Liberal Arts to Data Science/Stats MS - Profile Evaluation

[Nate W]

Hi all,

I am quite possibly the most liberal arts-y person alive applying to Stats and Data Science Masters for Fall 2016. I took almost no math in undergrad but have four+ years of applied stats research experience as a (now "senior") consultant in the energy sector. I'm taking my math prereqs now but am missing calculus-based probability, which I will try to take beginning this January.

It's a bit of a left turn but in line with what I have been doing professionally. I am interested in building a base of theoretical knowledge in statistics and also learning about machine learning and hip new data science techniques. My priority is a program that provides flexibility in coursework so that I can explore the subject areas that interest me. Career-wise, I'd like to have the option of working across the private sector—but especially tech.

Citizenship: USA, SE Asian ethnicity

Undergrad: Top 4 Liberal Arts College

Major: Environmental Policy, minor in Biology

GPA: 3.77

GRE: 167Q/164V

Math Coursework: Mathematical Modeling, Calc II, Calc III (Community College), Linear Algebra (online), Intro Stats (online).

Other Pseudo-Quant Coursework: Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Economics, Energy Economics, Gen Chem, all the intro bio classes, Advanced Animal Ecology, Advanced Plant Bio and Ecology

Programming Languages: R, SPSS, SQL

Research Experience: Four years - tons and tons of primary data collection and analysis with basic applied stats (OLS, t-tests, ANOVAs, etc.), exploratory data analysis, presented at three industry conferences. Undergrad ecology research.

Other Skills and Software: Jedi Knight in Tableau, Mathematica, Jedi Master in "information design" (Illustrator and InDesign, Tableau dashboards), generally very familiar with data and research

Letters of Recommendation: One from my Environmental Economics prof/thesis advisor, two from work colleagues (both have PhDs)

I'm looking at Stats programs with the lowest entry requirements (which includes some reaches): Stanford, Harvard, NYU Data Science, UCLA, Michigan, Iowa State, UC Davis. 

I looked a bit at "applied stats" programs but they seem to be social science-focused, which is what I'm trying to get away from.

My questions are as follows:

(1) Will I be able to get into ANY of these programs? It has become quickly apparent that the liberal arts charm of "I've studied everything and love learning!" does not apply.

(2) Does the liberal arts college brand help at all? It is great for law school and med school, but seems less relevant for this.

(3) Are there any programs that would be more disposed towards admitting someone with a liberal arts background?

(4) Any other programs I should be considering given my profile?

(5) Beyond probability, is there other coursework I should try to make up? One possibility would be Intro CS. I have not found an option to take Real Analysis online or at a community college.

Thank you for your help! This forum has been a breath of fresh air as there is a general dearth of info on these programs elsewhere on the internet.

[Nate W]

Some other possibly relevant things:

- I have been one of the only people in the country to do analysis of some interesting building energy datasets (likely could continue some of that research in grad school).

- Fairly accomplished mountaineer and alpine climber: Mont Blanc, Rainier (2x), a bunch of other climbs in the Alps and Cascades. 5.11c/V6/M4. 

[StatMaster2016]

Curious to hear an answer to this...I have a similar profile in terms of pre-reqs, GPA, GRE, non-math/stats major, undergrad research in non-math/stats discipline

[musa315]

@Nate W I'm no expert, and I'm also really curious to see what others have to say. But I'm in a very similar situation, and have done a great deal of research online as well regarding this. A few notes:

1) I'm sure you know, but most programs will require at least: Calc through Multi-variable Calc; Linear Algebra; Intro Stats. And most, on top of this, will strongly prefer to see a more advanced stats course.

2) If you're open to it (I'm very interested in data science as well), then there are some CS programs that are more accommodating. U of Chicago comes to mind, U Penn, and Georgia Tech OMSCS. 

 

Edited December 5, 2015 by musa315
added a couple schools

[Edotdl]

I'd guess having a liberal arts degree by itself won't hurt you if you have all the necessary prerequisites outlined by the program. However, adcoms are trying to determine the qualifications of potential applicants in data science, having a technical degree will probably be advantageous by virtue of their undergrad training/curriculum. If you are struggling to fufill the prerequisite, lower level math courses how are you going to compete against students that have already taken several upper level data science courses and presumably also did well in them? This isn't meant to sound pessamistic, but rather express my opinion for what I believe adcoms would be thinking while review different applications.

I would also think that things would be slightly different for lower tier schools where the applicant pool is probably less competive.

Additionally, it is good that you have a strong quantitative GRE score, that's probably the first step.

Edited December 5, 2015 by Edotdl

[Residuals]

Might consider Northwestern's MS in Analytics: http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/analytics/

Columbia also has a master's in data science.

[NWFreeheel11]

I went to a small (< 2750 students) liberal arts school and have degrees in Biology and Biochemistry and am now a PhD student in biomedical data science. Your stats are close to mine, so I have to think it all about how you frame your essay. You need to show you have the technical chops to handle the course work. If you can prove that, then somewhere will definitely let you in.