not an intense structure. As a bootcamp, the progam focuses more on flexibilty and less on structure than a traditional graduate program and thus you must be humble, self-motivated, and vocal to succeed. There is a good broad strategy in the cirriculem but the various instructors could be better in tune with eachother in this goal. Management always asked our feedback and have itineratively improved the bootcamp each cohort.
Students were from a variety of backgrounds, all well-educated and friendly. Many international students.
From early on, management was focused on helping us gain employment after the bootcamp and have remained so after the program ended.
Now 2 months later, I just recently received a full time entry-level data science consulting position. I am very excited and credit my time at the bootcamp in opening up the new opportunity.
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Abbey Chen Verified via LinkedIn
Great experience
I appreciate all the hands-on projects/assignments opportunities which I did during the data science boot camp. It really gives me chances to apply the machine learning theories to real-world problems. Also, the team is supportive. The teachers, teaching assistants, career coaches are very helpful and experienced. I greatly enjoy joining the boot camp at the NYC Data Science Academy.
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Jacob Ralston Verified via LinkedIn
Immersive Bootcamp
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I attended the 12 week in-person immersive bootcamp and am very happy I did. I have a PhD in pure math (no computers, no numbers, so my coding experience was limited to "having fun" with Python) and spent my first 2 years post graduate school working at a hedge fund (in a non-technology role) and wanted to get into data science and engineering. I genuinely believe that with enough personal motivation and drive a bootcamp is the most effective and efficient way to go from 0 to 60 in this field (note that "attending" and "absorbing" at the bootcamp alone is not enough - the drive, time, and energy ultimately must come from you - they can only set you up for success).
At the bootcamp I learned the essentials of SQL, R, and Python - not just the important packages like Numpy, SKL, etc. but how to pick up a new package and learn how to use it (a more important skill than learning any particular package). The project work was also extremely valuable. The scopes of the projects (there's 4 of them) get wider as the program progresses (from basic visualization and RShiny app construction to open-ended real-life consulting for companies at the end of the course).
During my interviews after the bootcamp I was certainly tested on my coding and ML knowledge, but I spent a lot of time discussing my project work and results - again, the bootcamp presents you with opportunities and resources, it can't do it all for you.
If you plan on enrolling (which you should think seriously about, it's a large investment of both your time and money) I would say you should prepare as much as possible as you'll leave the bootcamp with what you bring to the table (in terms of skills, abilities, drive, and preparation) - I've seen people who leave the bootcamp ready to be "senior data scientists" as well as people who leave knowing how to code and how to use some ML packages (a big difference).
If you're looking for a bootcamp, I highly recommend NYCDSA as they truly care about the students, have a LOT to offer curriculum-wise, project-wise, and importantly their network in NYC data science jobs is EXTENSIVE (and very valuable).
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Peter Yang Verified via LinkedIn
Great bootcamp to learn data science
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The curriculum of NYCDSA bootcamp is great and well-designed. In the first four weeks, you will learn Python, R and SQL which will lay a solid foundation for your data science learning. In the next four weeks, you will learn a variety of machine learning models. In addition, they will teach big data tools and deep learning.
The instructors at NYCDSA bootcamp are excellent as they all have deep knowledge and significant experience in data science. They make complex concepts and skills easy to understand and master. The instructors teach classes in a good pace and often pause to answer any questions that students ask in class. After class, if you have any questions, they will also try their best to answer them.
During NYCDSA bootcamp, four projects will be offered not only to improve your data science skills but also to enrich your resume. The projects are really interesting and challenging. When you are working on the projects, you will be able to learn and apply data visualization, web scraping, machine learning theories and skills, big data tools and deep learning. For the capstone project, various corporations and non-profit organizations will come to the bootcamp and pitched their real data science problems to the students, which will gave the students the experience of solving real data science problems.
For the job assistance, the hiring team at NYCDSA will work very hard to get you jobs. During the bootcamp, job placement lectures will be given to teach you how to prepare for interviews. In addition, they will have several guest speakers and alumni give lectures about the current job market and suggestions on how to get a data scientist position. Before you graduate, they will help you polish your resumes to make them stand out. Right after the bootcamp ends, they will hold a hiring partner event where you will be able to network with employers from a lot of companies.
The bootcamp at NYCDSA offered us an opportunity not only to obtain significant experience and expertise in data science but also to expand our career options. After going through the bootcamp, people with various backgrounds can apply the skills they learned from the bootcamp and their domain knowledge to start their new career and explore their interest in the field of data science, which I think is the most important benefit NYCDSA bootcamp offers
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Marissa Jooy Verified via LinkedIn
Great training, environment, and job support!
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I am extremely happy with my decision to attend this boot camp. Before this, I was very uncertain about what I wanted to do as a career path and never thought I would want a job that involved coding. With the excellent teaching, support, and guidance of NYCDSA staff and teachers, I found my passion. Within 3 months I gained skills in Python, R, Github, and SQL. Not many boot camps teach both R and Python, therefore this gave me a leg up against other people in the job market.
I graduated college with my Bachelors of Science in May of 2017, while many of my cohort-mates had a Master's or Ph.D. and had been working for numerous years. For this reason, I did not believe the boot camp was for me. It is not an easy course, but with hard work and dedication, it can definitely be done. I felt prepared for the job market once the bootcamp ended and really appreciated the job support provided by NYCDSA staff. They are extremely committed to getting you a job and do everything they can to help you and guide you. Because of the tools and knowledge I've gained from this boot camp, I've landed my dream job as a Data Analyst for MoveOn.org.
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Lakshmi Prabha Sudharsanom Verified via LinkedIn
The most supportive team
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I took the intensive 12-weeks bootcamp at NYC Data Science Academy. I am a postdoc in India. I had been writing graph algorithms for social network analysis, analyzing data using MS-Excel and mining data using graph theory. I decided to make a transition to industry.
I researched for about six months to choose a proper academy to learn data science. I came up with a decision to join NYC Data Science Academy so that I could learn both R and Python within three months. But, I learnt more than I thought. I gained hands-on experience in Python, R, SQL, Spark, deep learning, Hadoop and Hive.
The materials are technically sound for job interviews. Many experienced professors and industry professionals design and teach the materials. The course laid a solid foundation in data science. The people in the academy show keen interest in every student to understand the concept, in resume writing and above all, to get a job.
With their continuous guidance, I got hired as a data scientist in New Delhi, India. My decision to join the academy to learn both R and Python simultaneously, has been proved to be a wise decision. I wanted to 'eat, live and breathe' data science and I do it today because of the academy. Thanks to the academy.
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David Kogan Verified via LinkedIn
Rigorous, practical training for data science
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I attended the 12-week data science bootcamp right after graduating from college with an engineering degree. I highly, highly recommend this course for anyone with some coding/stats background looking to work in data science or machine learning. I'll note what I believe are the most important features of the program with bullet points so it's easy to read:
- The course is rigorous but not overwhelming -- if you put it a lot of work you will get a lot out of it, and there are a lot of TA's, classmates and teachers to help if you need it.
- The coursework is oriented towards practical application in the real world. This is what stood out the most to me in contrast to my undergraduate education. The teachers at NYCDSA do a great job of teaching the theory and then explaining how concepts tend to actually be applied in the real world.
- All the class content is still accessible after the course is done -- it is EXTREMELY valuable to have all this stuff permanantly saved on your computer.
- They help you get a job after you graduate.
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Mitchell Hung Verified via LinkedIn
Highly recommended bootcamp experience
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My career before NYCDSA was one without numbers or Excel spreadsheets; past me wouldn't have dreamed of touching complex data modeling algorithms or cloud computing infrastructure. If you're like me, you probably are expressing some hesitation at how much a 3 month bootcamp can give you, especially when you're competing against graduates in STEM fields for a quant position.
No fear, though! NYCDSA gives you precisely what you need to succeed in today's competitive data science job market. During the bootcamp, you'll become well versed in almost all the standard tools and methodologies that data scientists use to do their jobs. While the curriculum isn't perfect (I definitely thought some days and sessions were on superfluous material, e.g. too many days spent on web scraping, and way too much focus on R as most companies are transitioning towards Python), it is more than sufficient to prepare you to compete with others.
Six months ago I was a journalist. Now I'm doing cutting edge data science at my new firm. Couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
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Daniel (Donghyun) Kang Verified via LinkedIn
Best choice for Data scientist fellows
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Since 2002, I had served as a wireless communication system design engineer for Samsung Electronics, where I have developed optimal solutions based on the analysis, simulation and modeling of filed data and system features. One of my latest works was finding adaptive solution for fast tree search avoiding local minima and maxima.
To boost up my skills and map into diverse field, recently finished an immersive data science boot camp where I completed four projects including machine-learning projects where I deployed predictive models using extreme gradient boosting, random forests, support vector machines, and logistic regression. Work experience on a data science project - Capstone project - for a big CPG company was a huge benefit as a data scientist. As a team, we analyzed product trends, competitor's products and its reviews, customer satisfaction ratio by using NLP such as TF-IDF(term freq/inverse Document freq), Topic modeling(LDA; Latent Dirichlet Allocation), Sentimental analysis and then we delivered comparative analysis results, analysis tool to the client company. Through this project, I got convinced that customer reviews and analysis of competitors tell a lot information not only for the current problems but also the next business opportunities.
Throughout this boot camp, I could have an experience on the very projects which are closely related to the data science industry, and make portfolios which could demonstrate qualification for related industry requirements. Eventually, I could get a job which requires data science such as machine learning and natural language processing by connecting my previous work exprience to portfolios in NYC data science academy.
If you want to be a actual data scientist, NYC Data Science Academy could be a best choice ever.
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Ansel Santos Verified via LinkedIn
Learn everything you need to succeed
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NYCDSA's curriculum covers everything you need to succeed in the data science industry. The boot camp was hard, but this prepared us well to what the job market expects from a data scientist. They also mentored us on how to deal with potential employers, giving us an edge versus other job applicants.
The boot camp also gave the opportunity to make friends with people with the same level of interest and passion in data science. I think this will eventually develop into real life friendships and will prove to be valuable connections as you go through your career as a data scientist.
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JC Verified via GitHubRigorous Training Program; Highly Recommended!
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I attended the Winter 2018 immersive data science boot camp at NYC Data Science Academy, and I highly recommend this academy.
I come from a mathematics background with nearly zero experience with data science, and prior to the boot camp I only know how to program with MATLAB. (MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc., i.e., it is a serious commercial software not to be treated lightly.) I studied partial differential equations of mathematical physics, a subject intense in theory and numerical computations but very little to do with data business. Upon finishing the boot camp, how do I feel? At least now I will not embarrass myself when handling data/coding challenges with R and Python, answering machine learning questions, etc. for job interviews. Yes, I did get job placement within one month upon finishing the boot camp, and I owe that opportunity to the Academy too. It connected me with my employer at the hiring event hosted at the end of the boot camp, which alone is worth at least half of the tuition!
Now let me briefly reflect on how/why the immersive boot camp at NYC Data Science Academy is excellent, especially if your background is similar to mine:
- Curriculum-wise and teaching style-wise, it is highly similar to a traditional university program. For folks who are fresh out of academia (i.e., newly graduated), you will feel comfortably familiar in the boot camp's setting; for folks who are not, you will also feel comfortable since the training progress is incremental (meaning that it is not difficult to keep up), and FORMAL (very important; without which the training would be shallow). There are enough teaching assistants stationed all day to help you. More important, the instructors are always willing to help, who are accomplished data science experts. They really write great course materials! Frankly I am a laid-back person and did not work as crazy as others in the cohort (some are said to work 12 hours per day), but I did not over-relax either: I just make sure I keep up with boot camp training progress. But that (keeping up with the course progress) is enough to make you a qualified data scientist candidate in the end. The boot camp is well measured so that you do not have to be overwhelmed or burnt-out but still can achieve enough to live long and prosper.
- From the lady who ensures there is always coffee and hot tea, to the career advisors who know how to best tailor you for job search and interviews, the academy provides great support in learning and career advising. That is to be expected: as mentioned, the program at NYC Data Science Academy is very formal (I cannot emphasize this word enough). Let us don’t forget to thank Vivian Zhang who is behind all these and who is very caring for the students.
- You will work on actual business projects (including your Capstone project). By doing thus you know how your knowledge/skill levels are aligned with the industry standards. No less important: when you mention them in the resume or talk about them to hiring employers, the projects are not like cute school projects, but are actual, real business projects with very substantial stuff.
- It is a pleasure to meet with the people in the cohort: people (students or instructors or TAs or supporting staff) of different backgrounds and personalities. You will always remember those cozy lunch times at the academy, when students sit around the dinner table talking about issues of the day (not limited to data science stuff). For example, at one conversation, we started from the fashionable Beats earphones, then moved on to the Bose earphones as comparison; we then argued about how to correctly pronounce the name "Bose", which naturally led to talking about the great physicist Bose (as in the Einstein-Bose condensation), and that naturally led onto various topics in quantum mechanics… Such is a "picture" of the dinner-table at the academy. The 12-week training would not be less enjoyable without the company of all those fantastic people around you.
- Last but not least, the highlight of highlights: the hiring events organized by the academy! As mentioned, suffice to say itself is worth at least half the tuition!
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Hans Lau Verified via LinkedIn
Most Rewarding Experience!
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I am very satisfied with my decision to attend NYCDSA 12 week boot camp. I just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Bionengineering and minor in Computer Science. During my last year of undergrad, I found data science to be a challenging and interesting career path to get into but I did not have much hands-on experience.
I researched a number of data science bootcamps but I chose New York Data Science Academy because of the rigorous curriculum taught in Python and R as well as the impressive credentials of the instructors.
The program is challenging, incredibly fast-paced, but very rewarding. There is pre-work material before attending the bootcamp, which helps to solidify coding fundamentals. The beginning of the program reviews those coding fundamentals and then dives straight into the heavy machine learning concepts and mathematical basis of the theories. Although it could be quite challenging to absorb most of the material at first, the program is excellent in providing resources and exposing concepts that will be important for a data science career and job interviews.
In addition, there are 4 projects, which focus on different aspects of data science: data visualization, web scraping, machine learning, and finally a capstone, which incorporates everything you have learned. It is a good idea to join the bootcamp just to complete these projects because you can showcase these projects to future employers.
In regards to job assistance, Vivian and Chris offers job presentations which covers how to write your resume, how to position yourself for an interview, etc . There are also guest lectures that come and describe their role and how they leverage data science in their work. At the end of the bootcamp, NYCDSA hosts a hiring event where you can meet future employers and be exposed to the data science job market.
I highly recommend this bootcamp for people who are looking to transition into a career of data science. It has been a very rewarding 3 months; I have no regrets.
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Michael Chin Verified via LinkedIn
Great Job Hunting Support
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NYC Data Science Academy has been a wonderful resource for aquiring the data science tools required in the workplace.
NYCDSA's greatest strength is their commitment to matching graduates with Data Science positions. Every step of the process was geared towards that goal: including practical projects with real-life company data, extensive job-hunting coaching, and seminars, and continued job assistance after graduation.
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Sudhanshu Chib Verified via GitHubAmazing introduction to Deep Learning
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I completed the deep learning course offered by NYDS in April 2018. Course curriculum provides a solid understanding of core theoretical concepts and their practical applications. Best part about the course was that latest papers/ research work (as resent as Jan 2018) were discussed by Jon who also shared his experience and best practices. Would strongly recommend the course for anyone who has some background in data/programming related work and wants to break into deep learning.
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Andrew Dodd Verified via LinkedIn
An Amplification System
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[I did the 3 month immersive bootcamp]
Before I came to the bootcamp, I spoke with one of their instructors on a video call and he described the bootcamp as an amplifier of the skills and energy that you bring to the bootcamp. In my own words, it will not make you something that you are not. It will (probably) not flip your entire career 180 degrees.
To be honest I was extremely skeptical of a 3 month bootcamp and then going to get jobs in the applicable field. I wanted proof so I read pages of reviews. 98% of them were highly positive. I talked to friends that went to similar bootcamps. I considered the pros and cons of getting an advanced degree in data science or machine learning. Ultimately, I chose this bootcamp because based on everything, it looked like this bootcamp would put me in a strong position to get a job in the applicable field within months rather than years.
And it has. I will be starting work as a machine learning engineer starting in 2 weeks (it is currently a little over a month since I graduated). I came in with an engineering background, specifically focusing in robotics and spaceflight for a master's degree so I had a strong quantitative background. Before I came to the bootcamp, I studied in the evenings writing a couple machine learning projects in my free time for about 1.5 years prior to arrival. So, I may have studied a little more before arriving than the average student. However, many students I know are interviewing with multiple companies at this point so I can certainly vouch for the results of this program (as can the job placement percentage numbers given).
In addition to the results, the bootcamp is a fantastic learning experience. You will be writing code in the evenings and often weekends. But I learned more at this bootcamp than I did in one semester of college by a significant margin. Like many things, you get out what you put in. I dedicated 10-12 hours daily studying and now have job options! The bootcamps topics are fast and many. I highly recommend reviewing most/all topics before arriving so that you can absorb as much as possible in such a short time period. Next, everyone is a pleasure to work with and the instructors are incredible. They each have a very strong grasp of their course material and can often relate the material well to the outside world. Homework drives home the points from lecture while projects are extremely instructive. Again, do hard work and you will have great projects.
Finally, the hiring team will work as hard as they can to help you get a job and the right job. They are passionate about us getting jobs and have a lot of connections in the city. 25% of the worth of this bootcamp at least is in the hiring help and the support structure of the fellow students in my opinion. That brings me to my last point, I moved here from California, and after 3 months I now have lasting friendships with some very smart, hard working future data scientists.
Disclaimer: I was not paid or coerced to write this review. I think this bootcamp is one of the best you will find. I considered many, and this was my top choice.
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William Verified via LinkedIn
Great experience!
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I am very happy to have had the opportunity at attend NYCDSA’s 12-week data science bootcamp. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to transition to a career in data science or develop skills necessary to succeed in a data driven field.
Prior to joining the bootcamp, I studied math and economics in college before working in quantitative finance for more than five years. I was looking for a program that would provide a strong foundation in coding with an emphasis on the tools and methods used in Data Science. I was excited to get a comprehensive introduction to a number of machine learning methods and theory. When comparing to other programs, I liked NYCDSA’s commitment to teaching in two languages (R and Python) through the program and for using all 12 weeks for instruction - the curriculum was able to cover so much more as a result. As the bootcamp progressed, I chose to focus more on Python, and the program was structured well so it was possible to focus more on the language I preferred to get more experience with.
The learning environment and instructors were incredible and far exceeded any expectations I had coming into the program. The classmates in my cohort were exceptionally smart and motivated individuals - everyone was a pleasure to work with and learn from, and they were a motivating force for me every week. A substantial number of the students had advanced degrees, with more than a handful having completed a PhD program. I loved the diversity of the students’ academic and professional backgrounds - this contributed so much to the learning environment.
All the instructors were excellent - they are expert in their fields, passionate about sharing their knowledge, and great teachers. A huge draw for me to this program was the diversity of instructors, with at least 5-6 instructors covering various parts of the curriculum. While all of them were always available and happy to discuss and answer any questions, this structure allowed for each teacher to cover topics they are more expert in, so the quality of instruction was strong throughout the 12 weeks. Other programs had just one teacher for the full program - for such a big field that’s changing rapidly each year, the benefit to having multiple instructors to learn from and interact with was huge.
The TA’s were also a great resource - these were generally previous bootcamp students who led homework reviews and discussions, and were available for questions each day and during the lectures. I found the homework to be generally very well thought out, not feeling like busy work or any longer or more tedious than necessary to reinforce the lessons. The workload was intense but manageable, and I always felt challenged with the opportunity to study or practice the skills more each week. I appreciated that we continue to have access to the course resources at the end of the 12 weeks - there are some topics I chose to focus less of my time on during the program that I’m excited to review in more detail now that the bootcamp is over.
The projects also provided amazing experience - I was really impressed at the academy’s level of engagement with outside firms and institutions, which gave students the opportunity to get hands on experience working on a real data science problem. We also had the option to choose our own capstone projects, but the corporate partnerships presented a number of interesting and challenging projects in a really wide range of industries and non profit organizations.
I did not make full use of the academy’s career and job placement tools, but their team has a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bend over backwards to share with the students. The team has a number of seminars and lectures in the second half of the program discussing data science jobs and interviews, and they bring interesting alumni back to share their experiences and candid advice with the students. Their team has incredible connections across all major industries, and they work hard to leverage their professional experience and network while helping each student navigate the challenges of job hunting and interviewing.
I’m excited to continue using and building on these skills in my next professional role, and I hope sharing my experience will be helpful to other prospective bootcamp students.
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Iman Singh Verified via LinkedIn
Great Academy for Transitioning to Data Science
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I am a career changer with an eductional background in the humanities, and the academy was crucial to getting that important first job in a new field. The academy provided me the training and guidance build a small portfolio of data science projects, so that I was able to secure a job as a Senior Data Analyst at a great company.
One thing that differentiates this academy from other bootcamps is that they teach both R and Python. I really appreciated this because understanding how the same techniques can be implemented in different languages is important - since there are so many languages out there. The machine learning concepts are reinforced the second time around in the new language. Also, learning R allows you to connect with the R community, which is very strong in NYC. I, personally, am currently doing most of my work in R even though I knew python better before entering the program.
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M. Aaron Owen Verified via LinkedIn
Perfect place to quickly transition to a career in data science
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I am extremely happy with my decision to attend NYCDSA’s 12-week data science bootcamp.
I had recently completed my PhD in evolutionary biology and was looking for alternative career options. I found that data science satisfied both my intellectual curiosity and my desire for a challenging career, but I needed to find an avenue through which I could quickly make the change.
I researched the different bootcamps in the NYC area and chose NYCDSA because the curriculum offered was unique, being taught in both R and Python, and the instructors had excellent academic and data science credentials.
The program itself was fast-paced, in-depth, and admittedly, quite challenging. It began with coding fundamentals in both languages, and then progressed into the conceptual and mathematical foundations of machine learning theory. Along the way, we applied what we learned by completing four projects.
Over the course of the bootcamp, the CTO and COO gave seminars on how best to prepare for the job interview process, and several alumni and other guest speakers gave us insight into their respective experiences in data science.
At the end of the bootcamp, NYCDSA coordinates a hiring event where students are given the opportunity to speak with dozens of employers looking to hire data professionals. This was a great opportunity to get immediate exposure to potential job opportunities.
Overall, while the bootcamp is quite demanding of your time and effort during the 12 weeks, it is absolutely worth it. I went from having almost no coding experience to a data scientist in a short period of time. I highly recommend NYCDSA’s boot camp.
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Khanan Grauer Verified via LinkedIn
Deep Learning is an amazing class
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I took the class with Jon Krohn and could not be more pleased. Jon has a rare ability to take a complicated subject and reduce it to its fundamental elements. Instead of approaching the problems with math alone, Jon spends time crafting examples and analogies to make sure students understand the actual building blocks conceptually. That produces an epiphanic experience where we were able to visualize what is happening behind the scenes. The concepts I’ve learned in this class is something I plan to apply to real-world problems and therefore highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn about this field.