NYC Data Science Academy

I joined NYCDSA for their 12-week bootcamp in fall 2018. I had graduated with a PhD in biology that summer, but I was looking to improve my data science skills (which were limited to basic knowledge of R) to work towards a more quantitative scientific career.  My decision paid off, as I am now working as a bioinformatics data scientist after a relatively short (~2 month) job search and interview process.

NYCDSA has a great deal to offer to anyone looking to move into data science. They provide excellent career counseling throughout the course and connect students to a large number of opportunities in many different fields (finance, marketing, biomedical, business operations, etc) through in-course talks/panels, and a very large career/hiring event after completion. The career guidance is an invaluable aspect of the course.

During these 12 weeks, I learned more than I thought possible. I was one of those who considered trying to teach data science to myself. After doing the bootcamp, I would now discourage this for the following reasons: 1) The projects: You will complete 4 thorough projects, with experienced instructors and TA’s, which will serve as a critical piece of your resume during the application process. *I specifically went through my projects and code while interviewing for the job that I ultimately accepted. 2) The aforementioned career guidance, which was so indispensable. And 3) You will learn far more efficiently here than you would on your own. There is simply too much material to learn in such a short time – without knowledgeable instructors who know how to plan and execute a curriculum, you will take much longer to master the same amount of material.

Be warned – the course is very challenging and will require a lot out of you. It is designed, and is most effective, for driven individuals looking to push hard and create opportunities for themselves in the data science field. A small number of the students were frustrated by the amount of content and workload, but in my opinion, NYCDSA is teaching you as much as you need to be competitive as a data science candidate. Read other reviews from people with no coding experience who were hired as data scientists – this is only possible because of the challenging 12-week curriculum offered here.  Bottom line, it’s a great career move if you are properly motivated – I highly recommend it!

My journey with NYC Data Science Academy began in 2018 when I enrolled in their Data Science and Machine Learning bootcamp. As a Biology PhD looking to transition into Data Science, this bootcamp became a pivotal moment in my career. Within two months of completing the program, I received offers from two different groups at JPMorgan Chase. Over the next five years, I was promoted to Vice President and Data Scientist Lead, where I developed personalized financial insights that were integrated into the Chase mobile app.

Recently, I relocated to Europe for personal reasons and took some time off, only to find myself facing the ever-evolving tech job market. It quickly became clear that the landscape had shifted significantly towards generative AI. After researching multiple options, I returned to NYCDSA and enrolled in their "AI Bootcamp for Real World Applications." This program provided the deeper technical training in state-of-the-art AI, particularly in Large Language Models (LLMs), that I needed to reenter the workforce. For my capstone project, I developed an advanced hotel recommender system using semantic search, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and LLMs, hosted entirely on AWS. Additionally, I published blog posts on the project and my AI insights, which helped demonstrate my expertise to potential employers.

What sets NYCDSA apart from other institutions is the depth of their technical curriculum and hands-on approach. While many programs lean more towards business concepts and inspiration, NYCDSA strikes the perfect balance between theory and practical application, particularly in design and implementation. Cole, the lead instructor for the AI Bootcamp, was instrumental in my success, breaking down complex AI concepts in an accessible and engaging way. Thanks to this bootcamp, I re-entered the job market with confidence and cutting-edge AI skills. Two months after completing the program, I received offers from two different companies. I highly recommend NYC Data Science Academy, especially their AI Bootcamp, to anyone looking to advance their career in Data Science and AI.

I decided to do NYCDSA after I spent about a year trying to learn data science on my own in my free time and began feeling like I'd never get it. I did the Data Science with Machine Learning Bootcamp online. I was pretty overwhelmed by the intensity of the coursework that I was watching in the video classes. I found watching the lectures and learning from them to be difficult. However, NYCDSA is extremely project based. So once I started doing the projects, the things I was learning in the lectures began making a lot more sense. The projects are where I found I learned the most and grew way more confident in my abilities. You have unlimited access to mentors to help along the way. By the end of the bootcamp I suddenly realized how much I had really learned. It was an amount that I would not have been capable of doing on my own without the bootcamp's pace pushing me, plus the help from the mentors, teachers, and fellow students. Vivian is the heart and soul of NYCDSA and is very dedicated to making sure everyone gets a job post-bootcamp. She taught me how to apply to jobs effectively, how to do coding challenges, and how to interview. She does this through one-on-one weekly meetings, weekly coding challenge practice meetings, and mock interviews, along with job search coursework. A month after I completed the bootcamp, a dream company I applied to asked me to do a coding challenge for a Data Scientist role. The bootcamp had prepared me so well that I was fully confident in my submission. I got an interview, and then I was offered the job. Vivian even helped me negotiate my salary. I could NOT have gotten this before the bootcamp, so my new salary completely compensates for the cost of the bootcamp. NYCDSA was one of the best decisions I've made for myself and has set my career on a trajectory that I used to think was not even possible for me. 

I recently completed the MLops course and it was an amazing experience. This course provided me with a comprehensive introduction to ML systems in production. With hands-on experience in using Python, Docker, Kubernetes, Google Cloud, and various open-source tools, I was able to bring different components of an ML system to life and set up real, automated infrastructure.

The instructor Kyle is a true master in the industry and his lectures were insightful and engaging. The course also included numerous hands-on projects, which allowed me to apply my learning in a practical setting. If you are interested in using Kubernetes, then this course is definitely the right place for you.

Although I did not need to deal with real-time inference, the exposure to it really blew my mind. Overall, I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to gain a solid understanding of MLops and take their ML skills to the next level.

From the getgo this program sets you up to succeed. They can be a little critical and harsh sometimes, but I promise they want nothing more than for you to do the best you can. As long as you communicate your issues, they will work with you no matter what. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive team of instructors. They also have a dedicated lifelong team that helps you meet with and explore whatever professional options you'd like. They're also the only nationally accredited program like them in the country. Can't recommend enough. 

I had a very pleasant experience with NYC Data Science Academy. It was a big investment that I believe was worth every penny. the curriculum is comprehensive enough to give you a good grasp of key ideas and resources so you can tailor your future path toward landing your desired career. The instructors and staff are very helpful and supportive. they never turn down any request for help. I found the job assistant very helpful and effective and believe that is the key, especially for people who want to switch gear to a new career path.

Coming from a traditional education background, I was skeptical about the usefulness of any boot camp for transitioning into the data science industry.  In addition, the boot camp is pricey, making one think long and hard about joining, especially in the current economy.  Thus it was a tough decision to attend NYC DSA, but so far, I'm glad that I did. 

I would say that there are three key advantages that NYC DSA has over its competitors: (i) The quality of the curriculum, (ii) Essentially unlimited access to dedicated mentors throughout the program and for the first few months after it, and (iii) Intimate knowledge of the NYC job market.  The third point merits particular mention.  Vivian has a large network in NYC, gets job postings from companies wanting to hire recent grads, and takes a personal interest in students' success after graduation.  This was critical for me getting a job in the data science industry shortly after graduating.  

Yes, to do a full-time boot camp, you have to be able to put everything on hold for a few months and devote 60+ hours a week to working on projects you can put on your resume.  If you are reading this, you probably love learning, though, so that part would not scare you.  The financial aspect is significant, but if you've decided to go into data science in NYC, and you take time to reach your objective into consideration, it's probably one of the more cost-effective ways to make the change. 

The experience in NYC Data Science Academy was life changing for me. Prior to NYC data science academy, I was a Business Analyst at an insuretech firm where I had almost none exposure to coding, programming, not to mention machine learning.

The instructors are extremely professional and helpful. I was able to get hired in 3 months after graduation!

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. 

If you are looking for a job in data, then this bootcamp will be a perfect fit for you. 

Let’s get straight to the point: if you decide to build a career path to the world of Data Science, NYC Data Science Academy is the best option.
Why? I’m glad you ask and that’s why I’m back here to share some experience from the perspective of 12-week DS Camp alumni, and help resolve your concerns because I had the same doubt 6 years ago.
Back in 2016, although one close friend already provided a 5-star recommendation of NYC Data Science Academy, it was still a big decision for me to fly all the way from the west coast to New York to spend the whole summer in the camp. At that time, there were online education websites like Coursera and Udacity,  and similar data camps like Metis, General Assembly, etc. I browsed online day and night and called all of them to compare, but NYC DS Academy stood out. I had a 1-hour call with one of the instructors and the founder Vivian, what impressed me most was their professionalism, diligence and confidence in empowering students to become a real and competitive data scientist in the job market even with tons of data graduates from top-university data science/analytics master programs every year.
Why? I’m glad you ask again. The camp is teaching well-rounded DS theories in a well-structured and systematic way within a much shorter but extremely intensive time. Believe me you will receive the most valuable and effective data science learning materials and instructions in Python, R, Statistics, ML, etc. The camp is training you to be a work-ready data scientist with hands-on experience in delivering a huge business impact in a company. Believe me you will work on industry-level data challenges instead of some textbook homework only. Those experiences are what top-company recruiters and hiring managers are eager to find, not to mention the career networking events Vivian hosted at the end of the bootcamp. 
Today I work for a top unicorn with a good amount of salary and solid data science skills gained from the camp. This education still helps every day in empowering my career growth. From time to time, I’m still reading the slides saved on my laptop 6 years ago. The 12 weeks in the camp are so worthwhile, because when it comes to shopping for data education, NYC DS Academy is the Costco not the Dollar Tree. You invest the $17K+ entry tuition and the hard work, and you earn the best data learning products within the shortest time and 10X salaries for tomorrow.
Oh, one more thing … 
Did I mention that 80%+ of my classmates already earned master’s or Ph.D. degrees before the camp? That’s how selective the bootcamp is and how strong your data teammates will be.

I made the choice to participate in the 3-month intensive bootcamp back in the summer of 2016 at NYC Data Science Academy, after an uneasy career decision to switch from chemical engineering to the burgeoning field of data science.

The journey begins with Google Search. The brand stood out in search results so I paid a visit physically then. To be frank, I was a little concerned if I was able to go through the bootcamp as I was fresh out of school and have little exposure at school in data science. However, I have strong determination and instinct that data science is what I need to make my career.

Vivan’s friendliness, professionalism, and sympathy left me with a great impression so I registered in 2 days. When looking back, I wish I have joined the earlier cohort so I did not have wasted my time self-learning data science cluelessly.

The  3-month at the bootcamp was one of the best times in my life. I was immersed in a learning environment that refresh my understanding of data science and challenged me every single day. Teachers and TAs worked very hard to make the learning experience seamless and they keep evolving.

New algorithms and tools in data science come every single day. As a result, some of the topics I learned 6 years ago might not apply today now. But I would say the biggest asset I gained from the bootcamp was a group of self-driven peers  who took data science seriously, willing to spend a dedicated 3-month in an immersive bootcamp. The same passion for data science makes us together. We learned from each other and shared the tears and joys in the projects and job hunting. Some of my peers become my best friends in the data science career. We often shared with each other the experience we learned from the work and the data science uncharted territories.

I'd gladly recommend NYC Data Science Academy's 12 week Data Science with Machine Learning course.  I took this course in the Fall of 2021 and got a job offer as a data analyst just 2.5 months after graduating.

The teaching is high quality and the tutors are always available and ready to help.  Vivian, Courtney, Royce, and so many others were incredibly helpful.

After I graduated, they continued to provide assistance during the job hunting phase.  From resume reviews to practice technical interviews, from salary negotiations to general feedback, they continued to be an invaluable resource for me during that stressful time.