Go to Duke for a second masters? (MSS)

[royr2]

Hi everyone ! 

Thanks in advance for any inputs you might have !! 

I got an offer from Duke's MSS (masters in statistical science) program (for 2016 entry). As awesome as that it is, here's my question - I already have a masters in financial engineering from UW-Seattle. Over the past few years I have gotten more and more interested in pure play statistical analysis and data sciences. I work as a financial analyst with a Big4 consulting firm and don't have a lot of opportunity to explore data sciences in a professional capacity. 

I have appeared for numerous interviews (for data scientist roles) and got rejected. Sample question - "Can you implement the SVM algorithm from scratch in Java/c++? If not, we wont hire you."

I hence decided to apply to a few stats programs in part to help me get the academic background I seek and in part because I am hoping that a MS in stats will help pave the way towards a PhD in the future. I did apply to a few PhD programs in the past but the feedback I received was that I will need to significantly enhance my transcripts (apart from research) with stats courses to stand a chance. Hence I decided to apply to MS programs instead. 

Should I go ahead with Duke? It's expensive but from what I have seen it is a good program. I am working under the assumption that I wont apply to a PhD program and this'll be it. Do you think I'll be able to break in to data sciences with this degree? Or am I better off seeking certificates from Coursera / EDX ? I also do not have that much money lying around but I can make it work for a year. I will have to beg borrow steal the second year if I don't find a source of funding. Do you think I should even consider Duke as an option? 

I have applied to a few other programs as well (Penn State, Ohio State and TAMU). Still waiting to hear back from them though. 

Any inputs would be very much appreciated. 

thanks