June 2018
Why Should I Pursue a Career In Data Analytics? How an M.S from Texas A&M University Data Analytics Will Help You Earn a Six Figure Income.
Among one one of the most frequently asked questions by prospective students in graduate school info-sessions is, "Why should I get an M.S. in Analytics?" There is no doubt that Data Science is highly in demand, but the field really made waves this year when it won Glassdoor's number 1 position on its 50 Best Jobs in America for the third year in a row. Using analytics, IBM has predicted that job growth for Data Scientists and Advanced Analytics will climb by 28% by the year 2020. If you're reading this and thinking "Great! Where can I sign up?", then you might be the kind of data-driven person who would be a great fit for a career in data science.
But getting a foot in the door is not without its challenges. Trust me, I know what you're thinking and I've been there. Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Data Architect, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Statistician... Are they even related?! What's the difference besides the average salary? This distance Ivy League certificate program promises that I could jump-start my career at a fraction of a cost in the convenience of my own home. My employer is trying to make me a Data Scientist using free resources. Why do I need a Master's, and why should I choose Texas A&M University out of all the options out there?
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… ” ― Theodore Roosevelt
Why You Should Get a Master's in Data Analytics:
The truth is, regardless of scarcity employers are not looking to hire candidates who do not have qualifications. To make it worse, I know I've personally experienced strange gap where employers won't take an intern unless you're a fresh graduate but won't take an entry level unless you have 3+ years of experience.
Employers often request fewer years of work experience for those who hold a Master's degree. I have lost count of the times I have seen the words "Master's degree preferred," but I have yet to see a single job description with the words "Boot camp certificates accepted," or "Boot camp can replace equivalent work experience." Choosing a program can be difficult and at tuition rates in the tens of thousands of dollars, it can be a highly risky investment. But even universities boot camps can't be trusted. Certificates offered by universities sometimes aren't even supplied by the institution themselves. I'm not naming names but if you look closely sometime you will see "bought to you by (3rd party company)". These 3-9 hour certificate programs can run up to thousands of dollars but do not bring you any closer to a full Master's degree. And I'm (mostly) joking here but grazing the surface of the field like that is a great way to get stranded on the "ignorance peak" of the Dunning Kruger effect. There are also a lot of free resources that will give you a basic understanding, like datacamp.com and MIT's Open CourseWare that can help prepare you for entry into the field.
Graduate level courses give you the option to potentially teach college level courses in the future (when you're 18 hours in usually) or shoot for a PhD if you desire. In contrast, Texas A&M's Distance Statistics Department Post-Baccalaureate STAT 604 Computational Statistics course will get you access to SAS software and even prepare you for your Base SAS Certification. I am enrolled in the course this Summer 2018 semester and it's the right amount of practical and challenging. For prospective students, like any educational institution you will have to apply and be admitted to Texas A&M University through applytexas. This will help you prepare for entry into the full program if you choose or at the very least prepare you for a legitimate certification that employers actually ask for!
I'm not implying that it is impossible to find success in the field without formal education, but the statistics are against you. A 2016 survey found that industry Data Scientists who hold degrees outnumber those without at a ratio of over 8 to 1. It's not uncommon for programmers to wander in to the analytics market, but imagine trying to break into the industry and then having to compete in an job market where over half of other applicants are "preferred" over you! I certainly don't like those odds.
Is Texas A&M University's Data Analytics Program a Good Fit for You?
You may be wondering whether a degree in Data Analytics will adequately prepare you to become a Data Scientist. Texas A&M University's Data Analytics is awarded from TAMU's department of statistics, the highest ranking graduate statistics program in Texas, and the program is one of the top ranking distance analytics programs according to US News and World Report. The Analytics program is highly competitive, and our graduates have gone on to become Senior Data Scientists or any other title they may choose. In my opinion the best feature of the curriculum is that it is broad and comprehensive enough that YOU can choose what you want to do with it. In my experiences with graduate level courses at Texas A&M University, the lessons were both practical and easy to understand. In future posts I'll talk about my distance education experiences and cover how TAMU Analytics' curriculum compares to other M.S. programs. Or you could join us for dinner and ask specific questions yourself at our July 10, 2018 info-session in Houston.
Are You a Good Fit for the Program?
So, what's the catch? The highly competitive admissions process comes with a requirement of being employed full time for three years, and it is designed for you to bring in a data set that will benefit your company upon completion of your capstone. Learn more about it from their admissions website.
Maybe I'm not a good fit. What do I do?
As we've established, nothing worth having comes easy! If you have the drive and determination to join this amazing program here are some tips to prepare.
- Ace your GRE. I personally used and liked Magoosh for my GRE prep. They frequently host 20% off sales if you want to wait for one. It's a comprehensive and cost-effective prep course with mobile app support.
- Take Distance STAT 651 Statistics in Research I. To do this, apply for Post-Baccalaureate courses at Texas A&M University's Department of Statistics by choosing Statistics (NDS) on applytexas. Why the non-calculus Statistics intro to statistics option? In summery of a professional data scientist on reddit, it's 2018 the computers do the calculus for you now.
- Meet the team! It really helps if the admissions team really gets to know you before your interview: sign up for our July 10, 2018 info-session.
Ask us more about Data Analytics in our July 10, 2018 info-session. Join us for dinner locally in Houston at the May's at CityCenter or Zoom in remotely to learn more about the program and how you can get a head start on the hottest career of 2018. Texas A&M University Analytics program admits on a rolling basis, but Fall 2018 seats are running out. For more upcoming events and unbiased but amateur blog posts like this one like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on LinkedIn. See you soon!
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Jennifer Cai
Jennifer is a Masters student in the Mays Business School
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