NYC Data Science Academy

Long story short --

I have a PhD in computational geoscience and worked as a geophysicist in Houston for five years. I joined NYCDSA for the 12-week bootcamp, and worked as hard as I could. I was hired after my first interview, with an offer in hand within two weeks post graduation. NYCDSA has helped me achieve this smooth transition into a brand new field in just 3.5 months.

How I made the decision to join --

1) The time commitment is right: I was willing to put in a few months of my time through well-designed highly-intensive training, rather than spending a year or so to learn on my own. I do not want to go through a one-to-two-year data science master's program, considering a) I have a computational PhD degree, and b) although many data science theories have been long established, data science platforms and tools are evolving fast.

2) Word-of-Mouth: I have friends in New York working in the data domain recommending this academy over other data science training offerings. "richer content", "up-to-date material", "good instructors" are among the key words that I recall.

3) A balanced focus on teaching and job service: I have interviewed with a few different data science bootcamps. Many of them gave me a feeling that they want me to be 90% ready for a data scientist role coming in, and they are only willing to do the 10% polishing to get me "sold". NYCDSA convinced me with their road map that they will first focus on teaching the content that they are proud of, then switch gear near the end to the job search part. They shared their online pre-work content with me, so I could get ready. I was impressed by the quality of the recorded lectures and coding platform, which further boosted my faith in the academy.

Experience at the bootcamp --

1) The content

The teaching material is well developed and feels fresh. They keep polishing the core content and introduce many newly developed "jump start" sessions along the way. You are well informed about what's new out there while learning all the fundamentals.

2) The instructors

They have a stable teaching team here. Unlike many other camps which keep losing instructors and hiring recently graduated trainees as instructors, NYCDSA has a stable team. The majority of them started working here from years ago when the 12-week bootcamp was initiated.

They are a knowledgeable, friendly and hardworking group of people, with finance, math, computer science, physics background. When they are not teaching, they either help the students or work together on their side projects. It is smooth to learn from people you respect and admire.

3) The fellow campers

A vast majority of the students here have or are working on a graduate STEM degree, with a solid quantitative background. Many also bring in years of experience from finance, health care, software engineering, marketing or other fields. What they all share is a strong will to perform and succeed in data science.

I feel honored to have worked with a few of them on the group projects. We helped each other not just during the bootcamp, but also during the job search period. I am convinced that it is a great professional and personal network to be in, for the long future after our time at the academy.

4) The career service

NYCDSA organizes hiring events for each cohort. You will see quite a few Fortune 500 companies coming to the event, as well as promising start-ups. The NYSDSA career team verify the job vacancies, collect details about the hiring teams, and prepare cohort members individually for a successful outcome (resume, LinkedIn, GitHub, blog posts, interview skills, and many other aspects.) They also utilize their own personal network to get interview opportunities when they see a great match.

They keep supporting and motivating the students during the course of job search. There are rooms set aside for graduates to come back to and work on things. Here you get daily check-in's from the instructing team and helpful discussion with fellow cohort members. I have been enjoying this cozy and welcoming space often, and plan to keep gaining knowledge and energy from this ideally located data science hub.

Advice for future students --

1) Complete the pre-work, have an initial plan for the projects coming in.
2) Work hard during the bootcamp, be curious and independent. Treat it as a 3-month internship.
3) Plan to jump right into job hunting effort right after.
4) When working with wonderful teammates, make sure to deliver your parts; after achieving your goals, remind yourself that you have been kindly helped along the way.

Closing comments --

It has been a great investment. With the guidance, help, and support from NYCDSA, my job preparation and search time frame has been shortened by at least 3-6 months. For people with solid STEM background and strong desire to work in Data Science, this bootcamp should be a challenging and rewarding journey. I would continue to cherish the relationship I have built with my mentors and friends met during Cohort 9 at the academy. I wish them well.

Going to NYC Data Science Academy is a decision I don’t regret for a second. These were ones of the most challenging 3 months but well worth it. I learnt a lot and got a lot of support that I would not have gotten anywhere else.

As long as you are ready to put in a lot of sweat, hours and effort, you will be successful and do extremely well because you will always get the support of the TAs, staff and fellow students. You are surrounded by a bunch of smart people and TAs who are here to support you and help you grow. 

The fact that NYC DSA selects students with a Masters or PhD degree is a big plus because you end up working with people from whom you can learn tremendously. Their experience and background make the bootcamp that much more interesting.

The curriculum is solid and half of it is dedicated to machine learning. Some bootcamps only dedicate a few weeks to machine learning which does not make sense to me given that it is the core of a data science position. The curriculum keeps evolving based on the feedback the students give every week during the pulse check. 

I believe that you won’t have any difficulty finding a data science position after attending the bootcamp as long as you have the drive and treat the bootcamp and your job hunting as a full time job. 

Also, NYC DSA offers a lot of help in your job hunting. The last 3 weeks of the bootcamp are dedicated to helping you with your job hunt (don’t worry you’ll still be working on your data science skillset in the meantime with probably the toughest classes of the bootcamp happening at that time too…). You’ll receive a lot of support to find a job from the staff and they will prepare you for interviews.

All in all, get ready to work hard and if you do, this will be one of the best decisions you will ever make to advance your career in data science

I had been in the 12 week data science bootcamp last year summer, which changed my view to myself about leaning data science. It was a big challenge for me at that time as I had little programming experience. Although the course was extremely intensive, the tutors and TAs were very helpful and encourage us to find a way to achieve the goal. Also, I believe that the course are very comprehansive and good for someone who really wanna find  a related job in Data Science industry. Now I am studying Master of Data science in University of Rochester. My experience in the 3 month bootcamp, defenitely increased my chance to be admiited. I would like to say thanks to all of them who helped me at that time and make me ever stronger. 

Overall: 

100% YES!!! I wholeheartedly recommend NYC Data Science Academy! If you want to switch into data science, the bootcamp will help you land your dream job. I got an internship offer shortly after the end of bootcamp(~2.5 weeks) through the bootcamp’s hiring partner event, and recently became a full-time data scientist at the same company. All of this would not have been possible without the help of NYCDSA!

 

Full Review

When I was reading through bootcamp reviews, I personally thought it was more helpful to find people of similar background as mine and see how well they fared.  For instance, knowing that people with only bachelors degree attended NYCDSA and got data scientist jobs helped to not only inspire me, but also to set realistic expectations on what type of jobs I could get and how long it could take. So here is a blurb about myself:

 

TL-DR; 

• Bachelors degree In math and economics
• <1 yr of work experience
• Limited exposure to R/SQL/Big Data tools prior to the bootcamp(Does using a select statement in SQL count?)
• Prior experience coding in C and basic Python through an intro level computer science course in college. No exposure to data packages in Python. 

 

Prior to coming into the bootcamp, I asked myself: “Is the bootcamp worth the $16,000 investment?” Is it going to give me enough skills to find a job as a data scientist?”. If you read my introduction, the ultimate answer is an obvious YES! Below, I am listing the top 7 reasons why I think NYDSCA was a worth investment for me:

1. Top-notch job assistance:  From teaching how to craft your resume to preparing for technical interviews, Vivian and Chris did an excellent job at explaining what interviewing for data scientist positions was like. This “soft skill” portion was really important for me since I wasn’t accustomed to interviewing for technical roles. Thank you Vivian for always pushing me to become a better data scientist! Thank you Chris for all the earnest advices on job hunting!
2. Connections of the bootcamp: As I mentioned earlier, I got my job through the bootcamp’s hiring partner event. Being able to take advantage of the wide network of employers definitely made “getting the foot in the door” much easier
3. Learning both R and Python: I wanted to learn both as I knew it would help me cover my bases and be prepared for most data science-related jobs. 
4. Transforming me into a confident coder: having learned coding through a class in college and a bit of self-learning, I knew I needed to improve my skills if I ever wanted to land a serious job as a data scientist. The pre-work material along with projects were really helpful in that sense
5. Structured curriculum: There is a lot of thought put into the structure of each class. It was very nice to have all materials that I needed to learn organized for me so that my only worry was to learn.  
6. Instructors: They deserve their own section as most staff have been teaching for quite a few cohorts. They are all very knowledgeable and approachable. Special shoutout to Zeyu for being an amazing TA and always offering helpful guidance through my projects!
7. Projects: Each project covers an essential area of data science-data visualization, web scraping, machine learning - and I learned so much through them. The projects were also essential to build my data science portfolio and showcase my skillset to employers.

If you made it all the way to the end, thank you reading this review! All in all, NYCDSA was great!! It worked perfectly for me as it gave me the skills (both technical and soft) I needed to land a data scientist job.  BE PREPARED TO WORK HARD. Treat both the bootcamp and job hunting as a full-time job and you will be rewarded. :)

I attended the January-March 2017 boot camp of the New York Data Science Academy. It was the most densely packed and learning filled 3 month period of my life. NYCDSA has the right balance of theory and practise built into their curriculum.

Projects were fun and challenging. Instructors and TA's with expertise in both coding and statistics were available round the clock. I personally asked for assistance on many topics and was more than satisfied with the help. Staff's knowledge about theory and real world applications blew my mind.

Perhaps, the best part about NYCDSA is working with fellow students who are as passionate, knowledgeable and hard working as you are. Highly recommended.

Honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Yes it’s a reasonably difficult course, but if you are truly interested in data science you enjoy every second of it. Like anything, you get out what you put in. If you’re ready to work as hard as you need to in order to master this wealth of knowledge in 12 weeks, this course is 100% for you.

The instructors and TAs are excellent, all accomplished data scientists with a wealth of skill and knowledge. The resources, from slides to code examples and practice questions, are things I will continue to use throughout my career as a data scientist. There is ALWAYS more to learn in the field of data science.

If you’re thinking about going because you simply want a pay raise, then don’t. The course is relatively difficult, and if you aren’t willing to put in the work to master everything you need to land a job, then you won’t get a job. Simple as that.

However, if you are committed to becoming an expert data science, the job support here is immense. There are mock interviews, code interview practice questions, linkedin workshops, presentations from hiring companies and data scientists etc…I myself recently accepted a dream offer from a company I was connected with through the bootcamp.

You likely won’t get a job immediately, it’ll take awhile and a lot of interview practice. It took me about 3 months. If you haven’t mastered the skills you need to be a data scientist, then you don’t have the skills to pass through the interview process. But again, if you are committed there is no shortage of resources made available to you. If you do not succeed here, it is because you did not put as much effort into them as they did into you.

Finally, an underrated part of the experience is the other students. Some of my best friends in the city I met through the bootcamp, and we still go out for drinks all the time. The course not only provides you with knowledge, but connections. It’s a room full of intelligent, driven and entrepreneurial people. You could expect nothing less.

If you want to be a data scientist, and more importantly you have the drive to learn and succeed, you’ll thrive here. Simple as that.

This course was the best thing to ever happen to me. In 20 weeks (4: pre work, 12: course, 4 job hunt) I went from someone who couldn't write 'Hello World' in python to a full blown Data Scientist, making six figures, with multiple companies vying for my interest. 

What you should know:

You will get as much out of this course as you put in. I had many, many days where I was working well past midnight and back in class by 9:30am. You learn how to learn, which is THE skill required for any coding job. The curriculum is intensive, and a lot of times I couldn't totally complete the homework without checking for answers from my peers, and that's okay! In the real world, much of your job will be interacting and working with a team. 

Course:
Go every day, work hard, finish the projects on time, and hold yourself accountable. The lecturers do a great job, but ultimately when you're 24+ years old, nobody is going to spoon feed you. The homework is great, but when you try to put everything you've learned together into a well rounded project (there are 4-5 projects), that is when you really understand what is going on. Throw yourself full bore into the projects, and take pride in your work. 90% of what I learned, no exaggeration, was in the 3-5 days before projects were due. Its one thing to figure out homework by looking at the example sets, and a different thing entirely to apply those concepts to a data set with different structure and goals. If you are proud of your projects at the end, you will get a job. Period.

Job Hunt:

The job is the ultimate goal for 99% of people entering the camp. Unfortunately, there is some confusion about how the search will work. For one, you will not be "given" a job. For most people, the job search will take 1.5-3 months. Vivian has excellent contacts but she also has 40+ students. In order to guarantee yourself a job, you need to approach the process like a data science project. For me, I did "easy apply"s on LinkedIn, 50 a day. These take literally 15 seconds each. I then selected 15 companies a day with a more formal interview process, and sent them a variation of a pre-written cover letter. For my top picks, I tried to find a hiring manager or data scientist on the team, and add them on LinkedIn. I put my name on AngelList, and got many companies reaching out. I humbled myself and told everyone I was more interested in a great learning position, not a great salary. I iteratively changed my own interview methods, including voice tone, inflections, negotiations, honesty levels, until I found a balance that worked for me. You cannot just apply and hope. That is not a method.

Basically, the bootcamp is the first big step. The second big step is learning how to apply and interview. Many people send out 5-10 applications to their top picks (who are often everyone else's top picks as well) and then sit on their hands and wonder why they haven't gotten a job. When entering a new field, you have to make concessions about your salary and place of work, in order to reap the rewards down the line. Also, without multiple options, you will not be able to negotiate because you'll feel this is your only chance. BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS!

 

Overall:

The camp was the best decision I ever made. I read a book called Design Your Life, which basically said take how you want your life to be, then decide what is necessary to get it there.

I wanted to live in NYC, with a six figure job, working in an office with low stress, and love what I do. NYCDSA made all of that possible. If you have gotten a degree that isn't taking you where you want to be, but you know you're smart and can work hard, I strongly urge you to apply to NYCDSA today. 

I chose to attend NYC Data Science Academy in 2019 because their campus was located near Port Authority and they provided individual courses after work hours. I was new to data and coding and took advantage of my employer’s tuition reimbursement to take NYC Data Science Academy’s courses before heading back to New Jersey. While taking the courses, I appreciated each lecturer’s ability to translate difficult concepts into digestible content for non-technical students. This was possible because each class size about 5 to 10 students per lecturer. When the time came to fully transition from my life science research job and enroll into a data science bootcamp, I chose NYC Data Science Academy because of my positive experiences from the individual courses. 
For those new to data and coding, NYC Data Science Academy is a great place to start as you transition into the data field. It’s intense. You’ll learn and forget a lot. You might think why do I need to learn Python, R, and SQL when you just want to learn about Machine Learning and AI. When you look back years later after you’ve finished, you’ll appreciate having learned them all because employers don’t use the same technologies or languages and the bootcamp will give you the ability, but most importantly, the confidence to learn the job requirements. Unfortunately, bootcamp completion is just the beginning. You need to keep learning after you graduate and expect to be studying outside work hours and on the weekends.
There is no prestige upon graduation. It’s a Data Science bootcamp. Your friends and family but most importantly your employers won’t know about it. In the past 5 years, I had only one interviewer know about the bootcamp and it was because the interviewer was also an alumni. Otherwise, in every interview you’ll need to explain what you learned and what you developed. Every student comes from different backgrounds and different experiences. I graduated from a state school with a Bachelors in Biology with no technical background whatsoever. I took my first coding course at the NYC Data Science Academy, 2 years after my undergraduate degree. 
I’m thankful for the bootcamp. Without this opportunity, I wouldn’t have been able to get my foot in the door. My current salary is more than 4 times the salary of the research position I had before the bootcamp. If I could go back and start over, I would save at least 6 months of expenses before enrolling. I would expect at least 6 months after graduation to start your next role. 

 

After searching for a data science / machine learning program, I am truly happy I chose NYC Data Science Academy. I gained incredible technical skills with R, Python, and SQL over the bootcamp. Although the upfront software setup was overwhelming, there is so much material that it is important to take a break and return to it. Many mentors were available that help share their industry's best practices. The flexibility to choose 3 out of 4 projects helped motivate me to learn, research, and improve my efforts. Having completed the data science/machine learning bootcamp, it's great to see that there are smaller courses for additional topics such as generative AI.

Financing is available. Mentors are experienced and patient. Strong post-graduation support and additional courses.

Initial courseload can seem overwhelming, but just stick through it and it'll all fall into place!

I recently completed the part-time Data Science Bootcamp offered by New York City Data Science Academy, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. Before enrolling, I conducted extensive online research and compared it with other data science boot camps, and I am confident that I made the right choice.
The boot camp provided a comprehensive curriculum that covered all the essential aspects of data science. Over the course of 6 months, I gained hands-on experience with Python, R, SQL, and machine learning techniques. The instructors were knowledgeable and experienced, guiding us through beginner and intermediate levels of data science concepts and tools. 
One of the highlights of the boot camp was the emphasis on real-world projects. Alongside the intensive lectures, we worked on multiple projects that allowed us to apply our knowledge and develop practical skills. These projects were showcased to employers through various channels, including on-campus hiring partner events, student blogs, meetups, and presentations. This exposure helped me gain confidence in my abilities and showcase my work to potential employers.
In addition to the excellent educational experience, the academy also provided great post-graduation support. The career assistance offered mock coding challenges, resume and LinkedIn profile reviews, and one-on-one interview reviews. Moreover, they organized hiring and networking events and provided access to a vast alumni network and industry connections. These resources greatly facilitated my transition into the data science industry.
Overall, I highly recommend the Data Science Bootcamp by New York City Data Science Academy to anyone looking to jumpstart their career in data science. The comprehensive curriculum, hands-on experience, and strong post-graduation support make it an exceptional choice among data science boot camps. My personal success in securing a job as a Data Scientist is a testament to the quality and effectiveness of this program.