Alumni Profiles

“Use the networks. I got two job offers and an internship just from paying attention to what people put out in the community. For prospective students, live classes online (which MIDS does) are the way to go. In person classes require taking the time to go somewhere, and recorded online classes are very boring, requiring you to spend determination capital that could be used elsewhere.”

“The most valuable lesson I learned was that the ability to convey hard data in a relatable way is the difference between merely having some data and generating tangible actions. We learned practical ways to accomplish this and I feel like I added a new skill.”

“I rely heavily on the knowledge and confidence that I gained from the MIDS curriculum as I approach open-ended data science problems to inform company strategy at Fenix. As the sole data scientist in the company, I am often approached with questions that have no clear answer; my professors at UC Berkeley, however, have provided me with a strong basis in structured problem solving and critical thinking as a data scientist.”

“Before enrolling, I had no industry experience and I was concerned that I would have a hard time getting a job as a data scientist, let alone at my dream company. The courses provided me with a solid foundation of a broad set of both technical and less technical skills, as well as final projects to showcase and discuss in interviews. Enrolling in the MIDS program was certainly one of the best decisions I've made in my life!”

“Data science problems are often viewed as purely technical challenges that can be solved with applying some fancy algorithms and the latest technology available. But I learned that it is important to pause and really consider the problem, the approach, the legal and ethical considerations, the organizational impact, and communication during the various stages of a project.”

“While I got a good understanding of the course content from a theoretical point of view, I also got a sense of the challenges I might face … . Potential employers are looking for people who have the academic chops, but also know the pain points of implementing a solution at scale.”

“I've seen people utilizing data in very creative ways, in fields that one doesn't always see a lot of data applications. People in the program come from very diverse fields, and they bring a lot of knowledge and experience that are just as valuable as the program curriculum itself.”