Hi,
So after a lot of career related personal research, I have found I really want to become a data scientist right out of college.
This has led me to currently pursue a major in QTM.
But I don’t know which track to choose as of now.
I still do have an interest in gtechs engineering, since engineering still genuinely fascinates me.
But career wise, I don’t want to work at an engineering firm (or at least not right away), but rather, I wish to work as a data scientist.
What course of study at Emory can best help align me for such a career path?
Emory does have the MS in business analytics, which sounds interesting.
Should I maybe try to get a bba in goizeuta with an isom track and try to work ahead with the 5 year MS degree?
Or is the QTM degree sufficient on its own? Which, if so, what track will help the most with data scientist employability? (i.e. Infomatics (comp sci), Finance, AMS (applied math/stats), Linguistics, International Studies, and Sociology). These tracks are the primary ones that I am actively considering.
I kind of do feel overwhelmed with such great quality options, aka Emory is really doing a good job in terms of possibilities.
So yes: the question is, what line of study can help me most in attaining a traditional data science job?
(Points of consideration: Continue with qtm, choose “x” track in qtm, add on bba, do masters in business analytics, fit in engineering at gtech)
@bernie12 and anyone else with helpful insights into my post, please feel free to comment!
@“pro@procrastinator” : “Data scientist” is vague and I did an MS in a computational chemistry lab and watched a PhD awardee go on to be a “data scientist” because of all of the programming and math he learn during his PhD. Almost any field aligned with experience in data science and math will probably lead to good pay post-bachelors. If I were you, I would straight up find a field that you are interested in. Even biology or neuroscience can be on the table as they will give you very interdisciplinary training that will a) ensure you can get a solid paying job (data on QTM’s website seems to demonstrate that the QTM Institute alone can place students well, so do not feel pressured to use the clout of GBS as a crutch. The QTM Institute looks to be doing something similar as in: high caliber academics with networking and a focus on job/graduate school placement), AND perhaps have an area where you can pursue a higher degree (maybe even a partially funded masters. An MS in business analytics will NOT be funded, I promise you, and you’d may as well just take your quantitative training and get an MBA somewhere instead of pay for that) if you aren’t satisfy. You wanna leverage the skillset from the QTM courses while also not choosing a track that necessarily pigeonholes you to certain jobs/careers.
You can do whatever the hell you want lol. My advice is to use QTM’s resources to help you get those data science focused internships or research fellowships. Your post-grad job is going to be more related to those experiences than it will whichever specific track you choose to have label your degree at graduation. You need to attend some of the networking events in QTM to see the vast amount of career and job types possible. I guess you are only a freshman, but at least get serious about that next year if you haven’t done so already (also why not do datafest? You’ll likely get to network there with some upperclassmen who may have had internships and the like)
Alright, thanks!
It comforts to hear that I don’t need the gbs to back up my skills. The reason I thought it would be important potentially was because the qss degree just combines 2 minors together esssentially. There are only around 6-9 QTM classes that are required. (The rest of the classes for the degree come from the track.)
Even if qtm does place well, would I actually be competent in doing the data science jobs. I feel that the bba with the isom track with taking just the two 1 credit classes on R programing will provide more data science skills.
Idk, kinda feel like that qtm is a watered down version.
(I am in the QTM math class right now though btw which combines Lin alg, multivariable calc, and online python programming, which is all feeling pretty useful).
But yes, I understand the point of how internships and hands on experience is the most relevant with data science job skills, as well as with math and some computational skills that qtm is providing.
Also, I’m surprised to hear that a MS in business analytics won’t be funded, but a Mba will be funded. If I were to get funded the MBA, I’m not sure why I would be pursuing it? If I had an interest in business administration, I would have been pursuing a bba. But since I’m primarily interested in data science, I don’t quite understand why a MBA would be of particular interest.
Also, ‘networking’ is such a loaded term.
I will indeed be attending datafest, but if I were to network, would I just straight up ask people about their internship experience and then ask if they can refer me? Or am I supposed to go around the bush and just say hi, what’s your major, and just add them on LinkedIn later on?
I’m assuming the later is what is traditionally practiced by networking.
Alright, thanks!
It comforts to hear that I don’t need the gbs to back up my skills. The reason I thought it would be important potentially was because the qss degree just combines 2 minors together esssentially. There are only around 6-9 QTM classes that are required. (The rest of the classes for the degree come from the track.)
Even if qtm does place well, would I actually be competent in doing the data science jobs. I feel that the bba with the isom track with taking just the two 1 credit classes on R programing will provide more data science skills.
Idk, kinda feel like that qtm is a watered down version.
(I am in the QTM math class right now though btw which combines Lin alg, multivariable calc, and online python programming, which is all feeling pretty useful).
But yes, I understand the point of how internships and hands on experience is the most relevant with data science job skills, as well as with math and some computational skills that qtm is providing.
Also, I’m surprised to hear that a MS in business analytics won’t be funded, but a Mba will be funded. If I were to get funded the MBA, I’m not sure why I would be pursuing it? If I had an interest in business administration, I would have been pursuing a bba. But since I’m primarily interested in data science, I don’t quite understand why a MBA would be of particular interest.
Also, ‘networking’ is such a loaded term.
I will indeed be attending datafest, but if I were to network, would I just straight up ask people about their internship experience and then ask if they can refer me? Or am I supposed to go around the bush and just say hi, what’s your major, and just add them on LinkedIn later on?
I’m assuming the later is what is traditionally practiced by networking.
You could be my son (except I know he does not post here…). He is going to be a QSS major with an informatics track. He also decided against a BBS but he’s planning to minor in econ, so he will get some background that may be helpful if he moves into business. He has gone to some HackEmory meetings and plans to get involved with the data science club as well.
We have spoken to friends in the industry who have said you can be a triple threat, so to speak, if you have analytics skills, computer/programming skills, and presentation skills. They say there are plenty of people who can manipulate and analyze data, but few who can present it. I would love to know if Emory offers any kind of public speaking classes.
@eastcoast101 : I don’t think so on the public speaking courses BUT, QTM will have well-established the capstone course by time the OP is say, a junior, and you’d have to constantly present to advisors and the company you are working with. And there are also research opportunities (where of course you’ll present a lot). I would also recommend smaller, more project based courses if possible, because many such classes are more likely to integrate presentations into the syllabus. I actually think plenty of economics courses have it. There are several upper division courses offered as both a regular version as well as with a W (Continued Writing). The latter is more likely to function as sort of an "honors’ course and integrate more “hands on” components than the standard rendition. Often this does include a bit more writing and presenting something. He’ll want to look into that.
@“pro@procrastinator” : Nah, QTM as a major at least is pretty rigorous, and seems to be kind of like NBB with a very rigorous core as well as several electives hosted by QTM or cross-listed with other departments. Employers will notice. As mentioned above, I would also recommend the capstone experience. You can do GBS, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you take a project based course or department hosted opportunity where you work directly with a company. You are definitely more likely to become well-trained through the QSS degrees. They clearly are serious about this, they added the two workshop based classes and have rearranged pre-requisites likely to preserve the rigor of key core courses by ensuring everyone has the background. You can tell when a major takes itself and its training very seriously by how quickly they adjust to and enhance things. QTM doesn’t appear to just be banking on its status as a STEM major to merely signal that students are well-trained. And again, you’ll put your skills to the test via the capstone or internships. If you don’t like how you feel, change your course selection or at least be very deliberate in how you choose electives (figure out what you want to learn, and what they are teaching, and furthermore, what assignments they give to allow you to develop whatever skills. By time you are a junior or senior, you should be able to handle fairly rigorous and even self-guided projects and assignments).