With technology use skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that amounts of data that decades ago would have seemed impossible to even store are being generated every single day. However, thanks to data science, companies, agencies, and individuals are now able to access and interpret those vast datasets to produce valuable insights.
As technology continues to advance, the demand for well-rounded, competent data scientists is at an all-time high and continuing to grow. These roles are so in-demand, in fact, that O’NETonline estimates the median base salary in the United States to be at around $98,230.
You might be wondering how to find a career in data science. NYC Data Science Academy is built to help, and in this article, we’ll see exactly how.
What Is NYC Data Science Academy?
Founded in 2014, NYC Data Science Academy provides advanced professional training programs for those looking to get into the data science field. These data science programs equip students with the necessary tools to hit the ground running, with over 400 hours of learning and hands-on practice under their belt.
Throughout their program, students receive ongoing support from instructors and mentors who are dedicated to providing the highest quality data science education by updating the curriculum on a regular basis according to the newest trends and most sought-after skills in the industry.
A Better Data Science Career Path
When looking to launch a career in technology, there are different avenues, so it’s important to consider a range of factors, including time, cost, and practical experience. While data science can be learned in a graduate program, “bootcamps are a lot faster, and they get you work experience which is what I feel is very important,” says Denis Nguyen, who currently works at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
“Going back to school would take longer, and I already had a degree. I was actually looking at a master’s degree if anything, but I thought a bootcamp was the best way to get experience and into a new career,” he adds.
Curriculum
Unlike other programs which teach just one programming language, NYC Data Science Academy teaches both Python and R, which are the two most dominant in data science. By learning both languages, graduates gain a well-rounded set of skills that makes them stand out in the job market. This approach gives graduates a breadth of knowledge and the flexibility to embark on a host of different projects and career paths.
Instructors
The instructors at NYC Data Science Academy come from diverse backgrounds in education, with some having master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics, statistics, and computer science. They have either worked in data science or studied data science before becoming instructors at the Academy. They are also dedicated to student’s success—during and after the bootcamp.
Data Science Instructor Dr. Thomas Laetsch said one of the most prominent things that stood out to him after making the move from academia to teach at NYC Data Science Academy was the depth and richness of the curriculum that it offers. Dr. Laetsch, who is also a Career Services Manager, added that he also values the Academy’s relationship with students and alumni.
“Particularly the Academy’s commitment to work with alumni and hiring partners in order to help graduates move into their next position in the data science field,” he said.
Meanwhile, Data Science Instructor and Bootcamp Manager Dr. Luke Lin said his roles at the Academy proved to be a rewarding experience as he gets to be a part of students’ journeys toward establishing a career in data science.
“The biggest difficulty in commencing a new data science project is often not knowing where to start, what to explore, how to select the tools and methods, and which questions to ask.
“The most rewarding part about being an instructor at the Academy is to witness our students becoming better and better at collecting the right data, using the right tools, taking the right approach, and eventually completing awesome projects.”
Employer Partners
NYC Data Science Academy works with a diverse network of over 500 hiring partners, ranging from small startups to large organizations such as Google, Facebook, Spotify, Bloomberg, and JP Morgan. Not all graduates want to work for the same kind of company, but thanks to the Academy’s wide network, there are opportunities for everyone.
NYC Data Science Academy graduates uphold a fantastic reputation at the companies they go on to work for, as is highlighted by Mikhail L, director of data science and analytics at TheLadders, who commented: “We’ve made two hires, a Data Scientist and a Data Engineer. They’ve been wonderful. They’ve really hit the ground running. They were able to start producing results immediately.”
NYC Data Science Academy Career Services
Mentor Support
Throughout their program, students have access to a wealth of support from NYC Data Science Academy instructors, staff members, teaching assistants, and mentors, whether that involves resolving any doubts regarding subject content, or giving advice on how to successfully apply for jobs. During the job search, you’ll receive help polishing your resume and cover letters, tidying up your LinkedIn profile, and practicing key skills during mock interview workshops. You’ll also participate in coding challenges, which will help you prepare for your new role and impress potential employers.
Hiring Events
NYC Data Science Academy also offers the chance to attend meetups and hiring partner events, which include student project presentations and networking sessions. This is a great opportunity for you to ask key questions, hear directly from industry experts, and grow your professional network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, such events were migrated online, and employers are invited to hold events in the Zoom room with graduates.
Post-Graduation Services
Aside from the aforementioned hiring events, the Academy also offers post-bootcamp workshops, which provide graduates opportunities to brush up on their coding skills and get ready for coding challenges used in employment interviews.
All of these opportunities to branch out and put your skills to practice, with the help and support of professionals in the field, will help you to feel as confident as can be by the time graduation comes around. What’s more, as part of the NYC Data Science Academy network, you’ll also have access to many resources post-graduation.
NYC Data Science Academy Success Stories
NYC Data Science Academy alumni have gone on to work for a range of organizations, putting their skills to use in their new role. Claire Keser is now a senior analyst at Casper, which pays 50% more than her previous role. At Casper, Claire thrives in a fast-paced environment where she uses the tools learned at the Academy, including data analysis, visualization, and machine learning.
“I was not expecting online courses to help me land a job in data science; I needed a support system where my code could be reviewed and my questions answered. Plus, I needed to follow a curriculum that would be recognized and valued by future employers. I was not ready to spend years studying data science either, so the bootcamp was the best option,” she said.
Claire didn’t have to wait long to land her first job after graduating; she received the offer from Casper within just two weeks. Claire commented that the Academy’s hiring event allowed her to make a strong impression and talk to managers directly, which allowed her to bypass some of the steps in the hiring process. She also highlighted the added benefits of the coding challenges, stating that they “helped me a lot once I had moved to the final step of the interview process.”
Claire is not the only graduate who thanks the NYC Data Science Academy for her data science success. Matthew Boccio was studying at the Academy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is no mean feat. Of his experience, Matthew said: “NYC Data Science Academy went above and beyond to make sure that their students had a stellar bootcamp experience despite being in the midst of a global pandemic.”
“Having a “live online” model meant that we were all taking classes remotely, but that instructors were giving their lectures live through zoom and using screen sharing to share lecture notes, slides, and example code. Instructors and TAs were very readily available digitally, and made sure to make themselves available to teach and answer questions at almost all hours of the day,” he added.
“Aside from the impressive response to COVID, overall the curriculum was very involved – a difficult but worthwhile challenge for both beginners and experts alike! The coursework is designed to push you and involve real-world datasets as examples in your analysis, and projects give you a real sense of how to approach data analysis in an intelligent way. This a great place to learn!”
Conclusion
If you’re looking to launch a career in data science, NYC Data Science Academy is there to help you do just that. With a well-rounded yet in-depth curriculum, the Academy strives to train you with the most in demand skills as they stand in the industry today. In addition to excellent teaching, the Academy does its utmost to ensure that you are fully supported along the way, through its mentorship and career guidance.
“In less than six months, NYC Data Science Academy helped me learn a new occupation, secure a job, nearly double my salary, and dramatically increase my overall happiness,” said Victoria Lowery, who is now a data scientist at Radish Fiction. Victoria’s satisfaction with the Academy is echoed by graduate Michael Link, who said: “I was incredibly pleased with the quality of instruction and the expertise of the teachers. It felt like the instructors truly cared about my development and reception of the material.”
There’s no better time than now to invest in your career, so why not get in touch with NYC Data Science Academy’s and kickstart your own career in data science.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
