Testimonials | NYC Data Science Academy

Mimi Chung

"Extremely rigorous and rewarding bootcamp"

I had a great time at the bootcamp. Everyone involved including students and staff are like a family, and I was able to gain proficiency in python, R, SQL, and machine learning. I was contacted and offered a position after I received resume help from the staff, and I started working immediately after the camp.

Jian Qiao

"Best decision I have made in 2017!"

I took the 12-week online bootcamp in 2017 because I was working as a Data Analyst during that time. The teachers are really nice and helpful. And they holds hiring events every 3 months to help students getting their jobs. The knowledge I have learnt there has definitely made a big change on my everyday job. My colleagues are just amazed by what I can do. Also, the cap-stone project I have done has literally given me the chance of co-founding a start-up. If that's not enough, Google just called me recently and offered me an opportunity for an on-site interview. Taking the bootcamp is one of the best decision I have made in 2017.

Lavanya Gupta, Software Development Engineer - Machine Learning

PropTiger.com

"Wonderful learning experience!"

I was a part of the Summer cohort #14. It was an extremely wonderful learning experience! The instructors are really friendly and approachable at all times. The support for job search is also unmatchable! Highly recommended to everyone :)

Brandon Deniz, Associate Data Scientist

Kickstarter

A fantastic choice for those looking to transition into a data science role. Work hard and you will be rewarded!

James Chen, Data Scientist

Pfizer

"Rigorous Training Program; Highly Recommended!"

I attended the Winter 2018 immersive data science boot camp at NYC Data Science Academy, and I highly recommend this academy.

I come from a mathematics background with nearly zero experience with data science, and prior to the boot camp I only know how to program with MATLAB. (MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc., i.e., it is a serious commercial software not to be treated lightly.) I studied partial differential equations of mathematical physics, a subject intense in theory and numerical computations but very little to do with data business. Upon finishing the boot camp, how do I feel? At least now I will not embarrass myself when handling data/coding challenges with R and Python, answering machine learning questions, etc. for job interviews. Yes, I did get job placement within one month upon finishing the boot camp, and I owe that opportunity to the Academy too. It connected me with my employer at the hiring event hosted at the end of the boot camp, which alone is worth at least half of the tuition!

Now let me briefly reflect on how/why the immersive boot camp at NYC Data Science Academy is excellent, especially if your background is similar to mine:

Curriculum-wise and teaching style-wise, it is highly similar to a traditional university program. For folks who are fresh out of academia (i.e., newly graduated), you will feel comfortably familiar in the boot camp's setting; for folks who are not, you will also feel comfortable since the training progress is incremental (meaning that it is not difficult to keep up), and FORMAL (very important; without which the training would be shallow). There are enough teaching assistants stationed all day to help you. More important, the instructors are always willing to help, who are accomplished data science experts. They really write great course materials! Frankly I am a laid-back person and did not work as crazy as others in the cohort (some are said to work 12 hours per day), but I did not over-relax either: I just make sure I keep up with boot camp training progress. But that (keeping up with the course progress) is enough to make you a qualified data scientist candidate in the end. The boot camp is well measured so that you do not have to be overwhelmed or burnt-out but still can achieve enough to live long and prosper.
From the lady who ensures there is always coffee and hot tea, to the career advisors who know how to best tailor you for job search and interviews, the academy provides great support in learning and career advising. That is to be expected: as mentioned, the program at NYC Data Science Academy is very formal (I cannot emphasize this word enough). Let us don’t forget to thank Vivian Zhang who is behind all these and who is very caring for the students.
You will work on actual business projects (including your Capstone project). By doing thus you know how your knowledge/skill levels are aligned with the industry standards. No less important: when you mention them in the resume or talk about them to hiring employers, the projects are not like cute school projects, but are actual, real business projects with very substantial stuff.
It is a pleasure to meet with the people in the cohort: people (students or instructors or TAs or supporting staff) of different backgrounds and personalities. You will always remember those cozy lunch times at the academy, when students sit around the dinner table talking about issues of the day (not limited to data science stuff). For example, at one conversation, we started from the fashionable Beats earphones, then moved on to the Bose earphones as comparison; we then argued about how to correctly pronounce the name "Bose", which naturally led to talking about the great physicist Bose (as in the Einstein-Bose condensation), and that naturally led onto various topics in quantum mechanics… Such is a "picture" of the dinner-table at the academy. The 12-week training would not be less enjoyable without the company of all those fantastic people around you.
Last but not least, the highlight of highlights: the hiring events organized by the academy! As mentioned, suffice to say itself is worth at least half the tuition!

Mitchell Hung, Data Analyst

Schireson Associates

"Highly recommended bootcamp experience"

My career before NYCDSA was one without numbers or Excel spreadsheets; past me wouldn't have dreamed of touching complex data modeling algorithms or cloud computing infrastructure. If you're like me, you probably are expressing some hesitation at how much a 3 month bootcamp can give you, especially when you're competing against graduates in STEM fields for a quant position.

No fear, though! NYCDSA gives you precisely what you need to succeed in today's competitive data science job market. During the bootcamp, you'll become well versed in almost all the standard tools and methodologies that data scientists use to do their jobs. While the curriculum isn't perfect (I definitely thought some days and sessions were on superfluous material, e.g. too many days spent on web scraping, and way too much focus on R as most companies are transitioning towards Python), it is more than sufficient to prepare you to compete with others.

Six months ago I was a journalist. Now I'm doing cutting edge data science at my new firm. Couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

Marissa Jooy, Data Analyst, Media Optimization

Carat USA

"Great training, environment, and job support!"

I am extremely happy with my decision to attend this boot camp. Before this, I was very uncertain about what I wanted to do as a career path and never thought I would want a job that involved coding. With the excellent teaching, support, and guidance of NYCDSA staff and teachers, I found my passion. Within 3 months I gained skills in Python, R, Github, and SQL. Not many boot camps teach both R and Python, therefore this gave me a leg up against other people in the job market.

I graduated college with my Bachelors of Science in May of 2017, while many of my cohort-mates had a Master's or Ph.D. and had been working for numerous years. For this reason, I did not believe the boot camp was for me. It is not an easy course, but with hard work and dedication, it can definitely be done. I felt prepared for the job market once the bootcamp ended and really appreciated the job support provided by NYCDSA staff. They are extremely committed to getting you a job and do everything they can to help you and guide you. Because of the tools and knowledge I've gained from this boot camp, I've landed my dream job as a Data Analyst for MoveOn.org.

Abbey Chen, Data Science & Machine Learning Analyst

PepsiCo

"Great experience."

I appreciate all the hands-on projects/assignments opportunities which I did during the data science boot camp. It really gives me chances to apply the machine learning theories to real-world problems. Also, the team is supportive. The teachers, teaching assistants, career coaches are very helpful and experienced. I greatly enjoy joining the boot camp at the NYC Data Science Academy.

Franklin Dickinson, Applied Data Scientist

Civis Analytics

"Positive Experience."

I was part of the full-time spring 2018 cohort, coming with a BA in social sciences and a previous business analyst role. I had down prior intro python/R/maching learning classes on Coursera and they proved a good starting point.

The bootcamp mainly involves buidling a portfolio of projects, each utilizing a new skill taught through the weeks, using mainly first R followed by Python. Also time is spend on SQL in the beginning and intro neural networks and big data architecture.

The program is legit and skills gained are real.

While instructors and management were always friendly and making efforts to assist when asked, everyone was very busy and there was not an intense structure. As a bootcamp, the progam focuses more on flexibilty and less on structure than a traditional graduate program and thus you must be humble, self-motivated, and vocal to succeed. There is a good broad strategy in the cirriculem but the various instructors could be better in tune with eachother in this goal. Management always asked our feedback and have itineratively improved the bootcamp each cohort.

Students were from a variety of backgrounds, all well-educated and friendly. Many international students.

From early on, management was focused on helping us gain employment after the bootcamp and have remained so after the program ended.

Now 2 months later, I just recently received a full time entry-level data science consulting position. I am very excited and credit my time at the bootcamp in opening up the new opportunity.

Xiaowei Cheng, Data Analyst

Maxim Healthcare Services

"Great experience."

A very good place with knowledgeable staff.

Highly recommend.

Gurminder Kaur, Data Scientist

Pfizer

"Great experience. Highly recommend."

I am very glad that I took the decision of joining NYC Data Science Academy to pursue the field of Data Science. The 12-weeks intensive program equips you with a strong and solid foundation for Data Science, even if you come with no background in data at all. The staff is easily approachable and highly knowledgeable. The academy makes sure that you have a good experience to showcase at the job interviews through four different projects (one of them being a live project, solving a real-world business problem for a company). The academic setup, which includes instructors as well as Tas, is excellent and ensures that you have required support and guidance at each and every step throughout the program.

They have a strong professional network and even hold a hiring event towards the end of the bootcamp, where you have the opportunity to interact with various companies (across different industries) looking for potential Data Scientists. The academy supports you throughout the process of finding the right job, even after graduating from the bootcamp. Vivian was very helpful with my interview process and providing the right feedback so I can be better prepared and get the job I desired.

Of course, as with any learning process, the real onus of making sure that you get the most out of the bootcamp lies with you. This is a very intensive 12 weeks program and you need to make sure that you dedicate this period fully to Data Science.

I thoroughly enjoyed the learning process at the bootcamp. It helps you grow not only as a Data Scientist but also as professional through the diverse mix of students coming from different academic and professional backgrounds. I highly recommend NYCDSA to anyone who is seeking to make a career in Data Science.

William Kye, Statistical Analyst

Dia&Co

"Great Experience!"

My experience with NYCDSA with great. No bootcamp is perfect (there's a lot of information to pack in 12-15 weeks), but I thought NYCDSA did a great job of providing the teaching, resources, and curriculum to be a competitive job candidate after graduating.

The atmosphere is very collegial where student and teaching assistant constantly are trying to help eachother and make sure everyone is getting the most out of the program. That being said, there is a lot of variance in where each student is coming from beforehand. So its important for each individual to seek help when necessary (which isn't very hard given how friend and accomodating the instructors are)

After the bootcamp, Vivian and the others put a strong emphasis on putting us in the best position to succeed. Whether that was prep interviews, sending job postings, or just checking up. Overall would recommend!

Wenchang Qian, Head of Data Science

Centiment.io

"Just love it, just do it!"

First of all, unlike many bootcamp students, I didn’t come from a background with coding or science, nor do I have a master degree. And I am currently a data scientist working at a startup, helping brands to understand their customers better through an emotional lens using Natural Language Processing. This definitely to certain extent proves not only the rigorousness of the course disciplines and the willingness from the bootcamp to go an extra mile to help the students who don’t come from a ‘regular’ background to succeed.

I picked NYC DSA as the academy’s overall rating was simply the best across all data science bootcamps on the East Coast and the backgrounds of the instructors listed on the website were impressive to me. Coming from a business and consulting background, I consider myself very hardworking and competitive - I only wanted the best and NYC DSA was simply just it.

What I Loved about the Bootcamp:

The Depth of knowledge of the instructors, especially Aiko Liu (Aiko really influenced the way how I think about data science problems and he paved a really good knowledge foundation for us)
The Rigorousness of the course disciplines
The fantastic quality of classmates (they will be your best friends and your network after you graduate in three months)
The emphasis on solving practical business problems with data science skillsets (this is critical for you to find a job on the East Coast)
The partnership with big corporations for capstone projects

Some Suggestions:

I wish the academy could focus less on R and more on Python. Maybe they have changed the balance currently. During the time of my enrollment, it was 50% R and 50% Python. Although R is a very useful programming language for statistical analysis and visualization, Python is the dominant language in the data science field. If you are just about to attend the bootcamp, I would suggest you place a larger focus on Python and practice data science problems with Python as much as possible.
I wish the academy could test or at least walk through some interview-level challenges/case studies methodologically to the students during the three months of experience. I believe this will not only prepare the students better in terms of what to expect from a data science interview, but also help the students start formulating thought processes related to solving data science problems.

Nikhil Krishnan, Strategic Partnerships Manager

TrialSpark

"Great Course! Learned A lot!"

Anthony was great - really got into the practical uses of python for data analysis and had really useful analogies to understanding different topics and concepts. Really enjoyed the class and felt like I could take something practical away from it.

Jingyu Zhang, Business Strategy Analyst

PeaceHealth

"Strongly recommend."

I attended the bootcamp of NYC Data Science Academy in the summer of 2016. I started my career as Data Analyst one month after the program. I chose this bootcamp because my friend got Data Science training there and got a Data Scientist job right after that. It was a very intensive training program with systematic classes and materials, which covered frontier machine learning algorithms and applications, big data tools, and analysis tools with a path you would be able to further develop your career. The instructors are top notch with mathematic Ph. D degrees. They condensed the Data Science skills and knowledges to approachable class materials. Hand by hand coding help. Vivian, the CTO, pushed us to our limitation and to get good job offers. Almost 99% of our classmates got job offer, where most of them are Data Scientist, and others are Data Analyst. The training was a whole package with knowledges, skills, resume writing and interview mock.

The 12 months studies helped me get my first job in 2016 , and now the second job in 2018. What I learned from NYC Data Science Academy is still helping me in my career.

Strongly recommend.

Mimi Cheung, Data Analyst

"Great Bootcamp!"

The bootcamp provided absolutely everything we needed to boost our resume and give us the skills we needed to start out as a Data Analyst or Scientist. I was offered a position and started working immediately after the bootcamp, and it was due to the resume tweaking and data analysis skill set that I obtained in such a short time.

David Corrigan, Data Scientist II

Sema4

"Excellent, rewarding, and challenging experience!"

I joined NYCDSA for their 12-week bootcamp in fall 2018. I had graduated with a PhD in biology that summer, but I was looking to improve my data science skills (which were limited to basic knowledge of R) to work towards a more quantitative scientific career. My decision paid off, as I am now working as a bioinformatics data scientist after a relatively short (~2 month) job search and interview process.

NYCDSA has a great deal to offer to anyone looking to move into data science. They provide excellent career counseling throughout the course and connect students to a large number of opportunities in many different fields (finance, marketing, biomedical, business operations, etc) through in-course talks/panels, and a very large career/hiring event after completion. The career guidance is an invaluable aspect of the course.

During these 12 weeks, I learned more than I thought possible. I was one of those who considered trying to teach data science to myself. After doing the bootcamp, I would now discourage this for the following reasons: 1) The projects: You will complete 4 thorough projects, with experienced instructors and TA’s, which will serve as a critical piece of your resume during the application process. *I specifically went through my projects and code while interviewing for the job that I ultimately accepted. 2) The aforementioned career guidance, which was so indispensable. And 3) You will learn far more efficiently here than you would on your own. There is simply too much material to learn in such a short time – without knowledgeable instructors who know how to plan and execute a curriculum, you will take much longer to master the same amount of material.

Be warned – the course is very challenging and will require a lot out of you. It is designed, and is most effective, for driven individuals looking to push hard and create opportunities for themselves in the data science field. A small number of the students were frustrated by the amount of content and workload, but in my opinion, NYCDSA is teaching you as much as you need to be competitive as a data science candidate. Read other reviews from people with no coding experience who were hired as data scientists – this is only possible because of the challenging 12-week curriculum offered here. Bottom line, it’s a great career move if you are properly motivated – I highly recommend it!

Derek Li, Data Science Consultant

Zenon LLC.

"Rewarding Experience!"

I attended the immersive 12-weeks bootcamp during fall cohort 2018. It took me a while to write this review because I am busy but happily working as a Data Scientist, solving exciting and challenging data problems.

The instructors are very attentive and helpful. If you are Math/Statistics background, it would help a lot during the bootcamp. But the instructors make sure you understand the theories through well-designed course structure, examples and practices no matter what your background is.

Not only do they teach you on data science and technical tools, but they also offer exceptional advice on searching and interviewing for jobs. Their support is amazing and is what helped me get my current job. Special thanks to Luke and Vivian!

The immersive program was intense but I also learned a lot from fellow students. I made a lot of great friends through the bootcamp. You get to know people from various academic backgrounds and industries. You would learn how they formulate solutions to data problems in their domain, which are always enlightening. Shout out to team JLP aka team Ostrich Pillow!

Neuton Fonseca, Data Science Consultant

Accenture

"A life changed experience"

I am Brazilian and I was working in the business area for 7 years in Brazil, analyzing health and safety indicators, incidents, and some other data to try to get insights and drive some business decisions. I didn’t have any coding background and I was lacking advanced statistics knowledge to help me out on finding insights. So, after reading a lot about data science I started a MBA in Big Data and Analytics here in Brazil but this MBA was not exactly what I was looking for. I needed something more practical with more coding challenges and more details (theory and coding) on machine learning models, etc. With that in mind, I started looking for other courses to fulfill my needs. I ended up finding the data science bootcamp at NYC Data Science Academy, quitting my job, stopping my MBA and went to New York to attend the bootcamp. This was the best decision I have ever made. Learning how to code in both R and Python is very useful and the way that the bootcamp teaches you theory and the application of machine learning is great. It’s not easy, the pace is very fast, so you really need to focus and study a lot and you will see how much you can learn in only 12 weeks. You will be very busy learning theory and completing exercises everyday, besides projects, coding challenges, labs, machine learning challenges, etc. The projects are very challenging and very useful to learn and practice what you have learnt by the time of the project. If you do a good job, you will have a good portfolio to present to future employers. The instructors and the TA’s have different backgrounds, so you can reach them with any subject you are learning. They are very helpful and easy to reach out. The entire team is very hardworking and they push you hard to go deeper and learn more and more. The environment is great, the students help each other, share what they learnt from other materials and from completing the exercises as well. The facilities are very good, I spent late nights there studying together with other students. This bootcamp allowed me to change quickly my career. I came back to Brazil after the bootcamp and 2 months later I got the job offer I wanted in a great consulting company. I think if you really want to become a data scientist, this is the place to start. The team is very good in preparing the students for all the steps on interviews, writing a good resume, etc.

Yisong Tao, Optimization Analyst

"Very Fulfilling Bootcamp Experience"

I attended the 12-week data science boot-camp at NYC Data Science Academy from Sep. 2016 to Dec. 2016. Before that I got my PhD in Chemistry and worked 6 years' as a Post-doc in biochemistry. The curriculum was well organized. 12-week courses covered R and Python programming, statistical analysis and machine learning. During the last few weeks, big data tools like Hadoop and Spark were also covered. For one coming from academic background, the breadth of topics and difficulty level felt just right. The boot-camp courses weren't supposed to teach you everything, but they did prepare me very well if I wanted to explore further data science topics. The bootcamp was intense. I was only sleeping for 4 hours a day during bootcamp. It was demanding both physically and mentally, but I wasn't alone in the journey. The instructors, TAs and classmates were all amazing. This bootcamp takes students from very different backgrounds, which I think is a unique advantage. I was able to see people applying data science tools to their own expertise brilliantly, fashion, marketing, IT, health care... It was very helpful for me who was looking to step outside of academia. NYCDSA also offers various job assistance such as networking, resume-editing and mock-interviews. Vivian also personally helps students tracking their job hunting status. I wasn't very active in job hunting due to my personal situation, but for the one position I applied for I was able to impress the hiring manager with the machine learning knowledge and skills I acquired at NYCDSA and got an offer the same day.

Andrew Dodd, AI Engineer

Koios Medical

"An Amplifier"

Before I came to the bootcamp, I spoke with one of their instructors on a video call and he described the bootcamp as an amplifier of the skills and energy that you bring to the bootcamp. In my own words, it will not make you something that you are not. It will (probably) not flip your entire career 180 degrees. To be honest I was extremely skeptical of a 3 month bootcamp and then going to get jobs in the applicable field. I wanted proof so I read pages of reviews. 98% of them were highly positive. I talked to friends that went to similar bootcamps. I considered the pros and cons of getting an advanced degree in data science or machine learning. Ultimately, I chose this bootcamp because based on everything, it looked like this bootcamp would put me in a strong position to get a job in the applicable field within months rather than years. And it has. I will be starting work as a machine learning engineer starting in 2 weeks (it is currently a little over a month since I graduated). I came in with an engineering background, specifically focusing in robotics and spaceflight for a master's degree so I had a strong quantitative background. Before I came to the bootcamp, I studied in the evenings writing a couple machine learning projects in my free time for about 1.5 years prior to arrival. So, I may have studied a little more before arriving than the average student. However, many students I know are interviewing with multiple companies at this point so I can certainly vouch for the results of this program (as can the job placement percentage numbers given). In addition to the results, the bootcamp is a fantastic learning experience. You will be writing code in the evenings and often weekends. But I learned more at this bootcamp than I did in one semester of college by a significant margin. Like many things, you get out what you put in. I dedicated 10-12 hours daily studying and now have job options! The bootcamps topics are fast and many. I highly recommend reviewing most/all topics before arriving so that you can absorb as much as possible in such a short time period. Next, everyone is a pleasure to work with and the instructors are incredible. They each have a very strong grasp of their course material and can often relate the material well to the outside world. Homework drives home the points from lecture while projects are extremely instructive. Again, do hard work and you will have great projects. Finally, the hiring team will work as hard as they can to help you get a job and the right job. They are passionate about us getting jobs and have a lot of connections in the city. 25% of the worth of this bootcamp at least is in the hiring help and the support structure of the fellow students in my opinion. That brings me to my last point, I moved here from California, and after 3 months I now have lasting friendships with some very smart, hard working future data scientists. Disclaimer: I was not paid or coerced to write this review. I think this bootcamp is one of the best you will find. I considered many, and this was my top choice.

Sudhanshu Chib, Lead Analyst

CRISIL Global Research & Analytics

"Great introduction to Deep Learning "

I completed the deep learning course offered by NYDS in April 2018. Course curriculum provides a solid understanding of core theoretical concepts and their practical applications. Best part about the course was that latest papers/ research work (as resent as Jan 2018) were discussed by Jon Krohn who also shared his experience and best practices. Would strongly recommend the course for anyone who has some background in data/programming related work and wants to break into deep learning.

Michael Chin, Director of Technology

Allied Microbiota

"Great Job Support"

NYC Data Science Academy has been a wonderful resource for acquiring the data science tools required in the workplace. NYCDSA's greatest strength is their commitment to matching graduates with Data Science positions. Every step of the process was geared towards that goal: including practical projects with real-life company data, extensive job-hunting coaching, and seminars, and continued job assistance after graduation.

Christian Urrea, Machine Learning Engineer

Shoodoo Analytics

"The place to begin your journey into Deep Learning/AI"

For those looking to break into the field of AI/Deep Learning - I highly recommend this course as the starting point, andthe initial stages of your journey. Although I had previously studied the theory and learned to build DL models on my own — I still thought it critical to establish a solid understanding of both the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to build the best deep learning models I could. I was a student in Jon Krohn's Deep Learning course in March 2018. Building a foundational base in DL was what I was looking for from this course; and it was what this course delivered. You will touch all the core areas of DL, from feedforward neural nets to RNNs, CNNs even GANs and RL all while covering applications such as computer vision and natural language processing. Most importantly, throughout the course Jon covers the nuts and bolts of each model in such a way that you can understand the theory without a PhD— all the while implementing DL models yourself in class to cement what you learn as you go. Best of all, you’ll be in a group with bright individuals as eager to learn as you. With some work and effort out of class, with this course you can go from zero to confidently building you own deep learning models within a month.

Hans Lau, Sr Analyst, Data Science

Wavemaker

"Most Rewarding Experience!"

I am very satisfied with my decision to attend NYCDSA 12 week boot camp. I just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Bionengineering and minor in Computer Science. During my last year of undergrad, I found data science to be a challenging and interesting career path to get into but I did not have much hands-on experience. I researched a number of data science bootcamps but I chose New York Data Science Academy because of the rigorous curriculum taught in Python and R as well as the impressive credentials of the instructors. The program is challenging, incredibly fast-paced, but very rewarding. There is pre-work material before attending the bootcamp, which helps to solidify coding fundamentals. The beginning of the program reviews those coding fundamentals and then dives straight into the heavy machine learning concepts and mathematical basis of the theories. Although it could be quite challenging to absorb most of the material at first, the program is excellent in providing resources and exposing concepts that will be important for a data science career and job interviews. In addition, there are 4 projects, which focus on different aspects of data science: data visualization, web scraping, machine learning, and finally a capstone, which incorporates everything you have learned. It is a good idea to join the bootcamp just to complete these projects because you can showcase these projects to future employers. In regards to job assistance, Vivian and Chris offers job presentations which covers how to write your resume, how to position yourself for an interview, etc . There are also guest lectures that come and describe their role and how they leverage data science in their work. At the end of the bootcamp, NYCDSA hosts a hiring event where you can meet future employers and be exposed to the data science job market. I highly recommend this bootcamp for people who are looking to transition into a career of data science. It has been a very rewarding 3 months; I have no regrets.

Ansel Andro Santos, Experimentation Analyst

Canadian Tire Corporation

"Learn everything you need to succeed"

NYCDSA's curriculum covers everything you need to succeed in the data science industry. The boot camp was hard, but this prepared us well to what the job market expects from a data scientist. They also mentored us on how to deal with potential employers, giving us an edge versus other job applicants. The boot camp also gave the opportunity to make friends with people with the same level of interest and passion in data science. I think this will eventually develop into real life friendships and will prove to be valuable connections as you go through your career as a data scientist.

Dean Goldman, Data Engineer

Samsung Ads

"Amazing experience and job training"

I could not be more satisfied with my experience at NYC Data Science Academy. I met incredibly impressive and interesting people, learned more than I ever thought I could, made friends, and worked very hard. Within a few weeks after graduating, I was offered my first full-time job as a data engineer. (I do not come from a CS, math or stats background). NYCDSA is very successful at getting their students fluent in the tools and technologies of data science, and prepared for finding great jobs in the field. The bootcamp is exhilarating, and the people are truly the best. By the end, you will be ready to for a data science position, and you will have broadened your horizons.

Daniel (Donghyun) Kang, Enterprise Architect

American Express

"Best choice for Data scientist fellows"

Since 2002, I had served as a wireless communication system design engineer for S****** Electronics, where I have developed optimal solutions based on the analysis, simulation and modeling of filed data and system features. One of my latest works was finding adaptive solution for fast tree search avoiding local minima and maxima. To boost up my skills and map into diverse field, recently finished an immersive data science boot camp where I completed four projects including machine-learning projects where I deployed predictive models using extreme gradient boosting, random forests, support vector machines, and logistic regression. Work experience on a data science project - Capstone project - for a big CPG company was a huge benefit as a data scientist. As a team, we analyzed product trends, competitor's products and its reviews, customer satisfaction ratio by using NLP such as TF-IDF(term freq/inverse Document freq), Topic modeling(LDA; Latent Dirichlet Allocation), Sentimental analysis and then we delivered comparative analysis results, analysis tool to the client company. Through this project, I got convinced that customer reviews and analysis of competitors tell a lot information not only for the current problems but also the next business opportunities. Throughout this boot camp, I could have an experience on the very projects which are closely related to the data science industry, and make portfolios which could demonstrate qualification for related industry requirements. Eventually, I could get a job which requires data science such as machine learning and natural language processing by connecting my previous work exprience to portfolios in NYC data science academy. If you want to be a actual data scientist, NYC Data Science Academy could be a best choice ever.

David Kogan, Quantitative Trader Intern

Volant Trading

"Rigorous, practical training for data science"

I attended the 12-week data science bootcamp right after graduating from college with an engineering degree. I highly, highly recommend this course for anyone with some coding/stats background looking to work in data science or machine learning. I'll note what I believe are the most important features of the program with bullet points so it's easy to read: The course is rigorous but not overwhelming -- if you put it a lot of work you will get a lot out of it, and there are a lot of TA's, classmates and teachers to help if you need it. The coursework is oriented towards practical application in the real world. This is what stood out the most to me in contrast to my undergraduate education. The teachers at NYCDSA do a great job of teaching the theory and then explaining how concepts tend to actually be applied in the real world. All the class content is still accessible after the course is done -- it is EXTREMELY valuable to have all this stuff permanantly saved on your computer. They help you get a job after you graduate.

Lakshmi Prabha Sudharsanom, Data Scientist

.Kreate

"The most supportive institution"

I took the intensive 12-weeks bootcamp at NYC Data Science Academy. I am a postdoc in India. I had been writing graph algorithms for social network analysis, analyzing data using MS-Excel and mining data using graph theory. I decided to make a transition to industry. I researched for about six months to choose a proper academy to learn data science. I came up with a decision to join NYC Data Science Academy so that I could learn both R and Python within three months. But, I learnt more than I thought. I gained hands-on experience in Python, R, SQL, Spark, deep learning, Hadoop and Hive. The materials are technically sound for job interviews. Many experienced professors and industry professionals design and teach the materials. The course laid a solid foundation in data science. The people in the academy show keen interest in every student to understand the concept, in resume writing and above all, to get a job. With their continuous guidance, I got hired as a data scientist in New Delhi, India. My decision to join the academy to learn both R and Python simultaneously, has been proved to be a wise decision. I wanted to 'eat, live and breathe' data science and I do it today because of the academy. Thanks to the academy.

Marissa Joy, Data Analyst, Media Optimization

Carat USA

"Great training, environment, and job support! "

I am extremely happy with my decision to attend this boot camp. Before this, I was very uncertain about what I wanted to do as a career path and never thought I would want a job that involved coding. With the excellent teaching, support, and guidance of NYCDSA staff and teachers, I found my passion. Within 3 months I gained skills in Python, R, Github, and SQL. Not many boot camps teach both R and Python, therefore this gave me a leg up against other people in the job market. I graduated college with my Bachelors of Science in May of 2017, while many of my cohort-mates had a Master's or Ph.D. and had been working for numerous years. For this reason, I did not believe the boot camp was for me. It is not an easy course, but with hard work and dedication, it can definitely be done. I felt prepared for the job market once the bootcamp ended and really appreciated the job support provided by NYCDSA staff. They are extremely committed to getting you a job and do everything they can to help you and guide you. Because of the tools and knowledge I've gained from this boot camp, I've landed my dream job as a Data Analyst for MoveOn.org.

Peter Yang, Associate Engineer

Gartner

"Great bootcamp to learn data science"

The curriculum of NYCDSA bootcamp is great and well-designed. In the first four weeks, you will learn Python, R and SQL which will lay a solid foundation for your data science learning. In the next four weeks, you will learn a variety of machine learning models. In addition, they will teach big data tools and deep learning. The instructors at NYCDSA bootcamp are excellent as they all have deep knowledge and significant experience in data science. They make complex concepts and skills easy to understand and master. The instructors teach classes in a good pace and often pause to answer any questions that students ask in class. After class, if you have any questions, they will also try their best to answer them. During NYCDSA bootcamp, four projects will be offered not only to improve your data science skills but also to enrich your resume. The projects are really interesting and challenging. When you are working on the projects, you will be able to learn and apply data visualization, web scraping, machine learning theories and skills, big data tools and deep learning. For the capstone project, various corporations and non-profit organizations will come to the bootcamp and pitched their real data science problems to the students, which will gave the students the experience of solving real data science problems. For the job assistance, the hiring team at NYCDSA will work very hard to get you jobs. During the bootcamp, job placement lectures will be given to teach you how to prepare for interviews. In addition, they will have several guest speakers and alumni give lectures about the current job market and suggestions on how to get a data scientist position. Before you graduate, they will help you polish your resumes to make them stand out. Right after the bootcamp ends, they will hold a hiring partner event where you will be able to network with employers from a lot of companies. The bootcamp at NYCDSA offered us an opportunity not only to obtain significant experience and expertise in data science but also to expand our career options. After going through the bootcamp, people with various backgrounds can apply the skills they learned from the bootcamp and their domain knowledge to start their new career and explore their interest in the field of data science, which I think is the most important benefit NYCDSA bootcamp offers.

Jacob Ralston, Algorithm and Machine Learning Engineer

FreeWheel

"Immersive 12 week bootcamp"

I attended the 12 week in-person immersive bootcamp and am very happy I did. I have a PhD in pure math (no computers, no numbers, so my coding experience was limited to "having fun" with Python) and spent my first 2 years post graduate school working at a hedge fund (in a non-technology role) and wanted to get into data science and engineering. I genuinely believe that with enough personal motivation and drive a bootcamp is the most effective and efficient way to go from 0 to 60 in this field (note that "attending" and "absorbing" at the bootcamp alone is not enough - the drive, time, and energy ultimately must come from you - they can only set you up for success). At the bootcamp I learned the essentials of SQL, R, and Python - not just the important packages like Numpy, SKL, etc. but how to pick up a new package and learn how to use it (a more important skill than learning any particular package). The project work was also extremely valuable. The scopes of the projects (there's 4 of them) get wider as the program progresses (from basic visualization and RShiny app construction to open-ended real-life consulting for companies at the end of the course). During my interviews after the bootcamp I was certainly tested on my coding and ML knowledge, but I spent a lot of time discussing my project work and results - again, the bootcamp presents you with opportunities and resources, it can't do it all for you. If you plan on enrolling (which you should think seriously about, it's a large investment of both your time and money) I would say you should prepare as much as possible as you'll leave the bootcamp with what you bring to the table (in terms of skills, abilities, drive, and preparation) - I've seen people who leave the bootcamp ready to be "senior data scientists" as well as people who leave knowing how to code and how to use some ML packages (a big difference). If you're looking for a bootcamp, I highly recommend NYCDSA as they truly care about the students, have a LOT to offer curriculum-wise, project-wise, and importantly their network in NYC data science jobs is EXTENSIVE (and very valuable).

Mike Caballero, Data Scientist

Hackensack Meridian Health

"Great bootcamp experience!"

I highly recommend NYC Data Science Academy to folks driven to pursue a data science, analysis, or engineering career. I participated in the 12-week onsite bootcamp with the Spring 2018 cohort and can attest to NYCDSA helping graduates land roles in each of these areas. There are two reasons that NYCDSA was the right fit for me to jumpstart my career. First, I was attracted to the academy’s strong regional network and job placement support. Vivian and the NYCDSA staff are responsive to your career interests and will put you in touch with relevant folks in the field. In addition, the NYCDSA curriculum is continuously re-evaluated for relevance. While NYCDSA helps bridge a career transition, the challenging task of skill acquisition and evaluation is on you! Second, I wanted to participate in a program with diverse learners. Bootcamp attendees range from STEM PhDs like myself to folks with BA/BS with professional experience in analytical fields. It was an exciting process to learn from each other as we worked on group projects or talked about homework challenges. Exposure to working on teams with divergent backgrounds is extremely valuable in a practical sense and reflects how some data science teams are structured. Overall, NYCDSA has established a process that works and is committed to continuous improvement. It was a pleasure to participate in this program with friendly students and supportive staff. NYCDSA helped me expand my technical skillset and secure a full-time data scientist role.

Sam Marks, Global Business Analytics

VICE Media

"Great bootcamp!"

I had a truly rewarding experience at NYCDSA. The staff is approachable and friendly, and the material is relevant for a wide range of data professions. The program really opened doors to several opportunities for me and the staff sets time aside to help you position and present yourself well for job interviews. I accepted a job from one of NYCDSA's hiring partners, and felt very well prepared for the interview process. Five stars! Side note: One recommendation I have for those less familiar with coding (which I was), is to embrace the "have you tried googling that?" culture within Data Science and programming as a whole. While the tendency at a supportive bootcamp is to ask your instructors how to debug a line of code or build an ML template, more often than not the answer is a google search away, and there are TONS of excellent resources out there. Patience and getting comfortable with the process of finding the answers to your questions online is absolutely essential.

Daniel Bubb, Principal Artificial Intelligence Researcher

American Water

"Intensive, carefully designed curriculum that will help you succeed!"

NYC Data Science Academy was essential in helping me to make the transition from a career in academia to the field of data science. It is a very intensive course that is filled with statistics, coding, machine learning, natural language processing, big data, and other topics. Frankly, there were too many topics for me to apprehend while the bootcamp was running, but one of the great features of the course is that you are able to go back and review key lectures - which I periodically do as my understanding of the field deepens. Another great strength of the curriculum is that you are exposed to a variety of instructors who have different backgrounds and approaches. I can think of distinctive strengths for Drace, Aiko, Luke, and Zeyu in their presentation and shared perspective. Vivian and Chris gave terrific seminars on seeking employment and how to interview. Finally outside lecturers such as Bernard Ong held court and imparted their wisdom and that comes from a wealth of experience in the field. One other strength of the program is in the variety of lecturing styles and the mix of labs, guided activities, and more conventional lectures. I think this allows people with a variety of learning styles to flourish and speaks to the thoughtfulness in constructing the curriculum. The projects are essential to applying the concepts and give you an opportunity to sharpen your coding and analysis skills. In the end, as I said previously, it was all a bit much for me to take in during the bootcamp, but there are a series of materials - such as Jupyter notebooks, pdf slides, and videos that I continue to refer back to as I progress in the field. For me, the challenge was less about the difficulty of the material but the sheer volume. I tend to get interested in something and don’t want to hear much else until I feel like I have a deeper understanding. Only then do I like to move on. Were I to do it over, I would be a little more disciplined about indulging my curiosity and pay a little more attention to the flow of material and presentation because they really know what they’re doing and what you need as you progress. tl,dr: I highly recommend this Bootcamp, it was of tremendous value to me. 12 weeks of instruction from deeply knowledgeable instructors who possess keen business acumen and know how to help people get jobs. It was a very enjoyable experience for me to be surrounded by interesting and smart people from all types of backgrounds and each with something unique to contribute to the cohort.

Igor Gitlevich, Data Scientist

ASAPP

"Excellent Data Science Bootcamp"

The bootcamp program of NYCDSA is designed to take the skillset of every student to the next level regardless of the preliminary expertise. Covering basics of R and Python during the pre-work and first month of the bootcamp follows by a deep dive into the essence of every popular machine learning algorithm, as well as implementation details and caveats in both, R and Python. The understanding of these caveats combined with more common knowledge will facilitate and ease the continuous learning and career advancement for years to come. It is important to note that to get most out of this bootcamp, full dedication is required. Anyone who is serious about having career in data science and willing to do the hard work to make it happen should seriously consider this 3-month program. The materials of the courses are superb, and the instructors are world-class, willing to take the time to answer every question with enough attention to ensure that understanding of students progresses. Finally, the academy’s professional networking events and job search-related workshops give a great boost to the job finding opportunities. I enjoyed my time at the academy and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Alexey Malafeyev, Business Intelligence Developer

APG

"Deep Learning course by Jon Krohn was very good..."

Thank you to Jon Krohn for his approach to teach the lectures and for all his systematic organization of all his materials. Also, for being very attentive to the questions and trying to get back with the constructive help ASAP. And a bit of a personal impression: the mashine vision part of the course was better prepared with the interesting and easy to get examples whereas the NLP part could have been more elaborated, but it is by default the case if you compare these two areas. But, knowing how easy Jon was able to organize the steps for the first noticed I trully believe it is just a matter of a few more thoughts for him and his Co. It may be also true that one more day of classes would be very nice addition to cover the materials better. The other missing thing was a simple example on how you would deploy the network in any environment to be used in production.

Nacho Moreno, BI & Data Analytics

Glovo

"Transformative, enterely recommended"

I attended the 2018 Summer bootcamp and was a great experience! Not only academically but also from a personal perspective. I am currently living in Spain so travelled and relocated all the way from Barcelona to join the NYC Data Science Academy. NYCDSA curriculum is really comprehensive and the information and assistance you get prior to joining the bootcamp from the acadmy’s staff is really good. It’s assuring coming from that far to know what to expect from the bootcamp and to see how responsive the staff was to any queries I had. I have a background in Location Intelligence with no coding experience (just a bit of SQL) and managed to follow the lessons well enough! Not without effort though. The curriculum is gradual and comprehensive, from mainly coding practice and basic statistics to Machine Learning and then more advanced topics like Deep Learning and Big Data. Personally I also think is a great experience, the bootcamp allows you to connect and create a Data Science network at the same time you interact with your cohort mates which will be like your family during the 12 weeks that lasts the bootcamp. Just one warning! Prepare yourself for working hard during the bootcamp, the more you work the more you will get out of it!

Anthony S. Romano, Research Scientist

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

"Good Starter"

In the past I've used a lot of online courses to try and learn how to use python in my day to day work but I never felt like I "got it." This in person experience was well organized, provided relevant material and challenging homework. The first day of the class really scared me and had me thinking I bit off more than I can chew, but by the end I felt like I'd learned a lot and am thankful to the instructor Tony for his in class comments and examples. I would recommend this course to anyone who is already conducting data analytics but is looking to branch out to python. The course provides a lot of food for thought and made me feel like I have a solid foundation in python now.

Raymond Liang, Data Scientist

Perch

"Great Intro to Python and Data Analysis"

Coming from the finance field, I had very little experience in coding. I had dabbled with a little bit of VBA where I worked, but by no means could I have claimed to know how to code. That being said, I feel this class provided me a great foundation to Python. Tony, the instructor, made sure the concepts were reinforced by easy to understand examples, and even silly examples at times which was greatly appreciated. The in class exercises were also helpful to glue the concepts together and homework was also given for more practice. The one thing I could have suggested in terms of the weekend class itself is to perhaps allow for a longer day so the teacher do not have to rush over any particular topic. Overall, I really enjoyed this class and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to get their hands dirty with coding and data analysis.

Chuanhao(John) Nie

"Transformative Bootcamp"

I attend NYCDSA because one of my friends' recommendation that the bootcamp offers hands on experience of data science. Actually, the bootcamp is as good as I expect. I will never forget the 3 month learning experience. I study very hard but at the same time I feel like I grow a lot. The bootcamp's courses cover everything related to data science, not only the advanced parts such as machine learning and deep learning, but also fundamental skills such as Python, R, SQL. My background is finance. But after studying in the bootcamp, I feel like I am prepared for a data science job. The teachers and teaching assistants here are very knowledgeable. In addition, the classmates you study with have strong academic/working experience. Most of the students here have master or phd degree with 2-10 years' working experience. I would highly recommend NYCDSA.

Samuel Mao, Data Scientist

Finery

"Worth Your Investment!"

Prior to my full-time 12-weeks DS bootcamp with the academy, I have started taking weekend classes in Python with the academy for my personal preparation. The weekend class is extremely helpful. You spent 5 hours on Sunday and learn as much as you could during those hours. Because it is taught by using Jupyter notebook, it is really easy to follow and to relearn over the following week. The teacher over the weekend is Tony, who is a physicist and has really good understandings of machine learning theories and on the application of data science across different fields. My weekend cohort consists of recent MBA grads who are looking to lead teams that work closely with software engineers and data scientists. You also see people from the risk practice of consulting/advisory companies. You can also see people who are in the IT department making a transition to the field of Data Science. Last but not least, you'll also have people in graduate school or even college who would dedicate their Sunday afternoon to refine their skills in Python. It is an investment that will pay dividends in your career if you are determined to bring some data science to your toolbox and your workplace. Since I have attended both the weekend class and the bootcamp, I have strong confidence in the quality of the bootcamp (faculty, cohorts, homework, material). I hope in the future the campus will have more offerings in advanced classes, and possibly classes on linear algebra or computer science in general, which are the foundations of data sci

Xu Huang, Data Scientist

Zenon LLC

"Great bootcamp. Highly recommend"

I learned about NYC Data Science Academy (NYCDSA) by googling. I was searching for more systematical training and professional hring guide in Data Science after taking numerous online courses by myself. I chose on-site NYCDSA bootcamp because 1. More efficient than Master Degree, 2. High reputation and reviews received from NYCDSA alumni, and 3. A perfect match for me who has advanced degree in STEM and wants to switch career. I'm so glad that I made the decision to join NYCDSA. One of the best things about the NYCDSA is that you are required to finish 4 intense main projects that cover nearly all the key skills you'll need for Data Science jobs and job searching: Python, R, Machine Learning, Big Data, Deep Learning, etc. I needed to show the best of what I'd learned and my coding skills to present, to learn how to collaborate with teammates who have different background and ideas, and more importantly, to meet deadlines! After the bootcamp, I'm well equiped with an 'arsenal' for job searching: polished resume highlighting my Data Science projects & experience; professional links as your show case: GitHub, NYCDSA blog posts, etc; interview questions & exams, including one-on-one mock interview practice; connections with hiring partners and a whole set of job searching follow-ups and support...... I'm so lucky to have those helps from NYCDSA, and entire cohort of friends and connections. I highly recommend NYCDSA bootcamp to whoever want to seek/switch to career in Data Science.

Zhenggang Xu, Senior software engineer

American Water

"Great experience"

1. Why NYCDSA: Before I made the decision, I did some research online (course report and switchup). I chose a few bootcamps with highly positive reviews and visited all of them. Finally I picked NYCDSA because the curriculum is comprehensive and the instructors are very nice to me during my visit. 2. My overall experience with the bootcamp The curriculum covers most of the items listed in the typical job descriptions/requirements of a data scientist. As long as you are good at these skills, you should be confident in the job hunting. Of course you need to put a lot of effort on developing the skills, and the bootcamp can give you a clear roadmap from programming 101 all the way to deep learning algorithms. Besides the regular coursework, you are required to finish 4 projects in which you can practice what you learn during the class, and get a good sense how to deal with real-life data. If you put enough time on it, you will be proud of yourself and impress other people by what you have done. They are not just some bullet points on your resume. The instructors are incredible. They have a deep understanding about what they are teaching, in both theory and practice levels. Students are always encouraged to ask questions during the class or outside of the classroom. Whenever I had questions they can give me quick answers almost all the time. I learned a lot from my classmates. The class profile of my cohort is highly diverse, from math PhD to Harvard MBA, from psychologist to investment banker. The common interest in data science gave us a chance to sit in the same classroom for 3 months. I made friends with many classmates, especially the ones I did group projects with. We learn from each other, share job information and interview experience with each other. I feel very privileged to study and work together with so many smart and interesting people here. The career assistance is great. The bootcamp did many different things to help us on job hunting, including job placement workshop, resume review, hiring partner event, alumni referral, even some online webinars when the bootcamp is over. I received several emails from the bootcamp regarding open positions every week. They also provide mock interview on both HR and technical sides. You job hunting will be much different if you make fully use of these resources. There are still more good things about the camp than I listed here. For people who want to switch careers to data science I sincerely recommend this bootcamp for you. Just make sure you spend enough time on the pre-work before you come to the class.

Felipe Da Silva Santos, Data Scientist

Locaweb

"Great Bootcamp"

The staff are friendly, and well prepared. This bootcamp helped me to consolidate and organize my knowledge. I feel that they gave me exactly what I was looking for, before the bootcamp I was not so sure about my models, now I feel great doing what I do. This is priceless. If you have any doubts about those guys, please don't. They are super honest people, for sure this is a trust worthy organisation. Thank you guys, if any of you from NYDSA read this I thank you. Felipe.

Jacky Liu, AVP, Quantitative Finance Analyst

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

"Amazing bootcamp. Highly recommend"

I had a truly rewarding experience at NYCDSA. The staff is professional and friendly, and the material is relevant for a wide range of data professions. Before I joined NYCDSA, I had researched and reviewed several other similar boorcamps. I think NYCDSA really cares and help you to success. The program helped me to open the doors to several opportunities for me and the staff sets time aside to help you position and present yourself well for job interviews. I have accepted good amount job interviews since I have graduated from NYCDSA, and felt very well prepared for the interview process. Five stars! If you are less familiar with coding (which I was), then you really need to do your pre-course very well. Because once the bootcamp starts, the foundation is very important. Patience and getting comfortable with the process of coding is absolutely essential.

Michael Chuang, Data Analyst

Spotify

"Great and supportive bootcamp experience"

To begin, my experience with NYCDSA was excellent, the curriculum was comprehensive, instructors were knowledgeable,and my cohort-mates, friendly. I set out to attend a data science bootcamp after spending several years in tech consulting and at a marketing startup as an implementation and integration lead. I decided to attend NYCDSA particularly because it looked to have the most rigorous curriculum and advanced student projects compared to other camps I had looked into. With that, it was definitely a challenging and time-consuming experience but one that I am grateful for going through. On the whole, I thought the material was very practical and accommodated the wide spectrum of experience levels that my cohort contained (from fresh college grads to experienced PHDs). The course covered broad topics in data science with enough depth to be applied in the real world, so I now feel empowered to further my learning and tackle even harder data/tech problems after the camp. The instructors are all capable and are more than willing to help troubleshoot technical problems that will inevitably come up. The cohort is 40+ students so their time is obviously at a premium and you should expect to drive a lot of your own learning. However this actually made for stronger connections within my cohort as well since we were able to rely on each other to review our understanding of concepts, collaborate on projects, and have fun after hours. After the bootcamp, NYCDSA notified me of many potential job opening as well as acted as a recommendation. I felt as though they were always prepared to support me given that I had everything prepared on my end as well. Obviously not every student will have a completely smooth experience with the job search process, but I’m confident that anyone who is willing to put in the effort and dedication in learning the material and crafting their applications will be able to advance a career in data after attending NYCDSA. Since graduating, I started a contractor role at Spotify, which eventually lead me to secure a full-time position at Facebook several months later. And while I put in considerable personal effort to achieve these results, I also know it would not have been possible with the skills and support I received (and continue to receive) from NYCDSA.

James Chen, Data Scientist

Pfizer

"Highly recommended!"

(It's hard to think up a review; it's easier to do simple Q&A's) 1. why you picked us, what comparison you made among us and others Ans: I picked NYC DSA after having compared its program with those from other similar boot camps in the NYC area. The one adjective I would think of for NYC DSA is: formal, in that Its curriculum is rigorous and comprehensive. When you think about it, that you do not need another two (or more) years in school for a degree in data science to get your started in data science, but only 12 months; it is definitely a good investment of your money and time. 2. What was the good, bad (and the ugly :) ) Ans: Pro: • Curriculum/lectures are well designed and run by PhD's with industry backgrounds: there is a well-rounded balance of depth and width in the overall training. • You get in-depth immersion to traditional/statistical machine learning theories, as well as enough exposure to advanced topics in time series, deep learning, big data tools (Hadoop/Spark) to get you started. • Faculty/TAs are more than willing to help. • Frequent visit of alumni to share industry experiences • Great classmates and connections • Great career support, and the well-connectedness of NYC DSA with industry definitely help you succeed in landing your first job! Con: None 3. What benefits you gained from the program Ans: • The hiring event (job fair) itself alone is worth half the tuition since it lands you, with high probability, at a job, at the end of your boot camp. And you will feel lucky that you get to talk to hiring managers from those big-name companies! • Projects during the boot camp are serious ones: you can discuss about them not like they are school projects. In fact, my capstone project was on a consulting problem for a Fortune 500 beverage company; in every interview people were very interested in that project and I felt good about myself to talk about it. • Connections: with both the instructors (Aiko! My favorite instructor there and always learn a lot from him) and your lovely classmates (many are highly accomplished!) 4. Your own background and etc. Ans: Recent math PhD with specialty on partial differential equations and their analytical/numerical solutions. I was eager to start a career in industry upon finishing my degree. Data science/machine learning/artificial intelligence and stuff are cool, but they are built on fundamental ideas and algorithms that are either directly from or indirectly inspired by math/physics. While I enjoy what I am doing now to make a living, in my spare time I still enjoy picking up those textbooks in my good old student years to read about Euler/Lagrange/Cauchy/Gauss/Green/Maxwell/Poincare/Schrodinger/complex variables/PDEs/electrodynamics/thermodynamics/quantum mechanics/…

Shanshan Lu, Data Scientist

PepsiCo

"Life Changing Experience"

Overall extremely helpful for those who has little background in statistics or computer science but wants to start a career in data science. Pros: - Informational and intense curriculum design where you can learn almost everything you will need to pass the technical interview. - Well-trained instructors with PhD background and industry experiences. The instructors are all smart and helpful. - Helpful and competitive cohort with at least a master's degree in quantitative field. They will be your teammates for your last two projects which mimic the real work environment. Those experience will be the highlight on your resume and your most valuable part to talk about during the interview. - Multiple job opportunities and necessary training for job-hunting. At the end of this boot camp, there will be a hiring event where over 100 recruiters will come and talk to you about their opportunities in their company. Most of my cohort received invitation for on-site interview from at least two companies. 30%-50% of my cohort found a job from that hiring event. - Comfortable studying environment and rich resources such as AC, free coffee, and happy hours : ) - Convenient location. It is located in midtown NYC where food and transportation are accessible.

Alex Baransky, Growth Hacker

NYC Data Science Academy

"Success dangling on a string, you need to reach out and take it"

Summary The NYC Data Science Academy is a wonderful organisation comprised of passionate and deeply knowledgeable people. Their curriculum is top notch, fast but fairly paced, and teaches the skills needed to be successful in any data scientist position. The course requires completion of four major projects which not only gives you real coding experience, but enables you to walk away from the program with solid evidence that you have the coding skills and knowledge of theory required to be successful in the field of data science. Along the way, you will make many new friends and you will expand your network of data scientists to help in your job search. If you work hard to make the best effort you can, three months from now you will be writing a review just like me about how you made the right call to join the NYC Data Science Academy. My Background I graduated with a bachelor's in Biology from an Ivy League school in December 2017. While looking for jobs, I realized that if I wanted to land the kind of research position I wanted I had a much longer road in academia than I had originally anticipated. I ran into an old friend who had completed a web development bootcamp and he told me to look into similar programs. After speaking with another friend who is a CTO of a startup, he suggested that I look into data science programs because of the increasing demand in the field. I had some experience coding in Java, but nothing crazy and I hadn't really coded in years. I have always had an interest in computers and I really enjoy the problem solving aspect of data science, so I figured I'd take the risk to change career paths. The Course I had three specific things in mind when searching for the right program for me. These were: 1) Multiple projects throughout the program 2) Reviewed highly by graduates 3) Programming languages taught include Python, R, and SQL I think these are important qualities for any data science program, but they were specifically important to me because I was making the switch from a non-technical field. First, the projects were a must because I wanted to leave the program knowing I had something concrete to show employers. NYC Data Science Academy has 4 dedicated projects so that when you graduate from the program you have solid evidence of your skills as a data scientist. The last is a capstone project which allows you to work with a real business on a real business problem. This is a great opportunity to prove your worth as a data scientist. Second, I wanted to find a program that was rated very highly by its graduates. NYC Data Science Academy has some of the best reviews I've seen of any data science program, and for good reason. The instructors have a deep understanding of the material and they are both friendly and professional. The curriculum is as hard as it needs to be for a 12-week program, but the pace the instructors set is fair. The TAs are a tremendous resource and they are available for a reasonable amount of time to get your questions in. The course explores the most important aspects of data science and challenges you with case studies and coding challenges so that you can get a good idea of what to expect when you enter the industry. Third, I was looking for a program that taught Python, R, and SQL. These three languages are the most highly saught after in data science jobs I have seen, so learning them gives you a solid base for most opportunities out there. Many bootcamps offer Python, R, or SQL, but few offer all three. NYC Data Science Academy is one of those few. The Result I was originally thinking about using free online resources to teach myself data science techniques, but after going through the bootcamp process, I am extremely glad I made the investment. I was able to accomplish in 3 months what would have taken me over a year to do by myself. I was also pleasantly suprised at how close I became with my fellow classmates. They were all wonderful and intelligent people and I now have a close network of capable data scientists who I can call upon in the future if I find myself in a rut. This is a massively valuable resource that I didn't even consider when applying for the bootcamp. The job preperation workshops were also immensely helpful when preparing for the job search. Things like resume reviews, mock interviews, and coding challenges helped to ease me into the world of professional interviewing. I am now on my way to becoming an expert interviewer. There is also a networking event at the conclusion of the program which allows you to get in touch with a diverse group of companies looking to hire. The very next week after graduating from the bootcamp I was actively talking with multiple employers. I remember reading in a lot of bootcamp reviews that what you get out is what you put in. I will reiterate this because it is absolutely true. This program is not a day care, its purpose is not to motivate you or convince you that this is your path. This program is meant to supply you with all the resources and tools you need to be successful in a data science career. If you go in with the mindset that you will work hard and do your best to learn more material than you thought you could, you will be successful. NYC Data Science Academy has everything you need to be a success, you just need to make the effort to reach out and take it.

Tracey Xu, Financial Engineer

Moody's Investors Service

"No one can define you anymore, taking this bootcamp changed my life"

I have worked in financial services for 8 years and realized how technology has changed this industry so I decided to learn data science. With master in economics and CFA, I think my weakness is programming and modeling, getting a proper training would be the most efficient way to make me a data scientist. While comparing a few bootcamp programs, I chose NYCDS for 3 reasons: 1. Great content: teaching both R and Python, also include hands on sessions for SQL, AWS, deep learning, NLP etc; 2. Great teacher and students: the founder and fellow teachers, guest teachers all worked on or currently working on data science projects in different industry, students having strong background with different domain knowledge; 3. The online full-time program fits my schedule after discussion with my manager.The skills I learned by completing the 4 projects could be directly apply to my work. The 12 week bootcamp was intense, but I learned so much by pushing myself to my limit. I am not only self-motivated, but also motivated by my peers. I felt so excited about the synergy between my and my teammates in group projects while working hard together. While achieving my goal of improving programming and modeling skills, I also becoming much more open-minded and not afraid to start from beginning learning new technical skills at any time. After completing the bootcamp, I applied the skills I learned and created an application at work which is becoming a popular tool. NYCDS is very supportive, teachers, TAs, fellow students, alumni as well as the founder of the school can provide you any resource you need to help you achieve your goal. If I can redo this program again, the only change I will make is applying earlier. In this way, I can prepare myself longer in the pre-bootcamp training so that I can explore more during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is a life change experience for me. I highly recommend this program!

Sophie Geoghan, Data Scientist

Health Recovery Solutions

"Extremely practical and useful Data Science skills and experience"

I came to this program with a background in neuroscience, lots of coding in MATLAB, and lots of statistics but NO experience with Python, R, or most Machine Learning techniques. And I got exactly what I wanted to get out of it: lots of great practical experience in R, Python, various machine learning/statistics, and a confidence in approaching technical interviews. The program starts slow with Prework that is essential especially if one has never coded before, but also very useful even if you have experience in a different language (like me in MATLAB), and then it ramps up fast. By week 6 you've completed two aggressive projects in a data visualization app and web-scraping. The last two projects are ML-related and boosted my confidence in applying, evaluating, and discussing these techniques (very important for interviews). By the end, you are ready for the job search, and they were very helpful in getting us to make as many connections as possible. This program can be as challenging as you want - the materials and the instructors are there to help you succeed with as ambitious a project as you might want. Unlike university/regular school, they are not there to handhold or even grade you. They set the expectations and are there to help you meet or surpass them. I was mostly motivated by myself and my peers, who were a diverse and impressive bunch. I was happy to note that our cohort had a gender ratio of about 50/50, although depends from group to group. I ultimately chose NYCDSA because I wanted experience in both R and Python, and I am glad that I did. Overall, it was exactly what I wanted it to be, and I am very confident in my data science skills because of it.

Simon Joyce, Software Engineer

American Water

"Brilliant!"

I'm a math PHD who successfully made the career pivot into data science with the help of NYCDSA. I chose them over other data science courses because of their glowing online reviews and were Switchup's number one pick. I was not disappointed with my choice. I joined as much for their hiring network and support as for the course content. They connected me with several good job opportunities immediately upon graduation and I was hired for a fantastic job opportunity just one month later. At NYCDSA, they are invested in your success and will continue to support you long after you graduate from the boot camp. Before the boot camp, I was minimally familiar with Python and R and knew nothing about machine learning. By the end, I feel confident that I can apply myriad machine learning techniques competently using Python or R, with two complete projects that prove it. To come so far in just 12 weeks is fantastic value. I had a great experience at NYCDSA and can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone serious about a career in data science.

Aungshuman Zaman, Software Engineer

American Water

"Highly recommended!"

First, a little about my background. I have a PhD in physics. In the years I spent in graduate school, I had gained some experience in coding, statistics and data analysis. I did not have industry experience and was not really sure how to switch to the field of Data Science after so many years in academia. In the spring of 2018, when I was looking to join a Data Science bootcamp, I searched for programs which would put strong emphasis on both Python and R, and also provide me with ample opportunities to do project work, i.e., let me build a data product from scratch. The project part was particularly important to me because I felt that will be extremely valuable when interviewing for jobs. NYC Data Science academy seemed to fill the bill perfectly, so I decided to join them for the summer 2018 cohort. I will admit that I was a little skeptical about the utility of a 12-week bootcamp. But four months on, I can unequivocally say that joining the bootcamp turned out to be a great decision for me. Of course in any intense bootcamp like this, it depends largely on you what you are going to get out of it. The thing the bootcamp does really well is to provide you with great resources-- very knowledgable and approachable faculty, a very good team of teaching assistants, good course materials, and excellent level of job assistance. The hiring event at the end of program was super useful. I cannot overstate the importance of meeting so many hiring managers from well established companies. Last but not the least, I had the chance to make a bunch of very close friends, who will form the backbone of my data science network for many years to come. The job support team and the event organized by the bootcamp helped me get more than one job offers within one month of graduation, and I accepted one to finally start my career as a data scientist. I highly recommend this program, specifically for people who are switching from academia.

Melanie Uhde, Data Science Modeler

Kabbage

"Something you will never regret doing!"

Best decision I have ever made for my career. If you also have realized that the way we collect, analyze, understand, and utilize data will determine the future and potentially your career path too, this boot camp is what you need to do. I came in expecting a strict syllabus and skilled instructors but what I got was so much more. My experience with the NYC Academy for Data Science was fascinating, exhausting, humbling, and rewarding. I learned more than I could have imagined and I made new life-long friends. Your fellows will be a colorful mix from across degrees, disciplines, and nationalities. That also means that you will hear and learn from different perspectives, which will expand your horizon significantly. All instructors and TAs (highly skilled, smart, funny, friendly, and fantastic) are there to support and help you with whatever problem you have and the syllabus is business-oriented to prepare you the best way possible for your future endeavors. After 12 weeks, you will know how to code, how to tackle data science projects, and how to communicate your findings effectively. You will also know how to manage Big Data or how to build complex Deep Learning algorithms. It won't be easy though and although they give you all the resources you need, it will be up to you how much you get out of it. So expect all-nighters, some frustrating and seemingly hopeless moments combined with desperate runs to the coffee machine. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. You can do anything for 3 months and if you put all you have into it, you won't regret a single minute. I would do it again. Like I said, best decision I have ever made for my career.

Katie Sohn, Data Scientist

Digitas North America

"Awesome experience, highly recommend!"

NYCDSA is definitely a great program for anyone looking to get into data science. I can honestly say it was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have done. Despite not coming from a STEM background or having any sort of relevant experience initially, the bootcamp still prepared me to be able to land a data science job after. Prior to deciding to join the bootcamp I was referred by a friend who also did not come from a STEM background that highly recommended the program. I decided to try a part time Python course that was offered by the academy to see if this was something I could continue to pursue while also doing more of my own research. After the class I applied and got into the January cohort but decided to defer my acceptance to the following cohort. I think that if anyone is considering the bootcamp and does not have any sort of applicable experience like myself, I highly recommend giving yourself time to complete as much of the pre-work as possible before diving in. Between Python and R, I would try to get as familiar with Python as possible through the pre-work and even beyond that if possible. The staff emphasized this during the interview process and after being accepted, but this became even more apparent once the bootcamp started. The first few weeks of the cohort were more of a review from the pre-work and the class I had taken as we quickly learned both R and Python. However, because I had completed the course and completed a good amount of pre-work, I was able to focus more on solidifying concepts rather than struggling to understand and keep up with learning the code on the fly. This also helped towards the end when completing more complex projects, but I think that if I had dedicated an even greater amount of time beforehand, this could have helped me to push myself even further during the bootcamp. The reason I picked NYCDSA was because it had the best overall reviews and I wanted to learn both Python and R (I noticed some other bootcamps focused only on Python). The whole program was well structured and organized, but quickly became very intense once we started going into completely new material. It is all definitely manageable however, and what you get out of it really will be what you put into the bootcamp yourself. The staff also makes sure to simultaneously help you get your resume ready by the time you graduate and prep you for what to expect for interviews. In terms of my experience post bootcamp, the staff still does everything they can to support you in the job hunting process which I really appreciated and have a pretty large network to tap into. For myself, there was a lot of work to be done in terms of networking and preparation given that I was pivoting into an entirely different field, but I found that domain experience definitely helped in my case in terms of getting some interviews. When I look back on the bootcamp I'm really amazed at all we accomplished and learned in a relatively short time. I also made a lot of close friends in my cohort given that the majority of our time during the three months was spent together. It was great to learn alongside people with diverse experiences/backgrounds and I feel that for the most part everyone was supportive of one another. If you're interested in the field, willing to sacrifice the time, and want to challenge yourself, then I highly recommend signing up!

Elsa Vera, Data Scientist Associate

JP Morgan Chase

"A great way to jumpstart your Data Science career"

I am a Biology PhD and and I took the summer Data Science bootcamp at NYC Data Science Academy (NYCDSA). I can say that it exceeded my expectations in all stages of the journey towards a Data Science career. My objective of transitioning to a Data Scientist position was met in less than a month of full time job searching after finishing the bootcamp. I was actually accepted to the Data Incubator program but decided to join NYCDSA instead given its longer duration, stronger focus on education and broader job placement opportunities. The twelve weeks of the bootcamp were the most intense and productive weeks of my life. I have never learned so much and so fast (and I’m a PhD!) If you work hard, the final product is beautiful -- a well rounded Data Science portfolio with 4 creative projects that showcase different Data Science tools with its corresponding Github repositories, a polished resume and a solid coding and Machine Learning knowledge. My perspective on the different stages of the process are the following: 1. Pre-work. I appreciate the fact that NYCDSA provides your with interactive material to work through R and Python basics. I methodically worked through it 4 months prior the start date. Having dedicated time and effort to this part gave me a kick-start and allowed me to reinforce that knowledge during the bootcamp. 2. Bootcamp. The quality of the projects, Github repositories and preparation for Data Scientist interviews depends on the effort you put in this part. I can only encourage you to carefully work on every project and every class. It pays out. The curriculum is very complete and the Machine Learning classes are exceptional; something I would latter appreciate during my on site interviews. NYCDSA also gives coaching for interview and resume preparation and even provides a professional headshot. 3. The job search. I did not expect so much help and support in the job search process. I had regular follow up with NYCDSA hiring team and referrals for many companies through their contacts. I also had the chance to do a mock interview with one of the NYCDSA connections. Summing up, I fully endorse NYCDSA as an institution that provides a solid foundation of Data Science skills and support that allows student to be successful in their new career.

Taino Pacheco, Revenue Analyst

The New York Times

"A worthwhile investment for your career"

As someone who read many reviews during my decision to switch to data science, I understand how important these testimonials are for prospective students. That being said, if you are apprehensive about changing careers or investing in a bootcamp, rest assured that NYCDSA provides a quality education and valuable resources. This industry changes so fast. With that said, the academy really has their ear to the wall when in comes to new technologies, software, and machine learning algorithms. This will really keep your skill set competitive in the market no matter when you choose to join the program. Many other reviews have addressed the strength of the curriculum. So I want to comment on another benefit: Your professional network will grow tremendously by attending the program. When it comes to job searching, it's all about engaging with your network, hearing about opportunities from peers, alumni, and faculty, and getting referrals. The people you meet here can really be your support system for your job search and beyond. When it comes to how fast you can get a job, a lot depends on how well you learned the material and getting those elusive referrals. This bootcamp is by no means easy. You will be studying and brushing up on skills after you get your diploma!

Sunanda Mishra, Associate Predictive Modeller

Argo Group International Holdings

"Making a Career Change"

I went to NYCDSA in hopes of changing careers. My undergraduate degree was in statistics, and I worked as an actuary for 6 years and earned my actuarial credentials in this time. I was bored of actuarial work and was looking for a change into data science since my background was related. While I had the statistics knowledge, I needed to beef up my coding experience. After reading tons and tons of reviews of bootcamps, I narrowed it down to NYCDSA, Metis and Galvanize. NYCDSA had the most comprehensive syllabus and it looked like students found jobs relatively quickly after the bootcamp ended. NYCDSA lived up to my expectations with respect to how comprehensive the program was. The projects really helped me solidify my knowledge in Machine Learning techniques and my practice with coding. I will say, as an actuary and statistics major, my knowledge of statistics was already pretty decent. NYCDSA went through a semester's worth of course material in 1-2 days at times- this may be too fast to get a thorough understanding, however it's up to the student to study more outside of the bootcamp if needed. After the bootcamp, NYCDSA helped a ton with finding a job. After the hiring partner event, I had 5 interviews lined up with well established companies. Further, Vivian has connections with TONS of companies in NYC and her connections helped a lot with securing interviews beyond those at the hiring partner event. Vivian would reach out to us regularly to see how our job hunt is progressing and even offerred to have 1x1 sessions to make sure there was a constant pipeline of interviews. After 2 months of interviewing, I received 2 job offers. Both offers were from insurance companies that valued my actuarial background and my newly acquired data science skills. I can definitely say, I wouldn't have been able to land these jobs without being able to speak to the projects I did at NYCDSA during those interviews.

Paul Ton, Data Scientist

Tellic

"Incredibly rewarding experience"

My experience at NYCDSA was really great. All aspects of the program (the curriculum, the instructors, fellow students, and the job support) were top-notch! If I were sent back in time and had to make the choice again whether or not to join the bootcamp, I would say yes every time. The material they cover is three months of non-trivial exposure to a wide breadth of relevant, practically useful topics. And because they've been able to carefully tailor and refine the curriculum over the course of 15+ cohorts, it's highly distilled, but also designed in a way to constantly reinforce the most important concepts. Their job support and career coaching really streamlined the job search process for me. They have great industry connections, which increase opportunities. I found my current job from a hiring event the bootcamp hosts. But even beyond the course material and job support, it's the people and environment that really made the experience special for me. The instructors and TAs are both extremely knowledgeable and also super supportive and helpful. Additionally, you're surrounded by fellow students that come from all different background, but have all made the same choice as you, and they are all highly motivated and fully engaged - which is a rare thing.

Jennifer Lee, Fast-to-Action Manager

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

"NYC DSA Fall 2018 Cohort Review"

Overall, I had a great experience with NYC Data Science Academy (NYC DSA). I was part of the fall 2018 bootcamp cohort. Specifics regarding the different components of my experience are listed below: * Recruiting: I found the alumni interviews and reviews on the website to be extremely helpful. Because I was not coming from a statistics or development background, it was great to see success stories from people who had similar educational backgrounds and work experience. During the interview process, the recruiting contacts were extremely helpful, welcoming, and engaging, which made my experience much better than the more ‘transactional’ feel that I received from other bootcamps. Another key factor for me choosing this bootcamp is that NYC DSA allows you to complete the pre-work after you have been accepted. * Curriculum: The curriculum gets very difficult very quickly, especially for those that have little experience with coding and statistics. For someone coming from a more business-facing background, it does require significant work and time to get up to speed throughout the entire bootcamp. NYC DSA does provide all materials (i.e., lecture recordings, lecture slides, homework solutions, theory reviews) online, so it is a good resource for those that need to self study outside of class. * Staff Engagement: Leadership individuals from NYC DSA’s program are very personable, open to questions, and receptive to feedback. They are very open to revising the curriculum based on suggestions, which I found to be refreshing compared to other educational programs that I have been a part of. I have a technology / business consulting background and I am continuing with the same career path after the bootcamp. It was a great experience to gain deep exposure into AI and machine learning; even though I will not be acting in a true Data Scientist role, this is the type of experience that I will use regularly while working on data-focused projects and initiatives.

Zach McCormick, Senior Software Engineer

Braze

"Deep Learning w Jon Krohn"

Jon's course on Deep Learning was great. It started with the basics including the background theory, then progressed to looking at concepts in different fields like computer vision, NLP, reinforcement learning, etc. It required a bit of programming experience, but not too much for those worried about their experience level. Likewise for math chops - having a basic understanding of linear algebra helps in understanding the theory, but it's not required to use it in practice. Following along in class was great, and the materials he had available for learning outside of the classroom were fantastic as well (i.e. his materials on GitHub, links from his presentations to outside materials, etc.) If Jon does a course on Intermediate/Advanced Deep Learning, or deep dives on topics within deep learning, I'll definitely be on the waiting list!

Ha Seon Yun

"Jon Krohn: Deep Learning "

The Deep Learning course by Jon Krohn at the NYCDSA has been one of the best courses I've taken. With a focus on projects, Jon teaches students the tools they need to create their own deep learning project at any level. When I say at any level I really mean at any level. I'm a biology major originally and printed my first 'hello world' a year ago. Even with my very limited coding and programing background, I was able to complete a deep learning project involving creating my own labeled dataset and a convolutional network classifier. You can see it here on my medium page, https://medium.com/@jhaseon/glut1ko-genotyping-classifier-e49f0e5a4ca9. I really appreciated his course structure as he drills in the beginning of class what he terms 'arsenal' deep learning terms and theories which I believe played a huge role in my ability to even create a project. The course is just 5 weeks so a lot of information is packed in weekly, but it really is for deep learning hopefuls of all levels from the basics of keras in machine vision or natural language processing to the intricacies underneath tensorflow. Jon was insightful, responsive, and encouraging to his students throughout the course. He often broke down difficult theories and concepts on the whiteboard with easy to understand examples and drawings which I found very helpful. I am looking forward to more classes from him!

Emanuel Kamali, Data Engineer

Havis Media Group

"An immersive program that treats you like family. "

To all those students who just graduated from undergrad, grad school, or just received you're doctorate listen here. In today's society, the depth of knowledge that someone obtains does not cut it anymore. You need to have one other skill. Consider it a dual major if you will. What I mean by this is, I've met the most intelligent people at the boot camp. Each with tons of experience or no experience at all, none the less, all highly informed people in one category. Unfortunately, the industry they're trying to get into just has too many barriers to enter. Here comes NYCDSA, a company that teaches you on the job skills. They give you all the necessary attention to finally get out of that pigeon hole, or finally get that first job. Employers want to see people with varying experiences. NYCDSA gives you the best mix of hands on projects and learning material. I want to note that, this boot camp is strictly based off you're individual performance. What you put in, is what you get out. I was very unsure about this program when I started, but I can tell you in hind sight, this was the best money and time spent. I learned a completely new industry skill set and finally in the industry I want to be in.

Fangye Shi, Data Scientist

Lincoln Financial Group

"Great Bootcamp"

First off, my background: I have a PhD in mathematics. I learned coding (C++, python), machine learning and deep learning myself before bootcamp. But I still struggled to find a job. Therefore, I decided to attend an onsite bootcamp to boost my chance of landing a job. I picked NYCDSA because of recommendation from friends and positive online reviews. The overall experience with NYCDSA is amazing: Attending a bootcamp is different from learning from books/online lectures. It is more systematic and designed towards requirements on current job market. In addition to lectures, I have to do four projects on different aspects of data science (visualization, web scraping, machine learning, deep learning) where I get essential practice on how to apply theory to real problems. Besides, I made many good friends from different backgrounds and we learned a lot from each other. Last but not least, the career assistance is comprehensive: from resume review, mock interview to alumni referal and hiring event, the team there helped with every step in the job hunting process. In conclusion, I will recommend NYCDSA to anyone who would like to switch career to data science and is willing to work hard to get the most out of what the bootcamp can provide.

Navin Krishnakumar, Data Scientist

Siemens

"Deep Learning by Jon Krohn"

Deep learning course conducted by Jon offers a great learning experience for people starting with their journey on deep learning. Jon starts with the basics and gradually moves on the advance topics. The topics are shared well in advance so that we can prep ourselves before the class. Jon mixes the intuitiveness and the mathematics on the topic in a balanced way. As part of the course, Jon also encourages everyone to do a project and offers great support. My only piece of constructive criticism (which by the way is not at all a criticism) would that the last class is a bit heavy content wise and hence breaking it down a little would be something to consider. Overall, I would highly recommend this course to someone who wants to start with deep learning.

Shiva Panicker

"12-Week On-site Bootcamp"

I entered the bootcamp with a background in Mathematics and some previous exposure to machine learning theory. Programming was relatively new to me at the time, so my first course of action was to familiarize myself with Python and R. Thankfully, NYC Data Science Academy provided over 30hrs of pre-bootcamp material (video lectures, in-person lectures, and textbooks), which included coding in Python, R, and some introductory statistics. The program kicks off with a small overview of the tools needed to begin studying data science (mostly to bring everyone up to the same page), and then dives right in to data visualization as the first major topic of study. There is a strong sense of camaraderie with students throughout the program, and there is a strong family-like atmosphere in the space. Most importantly, the curriculum is very strong, and the instructors have deep practical and theoretical knowledge on the material covered. I found it a privilege to study under some of NYCDSA's staff, as they really are the cream of the crop. On top of a strong curriculum, there are many career workshops during and after the program is complete. Some of the workshops include professional development, discussions with industry leaders and practitioners (Kirk Borne spoke to my cohort), and interview/case study prep. The post-graduation network is incredibly strong and supportive for alumni seeking jobs, with frequent interview and networking opportunities provided. Vivian (the program founder) has a vast professional network, which she utilizes for student and alumni needs. I'm incredibly happy to have completed the program, and to have worked with such a terrific set of instructors, teaching assistants, and classmates during that time. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my data science career.

Celina Sprague, Data Analyst

Spotify

"Amazing program"

I came into the program from the finance industry, with two years of work experience, and no coding background. I knew I wanted to enter the data science industry from my interests attained from my company; however, I didn’t know how to make the transition from the finance to tech industry. I found out about the program through word of mouth and Google. I originally entered a bootcamp from the Flatiron School and was really unhappy with my experience - I ended up receiving a refund due to my poor experience, i.e., poor teaching, unformatted curriculum, and teacher turnover. I think the best way for me to tell you about my experience with this program is to compare my experience with a similar program at the Flatiron School. I was accepted into a beginners bootcamp for Data Science at the Flatiron School, mainly to see if data science is something I like and to prepare me for NYC Data Science Academy's bootcamp since I didn't have any coding experience really. Long story short and to be straightforward, my experience at the Flatiron School was horrible. The professors switched halfway through and while I'm sure they are very smart, their ability to teach was virtually non-existent. For example, one of the teachers would always ramble off technical terms and math equations when he could've stated the point of the equation. Keep in mind the beginners bootcamp was geared towards people with little to no mathematical experience, so rambling off complex equations and long words like "multicollinearity" is going to do practically nothing to those who have a small math background. In Flatiron's defense, when I took their bootcamp, I was one of their first class so I'm sure their bootcamp will improve with time. What happened for me was I actually got a ~60% refund because everyone in the class complained to the VP of education. On the other hand, my experience so far with NYC Data Science Academy is nothing but positive - I am so happy here and fully feel supported in my learning journey and career preparation. Professors here are very approachable and have an uncanny ability to explain complex ideas into very digestible and simple ideas. Moreover, before you even begin the program, you have a pre-work, which does provide a very good foundation of data science. For instance, the two videos on Python I had to watch was vastly better in information quality and summed up what I've learned at the Flatiron School in 5 weeks (note Flatiron School was ~ 7-10 weeks long). Once the program begins, you'll have homework, 4 projects (building an app, webscrapping, Kaggle competition, and capstone) starting the 2nd week of the program, and job placement prep work (resume/cover letter building, technical exam prep etc.). I think what really separates the Academy from every other program is by the time you graduate, you'll have a portfolio of 4 projects and 4 blog posts. Now, you might have some notion about blog posts, but they are super important because it shows employers you have the ability to perform technical work AND can write clearly to convey your findings. This combo makes you a unicorn in the data science industry since they have the stereotype of consisting of people without social and soft skills. Additionally, the career placement support is phenomenal - you'll get resume/cover letter/ email templates, technical question prep, and interview prep. They also have the equivalent of "on-campus recruiting" which makes a world of a difference than shipping your resume off via the internet. I've received an offer within the first week of being a TA and before the hiring event (the equivalent of on-campus recruitment). This is very fast for a program. Additionally, I’ll be joining a company I’ve wanted to work for since the first day of the bootcamp. The staff at NYC Data Science Academy put me in touch with people at the company at the beginning of the bootcamp, so I was able to keep in touch and network throughout the duration of the bootcamp. I could not be happier with my experience at the bootcamp, and will definitely be referring people to it and hire from the bootcamp once I’m further along in my career :)

Ilya Fischhoff, Postdoctoral Researcher

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

"Great intro to Deep Learning!"

I took NYC Data Science Academy's deep learning course, taught by Jon Krohn. Jon is a terrific teacher, and I would heartily recommend this course! Jon had tremendous enthusiasm and patience for questions while still keeping us on track with the schedule. He really broke things down into bite-size, understandable pieces, while still covering a lot of breadth and depth. I appreciated Jon making available his draft book, this really complemented the lectures. I liked the format of once-a-week lessons because it gave time for concepts to sink in and to practice things with my own data in between sessions. I appreciated that Jon made time to troubleshoot challenges we experienced in our own projects. The course was both a great introduction to concepts and to some of the ways people are applying deep learning; here examples from Jon's day job were valuable. One aspect of the course that was very helpful was that Jon set up a Docker environment for us, and shared very clear instructions for getting our computers set up with it in advance. We were all ready to go from the start. I'm all the more grateful for Jon having set that up after recently spending half of a workshop (run by a different data science academy) wrestling with Anaconda. The Jupyter notebooks all just worked, so we could focus on learning.

Tristan Dresbach, Data Scientist

Unilever

"Fantastic 12-week DS Bootcamp"

I didn't have a coding background and I was hired as a data scientist after graduating from the bootcamp. The program is extremely comprehensive, with challenging problem sets and 4 mandatory projects to showcase your abilities. For the last project, you have the opportunity to partner with firms the bootcamp has connections with to be able to apply your data science skills to a real world project. The support staff (TAs, teachers and bootcamp management) are always available and are more than helpful when job hunting. Not only does the bootcamp have deep connections with a multitude of firms, but they also setup a networking event for recent graduates to meet potential future employers which is how I ended up finding a job. The bootcamp also has a post-graduation curriculum which is extremely helpful when preparing for technical/white board interviews. The only downside would have to be the cost of attending both in terms of tuition and cost of living in NYC.

Lukas Frei, Data Science Consultant

PwC

"Challenging, Yet Extremely Rewarding Experience"

I chose the NYC Data Science Academy over other bootcamps mainly because of its outstanding reviews as well as the fact that it offers its courses simultaneously in R and in Python. After working through the extensive prework in Python, R, and SQL (an absolute must if you do not have any previous coding experience), I was perfectly prepared to attend the bootcamp. The bootcamp itself offered far more than I had expected. Phenomenal teachers that will give their everything to help you understand the topics, TA's that are always there to help with smaller questions as well as great classmates that made studying a lot easier. Nevertheless, you should not come here expecting a relaxed ride. Teaching data science in twelve weeks requires a fast pace and it will be up to you to put in those hours to complete the homework and review lectures. The curriculum itself is centered around four projects that deal with all aspects of the data science process, from gathering data (web scraping) over creating a dashboard to working on machine learning group projects. My initial intention coming here was to learn as much as possible as fast as possible and this bootcamp turned out to be everything that I had hoped for. On top of that, Vivian and the team offered several job search and interview preparation lectures and talks that I have not seen anywhere else. If you are looking for a data science bootcamp that covers all data science topics from start to finish and you are willing to put in the work, this bootcamp is the best decision you can make.

Thomas Deegan, Data Scientist

Boston Consulting Group

"Amazing Experience"

I could not have been happier with the bootcamp experience I had at NYC Data Science Academy. The staff was incredible and does an amazing job of designing a curriculum and creating an environment for a broad range of participants to develop their data science skills. They are constantly working to update the curriculum and are very open to feedback. I gained a great deal of confidence with both the theory and applications behind supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods, data analysis, statistics, data visualization, and big data tools. I became very comfortable with both Python and R and completed four projects that were enormously helpful come interviewing time. Post-bootcamp, I received several job offers as a Data Scientist that I was very pleased with. Perhaps most importantly, should you decide to attend this bootcamp, you'll be joining a constantly growing alumni network. There will be endless opportunities for networking, corporate training, and engagement. I would highly recommend this bootcamp to an aspiring data science professional.

Phoebe Zhou, Data Analyst

"Great bootcamp to start your data science journey,

continue job hunting assistance"

For someone without much programing experience or statistical training but want to get into data science. This is a great bootcamp for you to start. This does not mean it's easy, you still will have a lot of struggle and late night working on projects, but the school sets a great learning path and offer amazing assistance along the way. I'll list a few reasons why I picked NYCDSA : First, it has the most comprehensive and transparent curriculum online. It covers both Python and R and the skills and toolsets you get to use on the 4 projects are the most widely used ones across the industry. Second, it has pre-work and devotes the first 4 weeks of the bootcamp to review and practice the programming skills in the pre-work. This is really helpful for someone not coming from a CS background like me, helps me to better focus and learn the machine learning concepts that come later in the course. Third, the school is always updating the curriculum to catch up with the trend such as including deep learning and big data track upon students choice. Fourth, the final project is with real companies and dealing with real world business problems, which is always good talk about during job interviews. Fifth, the job hunting assistance is super, vivian is always on top of everything and ready to help. Having finished the program and landing a job offer after a few months. I'd say joining NYCDSA is definitely one of the best choices of my life. I have got what I came for, which is switch my career path. But I realized I gained so much more than that. I made a lot life-long friends who share the same passion and will continue to support each other in the future career. I want to leave additional review about NYCDSA's great job hunting assistance program. I graduated last summer and switched jobs again recentaly. I'm glad that I had the continue support from the academy through out the whole process. From job references, coding reviews, alumni talks to interview tips, all prepared me to land the job that I am doing now. You can always reach out and get the support from the whole alumni network

John Bentley, Product Data Analyst

Betterment

"Fantastic Instruction"

This is perfect for you if you already have some coding and math background and want to tie it all together into data science. The instructors are invested and clearly know their stuff, but with this kind of material you really need to apply yourself and study on your own to gain a complete understanding. You will acquire a good foundational understanding of machine learning techniques, but I think even more valuable is the broad (though in some places not super deep by necessity) exposure to lots of different data science and data engineering tools (R, pandas, AWS, Spark, Hadoop, Keras). The field is huge, and this is a good place to start. You can go a lot of different directions with the knowledge you gain here.

James Lee, Data Specialist

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

"Awesome bootcamp"

Fantastic Bootcamp with very knowledgeable instructors. I went from a Bachelor's graduate to rapid promotions and a new job offer. Like all bootcamps, you can't be expected to be spoonfed knowledge and techniques. There is a tremendous effort involved. However, the instructors here are very skilled and will help you with any difficulties you may come across. The bootcamp is constantly evolving with providing students with the most recent and the most widely used packages. I have learned tremendously and this experience became a solid foundation to my career.

Chaoran Chen, Data Engineer

AllazoHealth

"Great Bootcamp"

The program is very comprehensive. The syllabus is well structured. They make sure your time is only spent on most popular and useful technologies which are needed for a Data Scientist. I did some research before I choose the program. In my opinion NYCDSA has the most competitive arrangement of the courses. Python, R, Docker, Hadoop, Github are detailed explained. Prepare for a very intensive journey. After all the hard works you will be amazed about how much you can learn in 12 weeks. The instructors are very responsive. The TAs are also very helpful. They also hold events to build the relationship between you and the potential hiring partners.

Bob Trieste, Equities | FX Trader

Five Tree Capital

"Cutting-edge for all of today's industries"

This course was not only extremely cutting-edge for all of today's industries and work areas but it gave me a great deal of confidence to continue my data and computer science studies at the next level. This course has actually inspired me to not only enroll in other NYC Data Science Classes but also think longer-term about continuing graduate level work in CS. This was my first class at NYCDSA and all I an say is I am extremely grateful to have had Dr. Anthony Schwartz as an instructor. Anthony keep the material vibrant and fun with colorful analogies that made the subject matter easy to digest and remember. This allowed for both an esoteric understanding of what was happening "inside the code" coupled with real-world applications that began to streamline and automate a lot of my day-to-day work right after Class 1. I cannot say enough good things about NYCDSA and Dr. Shultz !!

Maria Mercedes, Program Analyst

Advocate Community Providers

"Introduction to Python Class "

I attended the 5 week Python course with Anthony Schultz . I will say that the course was challenging but Anthony explained the material in such a way that it was easier to grasp, he was patient and really took the time to make sure that we all felt comfortable with what we were learning. What I enjoyed most was coming to class and hearing how my peers or instructor approached a problem that was either in the homework or lecture. After taking this course I feel more confident in my coding abilities and hope to be able to take another course at NYC Data Science Academy again!

Kathryn A. Bryant, Senior Data Scientist

National Grid

"Best career decision I've ever made"

Attending the NYCDSA 12-week bootcamp is the best career decision I've ever made. I came to it after finishing my PhD in math and working for a year in academia. I wanted to get into data science for lots of reasons (leveraging my background, interesting problems, ample job opportunities, interest in coding, good pay, etc.) but after spending six years in graduate school, the last thing I wanted to do was go back to school for two years to learn basic data science skills. This program allowed me to do this career change quickly without compromising the quality of the material I learned. The program emphasizes sound foundations in coding in R and Python and in both the theory and application of machine learning. The pace is very fast but you learn and do an incredible amount in those 12 weeks. Even when full absorption of the material isn't possible, the bootcamp does a great job of exposing you to tools and concepts you'll need to be familiar with later. The projects are incredibly valuable for building skills and exposing future employers to your work. You would be spending your money wisely just to come and complete the projects. The bootcamp students and the TAs/instructors have varied backgrounds, which also makes for a great environment because you can learn from everyone. The entire company - from fellow students to TAs to instructors to the CTO and COO - is filled with smart, hardworking people who are pushing to help you reach your potential.

Richard Sheng, Co-Founder & CEO

QuantumViz

"Highly Recommend Jon Krohn's Deep Learning Course"

Going into the course, I was slightly afraid that I would get lost in the mathematical concepts, and may not have the necessary technical know-how. Turns out I actually had a ton of fun with this class. Jon's class preparation goes beyond any educator I have worked with. He is able to illustrate the complex concepts with super-easy-to-understand visulizations and/or videos. When it came to application, he walked us through, line-by-line, all the code, and incrementally built up the complexity. Honestly, I can't believe we were able to cover convolutional models, recurrent models, generative adversarial networks, and deep reinforcement learning in such a short time. There was ample amount of sample code in Jupyter Notebooks to follow. Aside from that, Jon was just super nice guy and very humble. The course is beneficial to those that just want to learn in more detail how Artificial Intelligence can be applied, and also those that are more senior data scientists that want to add Deep Learning techniques to their tool-belt. My only recommendation for the school is that it would have been nicer for a cloud environment to be set up for us, or to have very specific instructions on how we can do so. It turned out to be a great learning experience anyway, but for a non-technical person, it was slightly daunting at first.

Khanan Grauer

" Deep learning is an amazing class"

I took the class with Jon Krohn and could not be more pleased. Jon has a rare ability to take a complicated subject and reduce it to its fundamental elements. Instead of approaching the problems with math alone, Jon spends time crafting examples and analogies to make sure students understand the actual building blocks conceptually. That produces an epiphanic experience where we were able to visualize what is happening behind the scenes. The concepts I’ve learned in this class is something I plan to apply to real-world problems and therefore highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn about this field.

M. Aaron Owen, Data Scientist

MLB Advanced Media

"Perfect place to quickly transition to a career in data science"

I am extremely happy with my decision to attend NYCDSA’s 12-week data science bootcamp. I had recently completed my PhD in evolutionary biology and was looking for alternative career options. I found that data science satisfied both my intellectual curiosity and my desire for a challenging career, but I needed to find an avenue through which I could quickly make the change. I researched the different bootcamps in the NYC area and chose NYCDSA because the curriculum offered was unique, being taught in both R and Python, and the instructors had excellent academic and data science credentials. The program itself was fast-paced, in-depth, and admittedly, quite challenging. It began with coding fundamentals in both languages, and then progressed into the conceptual and mathematical foundations of machine learning theory. Along the way, we applied what we learned by completing four projects. Over the course of the bootcamp, the CTO and COO gave seminars on how best to prepare for the job interview process, and several alumni and other guest speakers gave us insight into their respective experiences in data science. At the end of the bootcamp, NYCDSA coordinates a hiring event where students are given the opportunity to speak with dozens of employers looking to hire data professionals. This was a great opportunity to get immediate exposure to potential job opportunities. Overall, while the bootcamp is quite demanding of your time and effort during the 12 weeks, it is absolutely worth it. I went from having almost no coding experience to a data scientist in a short period of time. I highly recommend NYCDSA’s boot camp.

Iman Singh, Senior Data Analyst

Gryphon Strategies

"Great Academy for Transitioning to Data Science"

I am a career changer with an educational background in the humanities, and the academy was crucial to get that important first job in a new field. The academy provided me the training and guidance build a small portfolio of data science projects, so that I was able to secure a job as a Senior Data Analyst at a great company. One thing that differentiates this academy from other bootcamps is that they teach both R and Python. I really appreciated this because understanding how the same techniques can be implemented in different languages is important - since there are so many languages out there. The machine learning concepts are reinforced the second time around in the new language. Also, learning R allows you to connect with the R community, which is very strong in NYC. I, personally, am currently doing most of my work in R even though I knew python better before entering the program.

William Fallon, Trader

Old Mission Capital LLC

"Great Experience!"

I am very happy to have had the opportunity at attend NYCDSA’s 12-week data science bootcamp. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to transition to a career in data science or develop skills necessary to succeed in a data driven field. Prior to joining the bootcamp, I studied math and economics in college before working in quantitative finance for more than five years. I was looking for a program that would provide a strong foundation in coding with an emphasis on the tools and methods used in Data Science. I was excited to get a comprehensive introduction to a number of machine learning methods and theory. When comparing to other programs, I liked NYCDSA’s commitment to teaching in two languages (R and Python) through the program and for using all 12 weeks for instruction - the curriculum was able to cover so much more as a result. As the bootcamp progressed, I chose to focus more on Python, and the program was structured well so it was possible to focus more on the language I preferred to get more experience with. The learning environment and instructors were incredible and far exceeded any expectations I had coming into the program. The classmates in my cohort were exceptionally smart and motivated individuals - everyone was a pleasure to work with and learn from, and they were a motivating force for me every week. A substantial number of the students had advanced degrees, with more than a handful having completed a PhD program. I loved the diversity of the students’ academic and professional backgrounds - this contributed so much to the learning environment. All the instructors were excellent - they are expert in their fields, passionate about sharing their knowledge, and great teachers. A huge draw for me to this program was the diversity of instructors, with at least 5-6 instructors covering various parts of the curriculum. While all of them were always available and happy to discuss and answer any questions, this structure allowed for each teacher to cover topics they are more expert in, so the quality of instruction was strong throughout the 12 weeks. Other programs had just one teacher for the full program - for such a big field that’s changing rapidly each year, the benefit to having multiple instructors to learn from and interact with was huge. The TA’s were also a great resource - these were generally previous bootcamp students who led homework reviews and discussions, and were available for questions each day and during the lectures. I found the homework to be generally very well thought out, not feeling like busy work or any longer or more tedious than necessary to reinforce the lessons. The workload was intense but manageable, and I always felt challenged with the opportunity to study or practice the skills more each week. I appreciated that we continue to have access to the course resources at the end of the 12 weeks - there are some topics I chose to focus less of my time on during the program that I’m excited to review in more detail now that the bootcamp is over. The projects also provided amazing experience - I was really impressed at the academy’s level of engagement with outside firms and institutions, which gave students the opportunity to get hands on experience working on a real data science problem. We also had the option to choose our own capstone projects, but the corporate partnerships presented a number of interesting and challenging projects in a really wide range of industries and non profit organizations. I did not make full use of the academy’s career and job placement tools, but their team has a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bend over backwards to share with the students. The team has a number of seminars and lectures in the second half of the program discussing data science jobs and interviews, and they bring interesting alumni back to share their experiences and candid advice with the students. Their team has incredible connections across all major industries, and they work hard to leverage their professional experience and network while helping each student navigate the challenges of job hunting and interviewing. I’m excited to continue using and building on these skills in my next professional role, and I hope sharing my experience will be helpful to other prospective bootcamp students.

Andrew Dodd, Machine Learning Engineer

Novetta

"An Amplifier"

Before I came to the bootcamp, I spoke with one of their instructors on a video call and he described the bootcamp as an amplifier of the skills and energy that you bring to the bootcamp. In my own words, it will not make you something that you are not. It will (probably) not flip your entire career 180 degrees. To be honest I was extremely skeptical of a 3 month bootcamp and then going to get jobs in the applicable field. I wanted proof so I read pages of reviews. 98% of them were highly positive. I talked to friends that went to similar bootcamps. I considered the pros and cons of getting an advanced degree in data science or machine learning. Ultimately, I chose this bootcamp because based on everything, it looked like this bootcamp would put me in a strong position to get a job in the applicable field within months rather than years. And it has. I will be starting work as a machine learning engineer starting in 2 weeks (it is currently a little over a month since I graduated). I came in with an engineering background, specifically focusing in robotics and spaceflight for a master's degree so I had a strong quantitative background. Before I came to the bootcamp, I studied in the evenings writing a couple machine learning projects in my free time for about 1.5 years prior to arrival. So, I may have studied a little more before arriving than the average student. However, many students I know are interviewing with multiple companies at this point so I can certainly vouch for the results of this program (as can the job placement percentage numbers given). In addition to the results, the bootcamp is a fantastic learning experience. You will be writing code in the evenings and often weekends. But I learned more at this bootcamp than I did in one semester of college by a significant margin. Like many things, you get out what you put in. I dedicated 10-12 hours daily studying and now have job options! The bootcamps topics are fast and many. I highly recommend reviewing most/all topics before arriving so that you can absorb as much as possible in such a short time period. Next, everyone is a pleasure to work with and the instructors are incredible. They each have a very strong grasp of their course material and can often relate the material well to the outside world. Homework drives home the points from lecture while projects are extremely instructive. Again, do hard work and you will have great projects. Finally, the hiring team will work as hard as they can to help you get a job and the right job. They are passionate about us getting jobs and have a lot of connections in the city. 25% of the worth of this bootcamp at least is in the hiring help and the support structure of the fellow students in my opinion. That brings me to my last point, I moved here from California, and after 3 months I now have lasting friendships with some very smart, hard working future data scientists. Disclaimer: I was not paid or coerced to write this review. I think this bootcamp is one of the best you will find. I considered many, and this was my top choice.

Michael Roman

"This Deep Learning Course Was a Joy"

I recently graduated from Jon's Deep Learning course at the New York Data Science Academy and was a big fan. I think the course did a great job of introducing students to the deep learning landscape, helping us understand what makes deep learning techniques excel at a wide range of tasks and then diving into the code (Keras, TensorFlow) to show us how to spin up various networks (NN Regressors, NN Classifiers, Convolutional NN, RNN's, Reinforcement Learning networks, GANs). Jon is a PHD neuroscientist and one thing I particularly enjoyed about the course was that Jon drew upon his background to connect the artificial neural network content with its biological inspiration. To highlight an example, he weaves in the Cambrian Explosion and Hubel & Wiesel's breakthrough experiment on vision in cats to provide context and color on the emergence of complex biological vision systems on earth, its role in the explosion in speciation that occurred ~540 million years ago, and how in the (super recent, relatively) 1950's the scientific community finally began to understand the neural basis for visual perception. It was breakthroughs in scientific understanding like these that motivate certain machine vision architectures we explore in the course. It felt, at many moments, like really mind-bending stuff. Students are encouraged to complete a deep learning capstone project for the course and there were plenty of opportunities to get valuable feedback and mentorship when we got stuck, which was great. This course is probably best suited for folks with some background in coding and a familiarity with foundational machine learning concepts. Overall, it was time and money well spent.

Patrick Masi-Phelps, Data Scientist

Dataiku

"Ideal Bootcamp for Pivoting to Data Science"

TL;DR: The NYCDSA full-time bootcamp is a great way to start a career pivot into data science. The curriculum covers the most important topics in the space; the instructors are accessible and actually care; and you'll get out what you put in. The first four weeks are python and R basics. These can get a little tedious and heavy on programming, but are important so that you can fly around when doing the more advanced stuff. The next couple are on web scraping, then a few more on machine learning, then some on more advanced topics like distributed computing, time series analysis, and deep learning. The 3-hour morning lectures are helpful and touch on the most important issues from a high level. The homework assignments (usually every other day) and projects (4 total) are how you actually retain the information. If you stay on top of these assignments and aren't afraid to ask for help, you'll learn so so much! I thought the first ~8 weeks were thorough and well-paced. I thought the last 4 weeks rushed through a number of advanced topics without enough time to retin the information through projects, homeworks, and other "real world" practice. I'd recommend choosing a few of these topics to really focus on in your projects rather than trying to understand everything from the last 4 weeks just from a high level. This particular bootcamp has a lot of industry connections. After graduating, the hiring partner cocktail event will lead to a number of interviews with companies looking for entry level people. Taking this bootcamp (or any other, frankly) provides a stamp of legitimacy on your pivot to data science that you probably couldn't get from just teaching yourself python and doing online coursera courses. You'll get out what you put in with NYCDSA. Sometimes this means 60 hour weeks right before projects are due.

Chao Shi, Senior Data Scientist

National Grid

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.

Claire Vignon, Senior Analyst

Casper

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

William Zhou, Informatics Specialist

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

WHY Data Science and WHY NYCDSA: I had no idea about data science until 2016 Feb when Alphago defeated Li Shishi and it was the first time for me to get to know what is Artificial Intelligence and what is machine learning. Bringing my huge curiosity, I self-learnt an online Machine Learning course on Coursera and was able utilize the skill , for the first time, in my working project and had a positive outcome. Being proud of my achievement, I also realized there was still a long way down the road. This is actually the reason why I decided to join bootcamp - fully armed myself with comprehensive data science skillset and then shifting my career towards a new page. NYCDSA is a perfect choice for me as it teaches anything you need to know to work as junior data scientist and allows you to keep full time job as the same time.

Experience: Even though it is an part-time online bootcamp, I was investing 40+ hours / week on studying slides, having office hour with TA and doing projects with current full time students. The bootcamp starts with an introduction Toolkits (Unix,Git,SQL,etc.), followed by introduction to R/Python, then followed by statistics and machine learning immediately applied using R and Python. The comprehensive curriculum is completed by an introduction to Big Data tools. I was able to finish a strong portfolio with 4 projects in Shiny App, Web Scraping, Kaggle and Capstone. I learned a lot especially by collaborating with full time students and TAs, so I would strongly recommend those online students who are physically in NYC, walk in the classroom and collaborate with full-time students on your last two projects.

In terms of job assistance, NYCDSA can provide tremendous assistance on your job hunting after your graduation. Vivian and Chris know what you need to have on your resume to catch HR’s eye and get an interview, and they have a strong network which can expose you to much more opportunities.

Outcome: I finally received offer from 2 Top insurance companies, 2 Top hospitals, and 2 boutique consulting companies. I feel my investment of 7 months of study and $16K totally worth as it allows me to finally launch my dream job. Thank you New York City Data Science Academy and I would recommend it to anyone who has same dream to be a data scientist.

Yabin Fan, Data Engineer

Samsung

I would highly recommend anyone who wants to switch career to data science or strengthen data science knowledge to apply NYC Data Science Academy.

Before I joined the Boot camp, two of my close friends already graduated from the program and landed their dream jobs. So unlike most of people who don’t know too much about this program and have to do some research before applying it, I applied the program without a hesitation and also had a high expectation as well.

The curriculum design was excellent and really taught you how to learn new tech skills, frameworks quickly. It could be hard for people who are not exposed to programming or statistics to keep up the pace. Make sure to go through all the pre work and learn basic statistics before attending the boot camp. Once you started to work on your final project, you will notice that you’ve learned so much.

All the instructors are very talented and very patient to students.

Vivian and Chris work hard to help you to find a good job once you’ve graduated. After you graduate, NYCDSA sticks with you. Vivian and Claire emailed us frequently with new job opportunities and openings.

It’s not going to be easy. You will have nights you have to stay up to finish the project, missed parties that you don’t have time to attend to. But it will be worth it! The knowledge that I’ve learned in 3 months are way more than my two years master degree and I got my dream job too.

I’ve never regretted to attend NYC Data Science Academy. I’ve met so many amazing friends in the boot camp. It’s a very valuable experience to me in terms of career development and personal growth as well.

If you are passionate about data science and big data and you are willing to put hard work to achieve the goal in a short time of period, there is no better place than NYC Data Science Academy to learn data science skills.

Katie Critelli, Associate

Deutsche Bank

What impressed me most about my experience at NYCDSA was that it exceeded all of the expectations I had from speaking with the instructors and researching the program online. The entire team truly went above and beyond and I have only positive things to say about the instructors, the curriculum, and the way the experience changed me personally.

I found the instructors at NYCDSA to be not only incredibly knowledgeable, but approachable, thoughtful teachers. They seemed to really care about each student’s development and regularly stayed late in the evenings to offer help. If they could not be present in person, the instructors were always an e-mail/Slack message away and made it a point to check in with students and offer additional resources. I also liked that they not only taught the theory behind machine learning algorithms, but explained their most common applications and pitfalls to watch out for.

The curriculum at NYCDSA is constantly updated to reflect the most valuable skills for the real world. I found during interviews that whenever I was asked whether I had experience with a certain data science technique or language, I could either say “yes” or show a project to demonstrate my skills directly. What I was taught always matched up with what was requested of me in the interviewing or working world. Even after the end of the bootcamp, I kept my slides and materials for review, and was provided with hundreds of interview questions to help me succeed going forward.

Most importantly, the NYCDSA provided an amazing support group and helped me transform myself during a critical point in time. The other students were dedicated, kind, and came from all different backgrounds. I learned a huge amount from them and the instructors about the process of learning a skill like data science/programming and collaborating successfully. Apart from teaching the curriculum, instructors also provided resume reviews, listened to elevator pitches, and made themselves available to discuss interview experiences. I felt as though I had a whole village behind me, rooting for my success.

I would without a doubt recommend NYCDSA to any friends or colleagues looking to learn data science. It was an exceptional experience and I feel grateful to have found it.

Jake Bialer, Data Scientist

QCatalyst

I came into NYC Data Science with experience working as a data analyst at several companies and active data consulting work.

At NYDSA, I wanted to spend three months solidifying my existing skillset as data analyst and learning areas that I did not know much about like machine learning and big data. In my jobs, I had previously worked with both Python and R, and appreciated the value of both languages. I also liked that NYDSA wasn't part of some big cookie cutter data science bootcamp chain.

For the first month of NYCDSA when we covered topics like data wrangling, visualization, shiny, and web scraping, it was mostly review for me. That being said, I learned some new tools and tricks, and was able to work on some interesting projects with some help with from our great teachers. I also got to meet and learn from a lot of interesting classmates. The students at NYDSA come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from PHDs to straight out of bachelors programs, and are definitely part of the value of the program.

After watching me instruct classmates on web scraping, which I had a lot of experience with before the bootcamp, NYCDSA asked me if I wanted to record web scraping lectures for their online data science bootcamp. I agreed to record them and got to have some experience teaching while I was still a student in the bootcamp, which both solidied my skills and helped me earn back some of tuition.

During the machine learning and big data portion of the bootcamp, I was exposed to lots of new material and learned a lot. While I still have a lot to learn, I now have a good understanding of different machine learning models and techniques, and some of the big data technologies.

One month after the bootcamp ended, I started working full-time at a consulting company that I was consulting for during the bootcamp. With my experience in the program, I was able to negotiate better terms on my contract with the company. In addition, I have been doing some additional data science consulting on the side (one project referred by NYCDSA) and the skills learned at NYDSA have benefited me in all my work.

If you invest your time in the program, you will get three months of data science learning with awesome teachers who know their stuff and are willing to help you through any learning hurdles. As someone who has and continues to learn most of this stuff on my own, three months with expert teachers definitely accelerated my learning pace. So if you want to spend three months learning a lot of data science, I would recommend you sign up

Mustafa Koroglu

The motivation for attending a data science bootcamp generally starts with reading testimonials, which are the experiences and thoughts of past fellows. I believe that my experience as a remote participant in the Summer 2017 bootcamp is unique as the NYC Data Science Academy made it live stream to me throughout the bootcamp. This is totally different experience than doing bootcamp online as I was able to join lectures, industry expert speaker sessions, and workshops as the fellows did in person. This was indeed a great opportunity for me as I was able to ask my questions during the lectures and seminars and participated actively with my comments. The crucial point here is that live streaming the bootcamp and communicating through Slack channel made it possible for the team at the Academy to track my progress in the assignments and projects daily and encouraged me to participate fully in the bootcamp.

I can definitely say that attending the NYC Data Science Academy bootcamp was one of the greatest investments in my life. I learned how to code efficiently in R and learned to code in Python with real-life projects. I am hundred percent sure that my attendance to the bootcamp let me to find my current data science related post doctoral position. I could suggest future candidates take some initial online courses for machine learning and deep learning, where they will find themselves more comfortable while approaching highly-technical projects in the bootcamp.

One of the strongest sides of this bootcamp at the NYC Data Science Academy is the time and effort that the hiring team spends on. For remote participants, this is much more valuable than any other thing as you are receiving constant help in finding the best job depending on your portfolio. And you feel that you are a member of an excellent group of data scientist. As an active learner of data science field, I recommend the NYC Data Science Academy with full of confidence.

Aarsh Sachdeva, Quantitative Analyst

Analytic Investors

I came to NYCDSA immediately after graduating from college with a bachelors in math and finance. I had been struggling with passing quantitative interviews due to my lack of programming skills. The New York City Data Science Academy helped out sooo much on that end by constantly keeping us busy with lectures, homework, and projects. I was very surprised at how quickly I was able to learn programming in Python and pass assessments and interviews for a number of top hedge funds. There is no way I would've been able to learn as much as I did in as short amount of a time anywhere else. On top of that, having instructors, TAs, and a team devoted to helping me develop the skils and connections I needed was invaluable. After graduating from the bootcamp, I completed a project in Python for a quantitative investment firm, impressed them, and got the job. I'm so glad I came to NYCDSA to build the skills I needed for a career I'm truly passionate about.

Andrew Rubino, Data Lead

Dotdash

I came to New York City Data Science Academy because I wanted to become a better coder, to become more knowledgeable about machine learning, and to get a better job. Having completed the bootcamp in the Spring of 2017, I can say that through the Data Science Academy, I was able to accomplish all three.

Before the bootcamp

Previous to the bootcamp, I had a job as a data analyst which gave me the exposure SQL, Linux, Hadoop, and some Python - all tools that are taught in the academy. I knew I wanted to improve my overall problem solving approach, specifically using Python and R. After a few years as an analyst, and many months of debating if enrolling in a machine learning bootcamp was worth the time and money, I decided to go for it. Although I do not have a masters degree like many of my fellow cohort members, I knew that I could use my work experience to my advantage in preparing for the bootcamp. Like many others have stated, giving yourself enough time to go over the 100+ hours of prep work before the bootcamp is highly advised - being able to perform the basics of Python and R will set you up for success.

Preparing before the bootcamp is also crucial in another way. As you spend more time studying, you spend less time doing all the other normal things you’re used to doing in your life. In order to make the most out of the bootcamp, sacrifices must be made, from your social life, to your eating and sleeping habits, and to the amount of coffee you normally drink. If you don’t get used to it before, adjusting to these changes midway through the bootcamp can be a challenge.

During the bootcamp.

If you spend enough time preparing before the start of the bootcamp, then the first month or so should not be too challenging (but still very useful). Many of my fellow cohorts actually became nervous, thinking that our investment in the bootcamp might not have been worth it. Don’t fret. After going over the basics again, the fun truly begins.

After the first month, you will spend every day learning machine learning concepts, applications, statistics, and then applying these techniques in both Python and R. This is no easy task in a few short months, which is why the instructors, teaching assistants, and Vivian, deserve so much credit in churning out so many qualified data scientists in such short time. The instructors are always, at all times, helping and guiding you in the right direction. On top of that, you have the additional resource of working with your fellow cohort members, all who have unique backgrounds and always willing to help.

In the end, the journey would not be worth it without days of extreme struggle and frustration. Some days I felt really confident in the material, other days I did not think I had what it takes to be successful. What I believe the instructors are best at is instilling the confidence in each and every student, spending as much time with you as needed to successfully complete the projects.

The last few weeks are spent on tidying up your resume, github, blog posts, and interview skills. Aside from learning both R and Python in the bootcamp, one of the reasons why I chose the Data Science Academy was because of the strong professional connections that Vivian and the team have developed over time. The final day is dedicated to a networking event, where the ratio of companies to students is almost 1 to 1. Although it can be a bit nerve wracking, Vivian and the team do a good job of preparing you on what to expect.

After the bootcamp

I was lucky enough to land an internship at a startup as a data science intern from one of the participating companies at our networking event. I have to give my experience to the bootcamp all the credit for this. Had I not had relevant experience and projects to speak of, I would not have been able to land the job. As my internship was coming to an end, I spent more time with Vivian and the team doing mock interviews, going over practice questions, asking for help on take home assignments, and constantly reviewing. Without a doubt, I can say that the three months of the bootcamp was the second hardest thing I’ve ever done - the first hardest thing was getting a job afterwards.

Vivian and the instructors have the uncanny ability of knowing what specific skills you need to improve on, based on constant back and forth communication based off of past interviews, as well as the interviews you eventually take. You will fail, and fail a lot. Most data science interviews are designed to test you on the very limit of your knowledge on data science subjects. With practice, you will answer the questions confidently, and even if you are unsure of a question, you will be able to communicate a thorough data science process on how you think the question could be answered. If you fail an interview, it’s another lesson on how to improve for your next interview, which Vivian will most likely have helped you set up already.

After months and months of dedicating my life to all data science related activities, I have landed a job as a data lead at a media company, and have the entire NYC Data Science Academy program to thank for it. If you are seriously considering a future career in data science, then I can 100% vouch for the academy, so long as you are ready to work harder than you have ever worked in your entire life. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it.

John Chen, Software Engineer

American Express

It's important when learning anything to get the fundamentals right. If you build bad habits, it can become difficult to fix them later on, especially if you have also built many dependencies on those bad habits. This is why when I wanted to start learning about data science, I chose to take this course to help me make the right choices from the very beginning.

I would say that I got exactly what I came for. Tony is a very good instructor. He is able to express complicated concepts in an understandable way, and I would definitely say that now I understand enough about the Python ecosystem that I could start learning on my own if I wanted.

Mahipal S, Associate Director of Development

KPMG

I attended the Deep Learning course at the NY Data Science Academy that was taught by Jon Krohn during October 2017 - December 2017. Overall it was exactly what I hoped it would be. It gave me a strong foundation of all the core deep learning concepts. The class was hosted on every other Saturday which allowed enough time to fully explore a particular topic between classes. Jon made a particular effort to keep the material simple and explained the concepts intuitively rather than with complicated math. Jon has great understanding of the content and is well prepared for each lesson. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and it has motivated me to pivot my career into deep learning. I would recommend this class to anyone who is passionate about deep learning but don't know where to begin. It is also great for anyone who has worked with some but not all of the deep learning techniques.

Thomas Kassel, Data Scientist

Carbon Lighthouse

I spent my undergraduate years focusing on the life sciences without much formal educational background in programming and advanced statistics. While working as a data analyst my first few years out of college, I gained practical coding experience in R, picking up general programming and modeling experience - even still, I lacked the underlying foundation needed to understand and implement more complex machine learning for my projects at work. The NYCDSA online bootcamp was the perfect blend of machine learning theory and practical, hands-on projects helping to solidify the lecture concepts. The overall experience was intense: I worked full-time at my day job and spent most of my free time (~30 hours/week) keeping up with lectures, course projects and career development - but got out an incredible learning experience, which helped me to perform more advanced projects at my current job and ultimately to find a new full-time data science role. My TA, meeting with me at least weekly, along with my online cohort of 4 other students, held us all accountable for staying on track with course deadlines and project work. This accountability was a crucial component in keeping us motivated throughout the 5 months; other online programs fail to do this and suffer student dropout as a result. Another invaluable outcome of the program is the portfolio of projects (~5), which NYCDSA greatly emphasizes and helps groom. I used these as a demonstration of my experience (both from a coding standpoint on GitHub, and data storytelling standpoint, on the NYCDSA blog) in almost all job applications. While one does not need to attend a bootcamp in order to create a project portfolio, NYCDSA makes sure to curate and grade the assignments so as to demonstrate in the portfolio an important mix of technical skillsets sought in the job market, and holds its students to higher standards of work quality than they might hold themselves.

Wann-Jiiun Ma, Fraud Data Scientist

Citi Bank

I was a postdoc at Duke University (Engineering) and my background is control and optimization. I participated NYCDSA Online Data Science Program (10/2016 - 02/2017).

NYCDSA online video lectures have a very high quality. I found that the well-organized class material and lecture notes very helpful to prepare for data scientist job interviews. I can review the material repeatedly until I am ready for the interviews. Also, almost everything I need to pass a data scientist job interview is covered in the program, which can certainly facilitate my interview preparation.

Finally, Vivian and the entire NYCDSA team are extremely helpful for data scientist job searching. From resume/cover letter revision, coding practice, to data scientist technical interview preparation, NYCDSA has enabled me to make a smooth transition from academia to industry.

I found a job at Citibank as a Fraud Data Scientist. Without NYCDSA online program, I would have to spend much more time to find the right direction to achieve what I have been able to accomplish through this online program.

Mayank Shah

-Live-

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.

Kyle Gallatin

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.

Carlos Salas

I was enrolled in the NYC Data Science Academy full-time bootcamp during 1Q17. I found it a very good programme to enhance my computer science skills, particularly in the fields of EDA (exploratory data analysis), machine learning and web scrapping. In my case it was a very good way to upgrade my skill set and enhance my professional profile (originally finance field). Positives: - The program materials are very good (theory and exercises) allowing to properly study the syllabus and find the right balance between theory and practice. - The school staff is very close and dedicated to the cohort and always looking for feedback to improve the experience. - I am more a "lone wolf" type of person but I found useful to be forced to cooperate in one project with other team mates as it allows to have a experience close to what a real job in Data science will be. Things to bear in mind: - You need to have at least a good basic-to-intermediate level in coding. If you never have coded, you better spend 3-6 months preparing yourself using Python and R beginner courses since the programme can be an uphill struggle for those who lack of minimum programming skills. - This bootcamp is very focused on EDA (Exploratory Data Analysis) and Machine Learning. Although big data software like Hadoop or Spark is in the syllabus, it's basically an introduction since the program lasts only 3 months. If you are looking for a pure Big Data experience, this is not your program although it offers a good intro. - This is a non-stop bootcamp so prepare yourself to be fully-committed during the 3 months as you will have to attend lectures in the morning and deliver homework almost on a daily basis. Overall, I enjoyed my time at NYCDSA and think is probably the best bootcamp for professionals looking to upgrade and enhance their computer science skills specializing in Data Science.

Yvonne Lau

Rochetmiles

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:

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!
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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. :)

Rahul Bhat

Took the weekend course for Machine Learning with R. Course was very helpful in helping me understand the basics of Machine Learning, different models. My instructor was Luke. He was very helpful and would spend enough time covering each topic. He even took an additional class because he didn't want to rush through the material. Overall I am quite satisfied with the results. Would recommend Luke to anyone else who is interested to venture into Machine Learning field.

Lukasz

I studied mechanical engineering and physics for my undergrad at a top university and work in product management with a focus on search. I took this class to satisfy a personal interest in the subject matter and familiarize myself enough with the fundamentals of machine learning to be able to explore the field more deeply on my own. I was also motivated by a career interest: the subject matter is highly relevant to my domain, and I feel that developing an understanding of the concepts and how to deploy them myself will make me better at my job long-term. Prior to enrolling in the class, I spent roughly 8-10 hours learning R and felt sufficiently prepared (I had some previous programming experience). In the end I was extremely happy with this class (Machine Learning in R on Saturdays, 8 hrs at a time). The curriculum and content were excellent, the instructor, Luke, was fantastic and the assignments were challenging and informative. I felt the course did a really great job of driving home the core fundamentals of each subject with a focus on statistics, mathematical theory, derivations and best practices. We covered a LOT of material, yet the material had a lot of depth. I thought the sequencing of the subject matter was very well thought out as well. The class was demanding and had the caliber of a graduate-level course. The course also struck a very nice balance between theory and implementation. After learning about a new model, we would immediately implement it in class using R on our own machines. Luke did a particularly great job at relating the implementation back to the concepts and teaching us how to interpret outcomes of our analyses (I can’t stress enough how important this latter point was for me). He has a really strong grasp of the subject matter, he’s very patient and responsive to questions, offers a lot of insightful commentary on the theory, implementations, and best practices, and he cares about his students a lot. The homework assignments complement the class nicely as well, helping to drive home the methods taught in class and how to interpret your work. If you’re interested in developing a strong understanding of the fundamentals of machine learning in a rigorous format, this class is for you. I also couldn’t recommend Luke as an instructor more. He’s awesome! I was also was very pleased with my choice of the R class. R reduces a lot of the friction in model implementation, which allowed me to focus on developing an understanding of the concepts and interpreting results.

Spencer Stebbins

Data Scientist
CKM Advisors

Preface:
I attended the July cohort and was then a Data Science in Residence at the NYCDSA prior to accepting an offer for a Data Scientist role at a consulting firm based in NYC. I will do my best in this review to be as straightforward about my experience and address a lot of questions I had prior to the program and have understood a lot of incoming students to have had through prepping them for the program.
My Overall Opinion:
Lets start with this: get over your hesitation, take a leap of faith, and you surely will not regret your decision to attend the NYC Data Science Academy 12 Week Bootcamp. Whatever reservations you have, you are not alone; almost all graduates have felt that prior to attending the program. You may be wondering about if this program will really teach me the necessary skills to get a job, am I prepared enough for this, will the program be rigorous enough, and most pivotally; is this the right decision for me? I cannot speak for you, but I can attest to my own experience and I graduated this program with no regrets, soak in a waterfall of new knowledge and skills, and have walked away a smarter, more capable, more confident professional now employed Data Scientist in field. The program is amazing, and the instructors are passionate, and you will learn a lot, but that also being said, you get as much as you put in and the first step is trusting in yourself to join and commit to the three rigorous and insightful months ahead of you.
My Background:
Prior to attending NYCDSA, I was a software engineer at a large shipping company for almost 2 years focusing primarily on front end development. Before that I attending another bootcamp called Hack Reactor, similar to NYCDSA, to study software engineering and javascript. It was growing interest in machine learning, the success of my experience at Hack Reactor and the thirst for that similar immersive and intensive program that led to me to the NYC Data Science Academy. In another life, I graduated from NYU with a degree in Music Business.
Common Questions:
Do you need a masters or a background in a quantitative field?
The answer is no. No, you do not need a masters degree or professional experience in a quantitative field. During my cohort, I thought some of the best and most creative presentations and chosen topics by students were from some that had no prior coding or heavy math experience. That being said, coming in with a math or software engineering background will definitely allow you to vamp up your projects flashiness and you may have an easier time understanding some of the formulas associated with the advanced machine learning algorithms.
Will I get a job from this program? What are the job stats? etc..
Although I can't attest to job stats, I received my first offer less than 6 weeks after the program ended. I met the firm at the Career Day at the end of the program. Vivian, the CEO of NYCDSA, is the job placement tsar and wizard and without her and her relationships with so many great firms there would not be as many companies at the career day as there are: Spotify, JP Morgan Chase, MindShare, etc.. Vivian will do every in her power to connect you with your dream job. That being said, getting an offer is entirely on you. You must have great visual and complex projects, you must interview well, and you must be actively job seeking and cultivating relationships on your own. Vivian and the team will do everything they can to prepare you and connect you with your dream job, but you need to show up with the bus fair to ride the bus. I cannot stress this enough.
How does this compare to other bootcamps?
I am actually in a unique position to answer this question. A few years prior to graduating NYCDSA, I graduated Hack Reactor, which is a similar 12 week bootcamp, but for software engineering. Prior to that I took web development course at General Assembly, Coursera Machine Learning courses, Harvard Extension School’s Intro to Data Science class to name a few. Needless to say, I’m hungry for knowledge and a challenge. I can’t speak to the other Data Science bootcamps out there like Metis or Galvanize, but I can say that there is nothing like 3 months of learning something at a such a rapid pace. The sum of its parts is greater than the whole and you can spend years learning on your own secondary to whatever else you are doing or you can jump in the deep end. I did before with Hack Reactor and walked away amazed and the same held true for NYCDSA.
Inside Tips:
Pick good project topics. Your projects will be portfolio to potential employers and if your project outshines the other students, employers will take notice.
Pick good project team mates. I didn't have a poor experience with anyone I worked with, but it goes without saying that if you pick bright, easy to work with project partners, you'll be able to build a better end product.
If you don’t know how to code in R or Python and have no prior experience code - Learn now. Codeschool.com is an excellent introductory resource.
DO NOT think you will have a social life. This is only 3 months of your life, but 3 very important months, so give it your all and don't expect to get as much out of it if you don't.
Comments to the Academy:
Scaling the program will require more job assistance personnel.
Increasing the amount of coding done in the program may be beneficial as most jobs now require coding every day and are rarely purely theoretically
Additional content on computer vision would be fun
More TAs and one on one knowledge quizzes (like done as a group at the end of the course)

Lydia Kan

Data Scientist
Publicis

Overall:
I will recommend this bootcamp to anyone who is eager to learn and have great passion towards data science. Before I attended the bootcamp, I received my master degree in marketing from school. I did not have a lot of math and coding background back then. With my passion towards data science, I decided to take a deep dive and applied for the NYCDSA’s 12 weeks bootcamp. Due to my limited coding background, they did not accept me at the beginning, instead, they provided one month prep course for me to get prepared for the bootcamp. I attended the September cohort after the prep course. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. With the extensive knowledge and training, and great support in job assistance, I am able to land my dream job in 2 months after bootcamp.
Curriculum:
The curriculum is very well designed. I did a lot of research before I applied for this bootcamp. NYCDSA is the only program that covered data science in both R and python, big data processing tools such as Hadoop, Spark at once. I am really glad that I started my journey in data science with them, so my foundation in data science is much stronger now than I was when taking online classes by myself before. The curriculum will also help you to develop a portfolio for job hunting, however, you are the one who decides how much effort you want to put in and how far you want to go.
Instructors:
The instructors and TAs are the best part of the bootcamp. You will never receive this kind of learning experience through online courses. They are all very knowledgeable in computer science, statistics, and machine learning. They are so passionate, and so willing to help each student. There were so many times that they stayed after 7pm, came in during weekends, answered slacks questions at 11pm to provide extra helps. They are far more than just instructors and TAs, but also supportive friends after I finished the program.
Job assistance:
I got hired by a major ad agency as a data scientist within two months of completing the bootcamp.
The hiring team put the best effort to help their students. They hosted awesome hiring partners event, which the students got to make connections and talk to some great companies, such as IBM, citi bank, Mindshare, Publicis and so on. During my job hunting process, Vivian tried her best to provide any connections with the companies that I really wanted to get in. I also received a lot of helps and mentorship from Chris. The way he helped me to prepare for net-working and interviews are very strategic, systematic, and effective. I learned so much and I won’t get this far without him. You can learn all the hard skills anywhere else, but this kind of support and mentorship is hard to find even if you have a lot of money.
They provide as many helps as they can, but you have to be proactive and eager to learn to take everything in!

David Steinmetz

Machine Learning Data Engineer
Capital One

Attending the NYC Data Science Academy 12-week Data Science Bootcamp was one of the best decisions I have made. It was instructive and rewarding. It provided a speedy career transition and enabled me to get a job within two months of graduation as a Machine Learning Data Engineer at Capital One. I will summarize my background and describe my experience at the bootcamp and why I recommend it highly.
I have a PhD in materials science, which is a blend of math, chemistry and physics. I had programmed models and simulations in Matlab, but have no formal computer science education. I switched to management consulting after the PhD to apply my analytical skills in the business world and quickly realized there is a great need for data analysis at companies. After taking the complete Data Science Specialization on Coursera, I knew I wanted to switch to data science and found the NYCDSA bootcamp to be the most comprehensive, teaching R, Python, and Big Data technologies.
I recommend this bootcamp for three reasons: quality of teachers and materials, structure, and networking, both at the bootcamp and in job placement.
It takes a lot of knowledge, experience, and hard work to distill complicated and complex topics and communicate them in a simple and understandable way. The materials presented in this bootcamp were presented that way. When I can understand statistical concepts which I had tried to understand for a long time in a matter of minutes, it means the quality of teaching and materials are excellent. During the job search, I also realized that the correct balance between breadth and depth had been selected to give us a very solid foundation on which to start a job in data science.
The teachers were exceptional. Their passion and dedication to the students were visible from day one. This was shown again and again in how hard they worked to constantly improve and expand lecture materials to how much support they gave to each individual’s success outside of class. Having them as teachers was an honor.
The structure of the bootcamp allowed an incredible amount of materials to be covered in a short amount of time. Particularly, it used both R and Python for statistical concepts and machine learning. In addition, we learned about many other tools in extra sessions designed to round out our knowledge. Big Data technologies such as Hadoop, Hive, and Spark were covered toward the end of the bootcamp. Spark was asked for often in interviews, and familiarity with it was helpful. Having five projects under your belt is exactly what you need when interviewing. I always had an example I could use to answer questions. The value of this is not to be underestimated.
Lastly, the opportunity to network was incredible. You are beginning your data science career having forged strong bonds with 35 other incredibly intelligent and inspiring people who go to work at great companies. The value of those friendships and the ability to create a strong network at the beginning of your data science career will become evident a couple years down the road.
I was fortunate enough to meet and give a presentation to managers at Spotify, at Meetups, and get connected to many hiring partners. Vivian, the founder, is a strong proponent and has an incredible network. She seemed to have a contact at almost every company I wanted to apply to. Her one-on-one evaluation of interview performance with me was very helpful. She and the rest of the staff are very dedicated to each student’s success, being clear in their purpose that this experience will change both you and your family’s lives for the better. Their hearts are in it and their dedication is clear.
If you are considering this bootcamp to get more into data science, it is exactly the accelerator you need to get your career in this field off the ground. I cannot recommend it enough.

Charles Leung

Associate
Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking - SGCIB

I recommend this bootcamp to anyone who wants to transition into the field of Data Science. Before this bootcamp I was a process engineer for a large North American steel company. With the rate of growth in the technology industry, I knew it was time to transition to a new career, and I could have not chosen a better place to do so than NYC Data Science Academy. Instructors: The Instructors were amazing. Chris is extremely knowledgeable in statistics, and his passion for teaching really shines through. With every lecture, he not only shows mastery of the material but also the best way to teach complex materials to a class of non-programmers. Luke goes above and beyond to describe the theory behind the algorithms. His work ethic is shown through the countless hours he has stayed to review lessons with students and believe in continuous improvement. The TAs (Shu, Zeyu) were immense help, and had very good knowledge of big data applications (Hadoop ecosystem, front end work, SQL database design, etc.) Curriculum: The bootcamp offers a good basis for understanding prediction models and when to use which types of algorithms. There just isn't enough time to cover all aspects of statistics and the many branches of prediction models. Both R and Python are taught here, which allows for great flexibility. While this bootcamp is rigorous, self discipline is required to fully delve into algorithms and build impressive products for your portfolio (natural language processing, image recognition, recommendation engines, etc. ; these advanced topics are covered briefly but enough for you to take the reins). All in all I believe the bootcamp set me on the right foot into the industry. Job Assistance: While there is some assistance, the majority of the legwork work is still on the student to be duly diligent - sending out applications, getting interviews, networking and working their way up towards their dream job. There is no easy formula for this, and you MUST continue learning (Algorithms, data architecture, and more advanced ML topics etc. ; network to find out what people in your ideal companies expect you to know) and reviewing material even after the bootcamp to prepare for interviews.

Shuheng Li

Data Science Analyst
Aetna

*MY BACKGROUND: I had a Master in Business Analytics before joining NYCDSA, with a knowledge of programming and data science/machine learning. Though I knew how to make graphs and build models with R and Python, and knew some concepts learned from the online course on EDX and Coursera, this bootcamp was still truly helpful for me. My goal was to explore more deeply the big data techniques including Hadoop and Spark and get a chance to review data science and machine learning stuff in a systemic way. This bootcamp gave me almost everything I desired, with so many unexpected benefits. It was seriously life-changing for me. I achieved something that would otherwise never be possible had I just stuck with online courses. Read on for more detail. *COURSES: All the courses were well-designed. They covered everything I needed in my data science journey. Some might wonder why I chose to spend money on this bootcamp to learn something that seems available online. The reason for me was that I feel my time is quite valuable. For me, the efficiency really matters. Rather than spending an hour searching for the right function or parameter and ending up being confused, I wanted to have professionals help me going through the relevant resources systemically. I also found that when confused by problems after the fact, I would open the slides, code, and my repo for that topic instead of having to jump online and wade through Stack Overflow. What’s more, the curriculum covered topics such as Unix, Bash, Git and version control, which seem necessary for a data scientist/programmer but which I never paid attention to when I was teaching myself. *INSTRUCTORS AND TEAM: They are so great. Everyone is kind and willing to help you and share their experience and approach with you. In my humble opinion, there is a huge difference between teaching yourself programming or machine learning and learning with instructors and advice. Especially when you are putting things into practice. I saved tons of time. The NYC Data team is really curious and love to try new techniques with the students. They are a caring bunch, and it was great to become friends with the people who participated in and ran the program. *JOB PLACEMENT: I got hired by Aetna as a data science analyst within three months of completing the Bootcamp. The job search is intense but Vivian and the hiring team were always there trying their best to help us. There is a room set aside for graduates to work in when on the job hunt, which made for easy access to staff. During the Bootcamp, we had several courses about how to sell yourself which was especially important for people who are new to the U.S. job market. From teaching you how to impress your interviewer to helping research relevant details about a target company, the hiring team was very dedicated to providing the necessary support to help me succeed. Also, Vivian seemed to have a contact at almost every company I wanted to apply to, which was a real plus. I’m glad I made the decision to do this, it was worth it for me.

Joe Keepers

This course was a masterpiece. Derek Darves the instructor, quickly brought us to competency with the R programming language. Then he expanded the course by introducing the packages used for analysis and visualization, progressing through introductory use to somewhat elegant and sophisticated programming challenges. Ultimately Derek brought us to a self-sufficiency level for continuing our R education. The course was a pleasure as Derek is clearly an R expert and aficionado weaving many practical tips and historical insights into the lectures. His programming experience, statistical insights and extensions of the course materials gave it a graduate level feel, while never ignoring the fundamental skills being taught. I highly recommend it.

Carlos S.

I attended NYCDSA 5-week course (5 full-time days, one per week) in 4Q16 as part of my preparation to start the same school bootcamp. This was a great introductory start to learn R due to the comprehensive syllabus and dedicated teacher effort. About the syllabus, you will learn Base R syntax and principal data structures identification and manipulation plus a bunch of other packages (e.g. DPLYR) that will make your life easier when treating data sets. The instructor was a Sr. Data Scientist that really gave us two sides: theoretical and hands-on day-to-day professional experience views. This was very helpful. I found that there're lots of courses out there but most of the times taught by recently-graduated teachers that haven't applied a lot of the syllabus to real-life professional situations. This for me was a plus. The only soft point of the course was that I would have liked to go more deeper into web scrapping, yet it's true this course name is 'data analysis and visualization in R' and not 'Web scrapping using R'. One advice only for prospect students: block your agendas during five weeks since you will need a lot of time to review the materials and deliver exercises, which after all it's not a bad thing as it makes you feel good as you feel you have learned a lot. Highly recommended.

Vinod Shekar

This was a great class that I truly enjoyed attending every Saturday for 5 weeks. The class had a pretty steep learning curve but the slides and the homeworks did a good job of teaching the material. Our instructor, Derek, was an R guru and could answer any question we threw at him. I definitely plan to continue learning R and I can attribute my enthusiasm to having taken this class.

Sandra Barral

Great course to get started with R programming. Convenient location in the city, nice classroom mates with very different backgrounds, and an amazing instructor, Derek has an impressive deep knowledge of R and he is a very talented and dynamic teacher Totally recommended to gain beginner understanding of this language.

Ethan Weber

In October, I signed up for the 12 week bootcamp which starts in January. They recommended I take this course (free of charge) in preparation for the bootcamp to prepare myself in the language (I'm already comfortable in Python). I'm giving this course 5 stars because, for the format, I think they did a perfect job. The instructor, Derek Darves, was definitely qualified and a nice guy in general. They gave the tools to learn the basics of data analysis, manipulation and visualization.

Bernard Ong

AVP, Data Science & Application Architecture
Lincoln Financial

I would highly recommend the NYC Data Science Academy bootcamp. I have been an IT Executive for many years and wanted to supplant and round out my experience with skills in data science and machine learning, as it is my belief that these are one of the most critical technologies of our times. While I did try lots of the online courses, the academy brought a more organized, regimented, and immersive track that allowed me to not only learn and absorb the materials quickly, but also engage in real world projects and applications that would elegantly blend theory and practice. The quality of both the instructors and course materials is high. It has been an amazing learning experience for me and definitely worth the investment that helped me get to my next stage of career growth. Regardless if you are trying to supplant your post-graduate degree, thinking of doing a career switch to data science, or wanting to supplant your skills, the bootcamp offers that opportunity to push yourself to reach your maximum potential. That said, this bootcamp requires that you bring your A-game into the arena. This is not an easy course to take, and for good reasons. The bootcamp will stretch you to surpass what you think your limitations are and push you to be at your best at all times. This requires 100% commitment from your part. Anything less will not be good enough. If you fully commit yourself, you will emerge from this course with a renewed sense of passion in this exciting field. If there is one regret, it would be that I should have done this bootcamp sooner. The job opportunities for data science and machine learning specialists are just amazing. Since getting the certification (even before then), the contacts and network I have made in the data science community have accelerated at a rapid pace. The reachout from recruiters have also increased significantly. The demand for data scientists continues to climb. In hindsight, it was a great decision for me to have made the jump to go through the bootcamp, as I am now working on numerous opportunities that allow me to be more creative and innovative. The academy is managed and run by an amazing team of people who have helped me through the many months of learning and growth. They have been such a strong support system for me as I take the next journey through my career as a Data Scientist. The academy has also opened my eyes to so many wonderful experiences and allowed me to validate the opportunities and potential of this exciting field I am in. I have learned so much and the real skills I have acquired will be of tremendous value as I embark on pursuing my passions. As the saying goes... "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." I pursued mine and living it, now it's up to you to pursue yours.

Linlin Cheng

Data Scientist
2U

The bootcamp provides an extensive overview of the most used Machine Learning algorithms in addition to RShiny, visualization, and webscraping (using Python). Like any classes in college and graduate school, instructors are there to walk you through the basics and it really is up to you on how much effort you would like to put in. However, the TAs and instructors are far more accessible than any class I've taken so far!!! Ode to the TAs! In addition, the fellow students at NYCDSA are really nice people in general. And knowing that you are not alone really helps during those late nights at the bootcamp!

I would recommend the bootcamp to anyone in need of a career transition into Data Science, willing to go above and beyond, and are comfortable with either statistics or basic programming.

Tyler Knutson

The 12 week bootcamp at NYC Data Science Academy combines everything a budding data scientist needs while finding a balance between depth and breadth. Coming from a background in strategy consulting I appreciated the intense nature of the schedule with tight turnarounds and explicit deadlines for coursework and project submission. You'll be given the chance not only to learn from some of the best instructors with phenomenal backgrounds and real-world experience, but also to showcase your own skills and ideas through 5 data science projects where you get to form hypotheses on data sets of interest to you and make meaningful conclusions.

Though the pace is relentless, the program is very manageable given the dedication of the instructors to see you succeed. You'll form great relationships not only with the staff but with other gifted students as well as you all learn together about this exciting field.

Wanda Wang

VP, Data Scientist
Fraud Detection Citigroup

The NYC Data Science Academy provided an unparalleled experience - from the high quality of the instruction material to the dedicated teachers and staff, I gained both a strong personal and professional network and a greater exposure to the world of data science. The return on my investment was substantial, as I've successfully received five competitive job offers in a variety of industries (1 in finance, 2 in marketing, 2 in health) within just a few months of graduating.

Most importantly, learning in the immersive environment quickly accelerated my technical know-how. I became adept at R, Python in addition to structured thinking, open-ended problem solving, and communicating my ideas and work across to a wider audience.

Additionally, preparing for the five project presentations and homework assignments with like-minded peers in my cohort also positively influenced my experience. Sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences with my classmates, and TAs - encouraged me to creatively explore every approach when faced with a challenging problem or in-class lab.

I am grateful for my time at the NYC Data Science Academy. I highly recommend enrolling if you're undecided - it's an awesome place to prepare for a new career in data science and machine learning.

Brian Saindon

Data Scientist
Medivo

I completed the Data Science bootcamp during the Fall of 2015 and immediately was hired as a Data Scientist the following January. During the NYCDSA bootcamp, I converted my skill set from a traditional statistician/analyst to a data scientist. This bootcamp elevated my ability to apply a variety of advanced machine learning algorithms using codes like Python or R. Today, I continue to use the skills that I had developed during this bootcamp. In my opinion, this bootcamp was successful for me for three reasons: Course Content: The course content covered coding in SQL, python and R during my time at the bootcamp. As a data scientist, ability to code in this basic languages is critical to developing and testing statistical hypotheses and machine learning concepts. All machine learning examples had supporting Python and R code to facilitate students' application of these algorithms. This bootcamp covered application of Spark during the last few weeks of the course. Knowing Spark capabilities was particularly helpful in my current position as a data scientist. The bootcamp covered traditional statistical concepts such as hypothesis testing, linear regression and logistic regression as well as advanced machine learning algorithms such as K-Means clustering and Neural Networks. The bootcamp strategically provided theoretically background for these concepts in conjunction with worked out examples in R and Python. Knowing how to apply all of these algorithms helps me to rapidly move through proof-of-concepts in my current day-to-day. Instructors: During my cohort, the bootcamp instructors were incredibly dedicated to helping the students succeed. Instructors were consistently available to answer coding questions on-site in person or off site via slack or email. I was always satisfied that the instructors were able to answer my coding and ML questions rapidly and completely. Job Search: The bootcamp helped me find several job interviews towards the end of the bootcamp. It was clear that the NYCDSA had access to an increasing network of employers looking to hire data scientists. During the interview process, I had felt that the bootcamp prepared me to answer all of the data science interview questions during each interview. It has been over a year since I first enrolled in the NYCDSA bootcamp and I continue experience the benefits of the bootcamp in my day-to-day job as a data scientist. I strongly recommend this bootcamp to anyone looking to make a career transition into the data science field.

Trinity Yu

Quantitative Trading Analyst Intern
Hermes Capital Advisors, LLC

I am writing to strongly recommend NYC Data Science Academy to anyone who is looking for opportunities as a data scientist. As a recent graduate student of the 6th data science bootcamp of NYC Data science Academy, I was immediately able to find an internship in an hedge fund as a quantitative trading analyst 2 weeks after I graduate from the bootcamp and currently actively seeking full-time job under the guidance of Vivian, the founder of NYC Data Science Academy. Before attending the bootcamp, I graduated from Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University with a master of science degree in Applied Math. I have always been in love with math and attracted by the beauty of proofs and theorems. However, I did not know how to make a use of my quantitative background into real life. By an occasional chance, NYC Data Science Academy came to my attention. I found out that they offer a highly immersive Data Science program involving data strategy and hands-on expertise on machine learning, big data, advanced statistics and analytics. Students are able to solid R and Python development skills, various model ensembling and stacking strategies and gain knowledge including but not limited to Unix, SQL, Hadoop, Spark etc. Soon after I contacted the academy, I got a chance to talk with Vivian and immediately feel that it is the right place for me. My intuition proved to be right after I attended the bootcamp because I not only strengthened my knowledge and learned tons of new skills but also get to know many talented people from various background and developed strong network connection with them. The training contents are well-designed and students are required to complete 5 projects in the progress which comprehensively exhibits one's skills from visualization, web interactive app to machine learning and big data. To better assist the students with their job hunting process, the instructors and staffs in the NYC Data Science Academy worked very hard to organize a fantastic career fair and invited more than 30 companies and recruiters including JP Morgan, BAM, Google, FaceBook and Spotify. Students were able to show their accomplishment to the data scientists in the company directly and make connection with them. It was such a wonderful and unforgettable journey with my fellow data scientists.

Jurgen de Jager

Data Scientist
Barclays Bank

The decision to enroll in this Bootcamp was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had high expectations coming into the program, mostly due to the reviews I’ve read, yet the 12 weeks I spent at the Academy exceeded those expectations. The coursework is challenging enough to challenge those with a Ph.D., while the instructor’s and TA’s help out to the extent that even those with a Bachelor’s will find it manageable.

The program covers a wide array of topics, combining theory and application to give you a well-rounded understanding of the material. Students are encouraged to learn by doing, and home-works are given out 2-3 times a week, with deadlines not always easy to meet. But given how much the instructors offer to help, students usually always find a way.

The whole team goes above and beyond to help out not only with teaching you data science, but also with things like interview readiness, job placement, and helping you build a great portfolio.

You are surrounded with like-minded people for 12 weeks, forming great friendships learning from each other. You are tutored and lectured by industry professionals who go out of their way to make sure you understand the material. You are exposed to cutting edge software, advanced machine learning algorithms, and industry best practices. You are helped with building a portfolio, creating a great resume and how to pitch your work to employers.

I’m truly happy I did this program, and so will you.

Arda Kosar

Senior Data Scientist
Publicis

I moved to United State in October 2015. I wanted to do a career transition and applied to NYC Data Science Academy 12-week Full-Time Data Science program after some searching over the web. I come from a Mechatronics Engineering background, with 2+ years as a Business and Sales Consultant and an MBA in general business management. At the beginning I was a little bit afraid about the programming side because the only programming experience I had is a course in my Bachelor's about C++ and two simple projects throughout that course. Also mathematically speaking during my bachelor's I only took linear algebra and differential equations, not that much statistics and programming before entering the bootcamp. The curriculum was mostly includes programming with SQL, R and Python and also learning to implement machine learning algorithms in R and Python. It is structured so well that eventhough you have a little experience with programming before, they start teaching it from basic level and build up nicely so that you do not get lost. The instructors are incredibly helpful during your learning process, homeworks and projects. The lectures are fun with modern learning tools. They are known well in the industry. So when you apply to jobs the people will know the quality of NYC Data Science Academy and it will not be difficult for you to get interviews. They will also make it easier for you to meet with many hiring partners. My overall experience with NYC Data Science Academy was wonderful and I can easily say that it was the best investment that I did for myself. The most important thing to consider before applying is you should be ready to invest an intense 3-months. And also you should be ready to work hard as a student again. If you are thinking about enhancing your career to a new level and enter to the fantastic world of Data Science, I strongly recommend NYC Data Science Academy.

Tingyan Zheng

Big Data Analyst
GroupM

This course covers major R machine learning topics; it is intense, and you will learn a lot if you keep up with the pace. Instructor Shu Yan is great at explaining complicated statistical concepts/formulas and translate them into R coding techniques. Course materials, in-class practices, and homework assignment are helpful regarding learning and future references. I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in data science/machine learning but doesn't know much about this field. It will be a good start for you if you plan to work in this area. It certainly helped me understand a lot about data science and improved my R coding skills. What I learned from this course is worth the money I paid and the effort I put in.

Bin Lin

Data Science Engineer
Hearst

I was coming from a Computer Science background. And I decided to make a career switch to Data Science. One of my data scientist friends recommended me to take the NYC Data Science Academy's 12 weeks Data Science Bootcamp. It turns out to be money worthy. The bootcamp covers all the skills that I need to know to be a successful Data Scientist. It provides training on: programming skills (in both R and Python), basic Linux/Unix commands, basic database SQL programming, exploratory data analysis & data visualization (in both R and Python), Machine Learning in both R and Python, and basic Hadoop and Spark skills. Some people might wonder why both R and Python were taught. From my experience, R is really helpful and handy when doing the EDA and visualization at the beginning. Python is more useful when building production pipeline models. Also Jupyter Notebook (originally called iPython Notebook) makes sharing the code and charts easier. So I feel it was right that they taught both R and Python. The program was very intensive. There was so much information thrown into my brain every day so thus I had to study and review the course material every night late in order to digest them. We were assigned homework every other day and projects every 2 weeks. There were about 5-6 projects through the course of the bootcamp. Each project had a different focus. While the earlier projects focused on Exploratory Data Analysis, the later ones were more Machine Learning focused. I found myself was always rushing to wrap up the projects because I always had a difficult time to come up with an idea or started it late. Lesson learned! During the bootcamp, because I was from computer science background, I was quite relaxed on the programming parts. But I definitely struggled a lit bit on the Machine Learning part since it involved advanced Math and statistics. So I had to go back and review some of the Math material and took some online training on statistics. Therefore it would be great advantage for people with statistics background. If people without statistics background and trying to take the bootcamp, I would suggest that you study some statistics material from online before the bootcamp so that you can really understand the theory behind. I also want to give credits to the awesome instructors. Special thanks to Sam, Chris, and Luke who did a great job on teaching the class and answered all my questions. There were also two TAs who has provided big help on homeworks and projects. Quick notes on job assistance, NYC Data Science Academy has connections with hiring partners. Therefore we got many job opportunities directly from the hiring partners, such as Goldman Sachs, Chase, NBL, Booz Allen Hamilton. There was a time that the former job placement manager was slacked. But it was quickly fixed and the job placement manager was replaced and things were back on track again. We were also provided training on preparing interviews and sharping up my resume. Even though I got a job from an opportunity I found from LinkedIn, but the job assistance from the Academy was definitely helpful. To sum it up, I have learned a lot from the bootcamp and I also spent a lot time to digest them after I finished the bootcamp. The only two things I suggest are: because EDA and Data Visualization are so important, it would be great to have an example on those that we could have walked through or done together. Or for at least one of the EDA and Data Visualization projects, we work on the same topic and review it together. Second suggestion is that more hands-on on Spark excise. I would suggest Databrick community version to be used for student excise.

Iris Huang

AVPt, Quantitative Analytics
Barclays Investment Bank

I really enjoy taking the R course with Amy Ma. She's patient and thorough. Her analogies made it easier for me to understand the R syntax. I really like the in-class coding exercise and it was good to practice what I have learned. Amy's class is very interactive. She doesn't just talk off the slides. She always codes with us and shows us different ways of doing the same thing or breaking down the code part by part. She would compare and contrast the nuances between different commands, which was quite helpful.

Jiaqi Luo

I really enjoyed the R course with instructor Amy Ma. The content is very practical. It can be directly applied to solve real-world data analysis problem. We had many in-class coding exercises, which helped us understand the R syntax. Also, Amy tried her best to provide a lot of useful resources. We could tell that she is very passionate about what she is doing, and she is patient with students. We could reach her after class through email, even the course was finished. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in data analysis and wants to learn R from the beginning.

Robert Castellano

Data Scientist, Digital Intelligence
JP Morgan Chase

The NYC Data Science Academy bootcamp is everything I hoped it would be. I entered as a recent Mathematics PhD unsure of my job prospects and left well prepared for the data science job market. I was offered a job within weeks of graduating and now have a great job as a data scientist.

The bootcamp is an intense experience that will reward you if you put in the appropriate effort. The lectures are fantastic and the instructors are incredibly helpful with your projects. They will offer you as much help and guidance as you want (they were, more often than not, there before me and were still there when I left).

Job placement assistance was also crucial to my success. I met my current employer through a bootcamp and felt more then prepared during my interviews. You really feel that you are given individual attention and they will do everything in their power to help you find a job.

Some tips to prospective students:

Become familiar with the basics of R and Python (especially Python as this is introduced later in the bootcamp when you are becoming busy). I didn't enter the bootcamp as a programming expert but I found having some knowledge was a large advantage. A few months of learning the basic syntax and doing exercises in your spare time should be sufficient (that is approximately what I did).
Enter if you are willing to commit 3+ months to your career (you will be studying and preparing for interviews after you finish the bootcamp).

NYC Data Science Academy was a fantastic introduction to the world of data science. I still stop by the offices to say hi to instructors and students and discuss life. I would make the decision to join the bootcamp again 10/10 times.

Tatiana Sorokina

Sr. Director, Data Science
Medivo

Hiring a Data Scientist in NYC is a full-time job on its own. Your inbox may be exploding with hundreds of applications, yet it is extremely challenging to find the right candidates. While I was in the middle of sorting through resumes I was invited to a Data Science Academy happy hour by Vivian. I heard of Data Science Academy but never thought to look for hires there.
As soon as I arrived I met Vivian and her team who already knew what type of Data Scientist I was looking for and introduced me to a few students. I was so impressed by them that I decided to invite them for an interview and within one week hired one of the graduates. He has been working with us for a few months and has already made a difference. His amazing technical skills combined with a very strong business acumen helped him take a lead on critical corporate projects and execute them with excellence.
I strongly recommend all employers looking for Data Scientists to contact Data Science Academy as it truly helps prepare the next generation of data scientists for real world jobs.

Denis Nguyen

Data Scientist
Ameritas

NYC Data Science Academy's 12-week bootcamp was a life-changing experience. It was an intensive 3 months but definitely helped me transition from healthcare to data science.

Comparing against other bootcamps, I decided to go with NYCDSA for its thoughtfully planned schedule. From the large volume of content to the scheduling of each day, it had what I needed to succeed. Each day consisted of lectures with really useful slides and concluded with time for homework and projects in the afternoons. The allocated time in the afternoons gave us time to digest what we learned and the homework assignments reinforced the new knowledge.

Coming from a background in biomedical engineering and biological sciences, I was used to being told everything I had to know. The bootcamp gives a lot of information with its detailed lectures but also challenges students to find their own answers. For example, a homework assignment had a problem mentioning a function that was not mentioned in lecture. We had to research it and learn how to use the function before we could do the problem. This taught me how to be resourceful and find answers on my own instead of relying on someone to tell me everything. Because data science is a growing field, you cannot expect to learn everything in a short period of time but should know how to find solutions on your own.

Being challenged to learn may sound intimidating but it really isn't when you're surrounded by supportive peers and staff. The staff are extremely hardworking and friendly. They stay late, sometimes even until 11pm and they love what they do so they won't be grumpy or annoyed at you. They also come in on the weekends and will help with homework assignments and projects if you require it. The TAs are excellent resources who are passionate about data science and motivate you to always do better.

Advice: Try to familiarize yourself with the suggested R and Python readings before you begin the bootcamp so that you can spend less time trying to understand concepts and more time on the data science parts.

Even after graduating from the bootcamp, I still feel like family around them. The instructors and staff do not forget you and continue to help with your job search. Vivian actively connects you with resources and posts jobs you may be a fit for. She also holds coding review sessions so that we are better prepared for interviews.

Job Prospects: Besides the countless data scientist and analyst job posts found online, NYCDSA hosts a hiring party at the end of the bootcamp that connects recruiters from multiple companies with students. It gives you a big opportunity to speak with recruiters and build connections. I interviewed with one of the hiring managers from the event and got an excellent data scientist job approximately 1 month after graduation. You have other opportunities to stand out from crowd when Vivian reaches out to her contacts and sends in your resume so you're not just another applicant in the pool. There are tons of jobs and the support from NYCDSA is outstanding.

I have no negative memories of the bootcamp besides the late nights spent on projects but you get as much as you put into the program. Overall, the bootcamp does a good job preparing you for a career in data science as long as you work hard for it. Your peers will be your friends and consultants for your data science problems. I would join another cohort at NYCDSA if I could!

Kelly Mejia Breton

Associate Director, Marketing Science
Mindshare

NYC Data Science Academy (NYCDSA) provided the platform to pursue my dream career. The curriculum is well thought out, with detailed notes, hands-on projects, and great hiring partners. NYCDSA gave me the tools to be come a data scientist, and the exposure to land the job. Truly one of the best investments I have ever made!

Ho Fai Wong

Manager
PWC

The NYC Data Science Academy's 12-week bootcamp is an intense, well-thought out and comprehensive program that accelerates one's immersion into the world of data science. Having worked in IT infrastructure consulting for 8 years at one of the Big Four, I wanted to shift career orientation and focus more on data science, elements of which had begun to interest me over the course of several client projects. Comments on the program:

Strong teaching staff who is clearly passionate about teaching data science as evidenced by the late evenings and weekend support
Focus on concepts and skills that are actually relevant to the marketplace
Broad and dense curriculum (R, Python, machine learning, Hadoop, Spark, MongoDB, etc) to maximize learning in a limited timeframe
Flexibility and nimbleness of the program to adapt to feedback from alumni, employers and the market to maintain the relevancy of every topic taught
Good mix of lectures, homework and projects
Helpful job prep activities such as interview coding simulations (and others that I won't spoil)
Eclectic mix of students (though this may vary by cohort) that allowed us to learn from each other's diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, and develop deep personal friendships and professional relationships
Opportunity, if selected, to present projects at Data Science Meetups which offers networking opportunities as well as practice of presentation skills

Suggestions for improvement:

As data science is a dynamic and evolving field, keep up with the latest advances such as improvements in R packages and update the curriculum accordingly
Give harsher constructive feedback to students when required
More transparency on student evaluations overall and for Meetup project selections as well

Recommendations for aspiring students:

Be committed: the bootcamp is demanding but that is by design. It's an investment; you get out what you put in. Don't show up late, don't ignore the homework. If you do, it's your loss
Don't fall behind: there's a lot of work and learning a very rapid pace, not to mention homework almost daily
Be proactive: reach out to the TAs or the instructors for feedback (not just help), read up on machine learning outside of the bootcamp, talk to your classmates on how to collaborate
Manage your time: you will have to juggle many responsibilities and will most likely feel overwhelmed in general. That is also a skill you will need in the professional world
Learn to be autonomous: don't run to the TAs or the teachers for help as your first recourse. Google, StackOverflow and other resources most likely already ahve the answer you are looking for. Only when you have made a decent attempt at figuring out the problem should you ask for help. After the bootcamp, that safety net will no longer be there so it's best to practice early

Overall, very positive experience. I can't speak to the job placement assistance as I returned to my original firm, but regardless, I'll maintain the great relationships built with the Academy.

Barbara Wang

Business Intelligence Analyst
SPS Commerce

I have been taking classes at NYC data science academy, there is a reason I came back. I learned so much from both of the instructors I had. They really really do care about you and give you a lot of individual attention. You almost can't slack because they will be right there and push you to finish your problem sets. This is something you can't get just taking an on line class. I highly recommend anyone to take this class in person instead of on line.

Wendy Yu

Business Intelligence Modeler
ASCAP

This is an awesome program you will not regret attending! I was in the Jan-April 2016 cohort. The course covers everything you need to know to apply for data scientist jobs. We started from the fundamental of stats in R, and moved into machine learning in both R and Python. In the last two weeks we also got a fair exposure to big data tools like Hadoop and Spark. The instructors we have are AMAZING!!! They are super knowledgeable and also very passionate about data science. TAs are the most hard working group of people I know! They really try their best to help you. Students at the bootcamp are impressive as well. Most of them either have a phd degree or have significant/successful work experiences prior to joining the bootcamp. We did five projects during the bootcamp which you can totally show off during your job interviews! And you will have a least a few job interviews guaranteed during/after the bootcamp. They really tried their hardest to help you preparing and securing job interviews. I personally had at least 5 interviews while I was still in the bootcamp, and was hired only two weeks after the bootcamp ended. The program wasn’t easy, you will have a ton of homework and projects to do, but they are always there to support and help you. I would recommend this 12 weeks bootcamp to anyone who wants to be a data scientist or simply interested in data science.

Adam Cone

I finished the bootcamp yesterday. I have a BA with honors in Math, an MA in Applied Math, and an MS in Civil Engineering. I have 8 years of work experience in both the private and public sectors. I committed to this program to help me transition to becoming a data scientist. I had minimal professional programming or statistics experience when I applied.

I bought a new computer and studied statistics, R, and Python for over a month before my first day in the bootcamp.
I worked more intensely and consistently at the bootcamp than I've worked on anything over a 3-month period, either in school or in a job.
The staff are maybe the bootcamp's finest feature. The instructors are technically proficient, patient, and articulate. Somehow, I didn't feel intimidated, more inspired. In three months, every time I requested support, I was supported.
The office has a simple aesthetic and is well-equipped and well-maintained. It is often crowded, but overall a space where I felt focused and could work.
I gave the curriculum 4/5 stars. I found the material fascinating. There were many times when I simply didn't keep up. There is a lot of material. Read that sentence again. The curriculum moves so quickly that it often felt like a day-tour of Europe.
I found my classmates highly-educated, focused, and committed. I forged some excellent working and social relationships.

Overall, I recommend this bootcamp under the following conditions:

You will commit yourself to this program for 3 months. For these 3 months, this is what you will do during the day and in the evening, weekdays and weekends.
With whatever time you have before the bootcamp, you will study statistics, R, and Python.
You accept early on that sometimes it will be acutely stressful and overwhelming.

Having completed the bootcamp, I see the value in Vivian's approach: by working at capacity among such skilled staff and focused students, my skills and knowledge developed quickly. Overall, this bootcamp worked well for me and I'm glad I did it.

Christopher Redino

Lead Data Scientist
Nielsen

I chose NYCDSA over similar bootcamps because they seemed to have largest breadth of content and also seemed to be the most challenging, and I believe they delivered in both those aspects. You will learn a lot, and you will be challenged, even if you come into the bootcamp with some experience in data science. The lectures themselves are very engaging, and the instructors are very knowledgeable. The course content (slides, lecture code, homework, etc) are not only excellent for learning the material, but I think they will also be valuable references going forward. I feel the bootcamp has prepared me well for my job search. I had several interviews set up before the bootcamp had ended, and my first offer a few weeks after that. I'm confident that if I want to interview with more companies that NYCDSA can help to make this happen. Employers are interested in the projects I've done with the bootcamp, so I can get their attention, and the course material has trained me in the areas they are likely to test me on during interviews.

Sricharan Maddineni

My time at the NYC Data Science Academy was some of the best three months I've ever spent. This is an intense bootcamp but it the instructors are absolutely amazing and push you to excel. Christopher (the main statistics and R instructor) is one of the best people I've ever met and you are guaranteed to be inspired by him. The TA's are some of the most hard-working people you will ever meet and are always available to help (most days until 11pm - not sure if they even go home!). All my peers in the cohort were positively affected by their experience and you should attend without hesitation if you're accepted! Vivian, the academy founder, is personally vested in helping her students find jobs and she is extremely well connected and caring. We are fortunate to be on the cusp of this new and exciting field and have the opportunity to attend such a bootcamp.

Joseph Lee

Data Scientist
Uptake

The program offers a very good course for building foundation data science skills. It is very evident how motivated the faculty and instructors are in helping their students achieve their initial career goals in data science. The curriculum covers topics and subject matter that is considered mandatory for any entry-mid level data scientist and the program does a good job preparing students for data science oriented interviews. Data Science is a large field that cannot fully be appreciated in 12 weeks. In spite of this the NYCDSA does a great job designing both the breadth and depth of their curriculum, which they are always improving and expanding. Overall, I had a very successful experience and had multiple interviews both during and after the program, which eventually led me to my present dream data scientist job. Overall Pros - Talented and very bright staff and instructors. - Very good network with NYC companies - Growing company - Available staff at all (or most) times - NYC Location - Homework is reasonable, challenging, and yet fun - Curriculum covers many basics that are important for data science interviews. Overall Cons - Growing pains, which should be expected for any growing startup in a hectic and driven environment such as NYC. - Hiring network is fairly limited to the east coast (from when I attended), however last time I checked they are making successful efforts in branching out to other regions. My Advice: The program is a goldmine of learning potential for any student who is willing to put in the hours both inside and outside of the classroom. In order to yield the most benefits from the program, students should be flexible and nimble. Data science is a constantly growing and changing field, thus the curriculum must also constantly change. Furthermore, students should constantly engage with the instructors and TA's. The curriculum goes at a face pace and it is their (the faculty) mission to ensure that all students maximize their learning. From my personal experience, 30% of what I learned came from the lectures while the other 70% of what I learned came through working on projects and problems after class with my peers and TA's. Conclusion: I would highly recommend this program to any person who are willing to work hard and put in the hours to learn and reinforce the material.

John Montroy

Data Scientist
theLadders

Before I enrolled in the Data Science Academy's 12-week data science program, I had spent nearly a year exploring data science with almost nothing to show for it. Coursera, books, Kaggle, you name it. A bit discouraged and overwhelmed, I began the data science program with high hopes for strong teachers, a great community, and a rigorous crash course on all things data science. I got all that and more. Proof: I recently began a new job, and was able to hit the ground running on literally every front the company threw at me. Statistics and algorithms? Check. R programming? NYCDSA took us through almost all the packages my new company uses regularly. Python? Same deal as R. Infrastructure, AWS, distributed computing, visualizations, SQL? All check. And the NYCDSA enabled all of this - brilliant, helpful professors, well-designed homeworks / lectures, and great connections to the real data science world. Make no mistake - you'll be working unbelievably hard. Dozens of homeworks, ~5 projects, tons of slides and material to learn. But that's what you want, right? If you're serious about boosting your career, NYCDSA is the perfect place for you.

Sebastian Nordgren

Senior Vice President
Citi

I attended the Big Data with Amazon Cloud, Hadoop/Spark and Docker course, hosted and led by NYC Data Science Academy. My objective was two-fold: first, to gain a deeper and practical understanding on emerging 'Big Data' technologies, more so than what academic publications or industry white papers currently provide; and, second, to familiarize myself with the skill set and experience to expect from the new generation statisticians, or Data Scientists. With a background in Business Intelligence, Architecture, Risk Management and Governance on Wall Street, I find that foundational skills remain the same: mathematics and statistics. However, with the commoditizing of data storage and massively parallel computing, Data Scientist today are capable of solving problems reserved for an exclusive few in decades past. The course did not cover configuration of the Hadoop environment, but thanks to the engaging and knowledgeable instructor, clues on challenges and potential pitfalls were generously shared. I highly recommend this course not only to professionals or recent graduates looking to hone data analysis skills, but to anyone with an interest or stake in Big Data.

Jake Lehrhoff

Analyst
Spotify

Three months ago I had no idea what I had signed up for. I wasn't even sure I had made the right choice--not just with NYCDSA, but data science in general. I didn't know how to code and all my statistics experience came from an academic setting. Three months later and I can hardly comprehend how I got to where I am now, but I know for certain I wouldn't have gotten here without NYCDSA. On the first day it was clear that I was a bit of a minority. It seemed that everyone had more experience than I did--I had been a classroom teacher for 6 years, and an English teacher at that--but this wasn't a time for excuses. No matter what level you arrive at, you can't survive the program without being all-in, and that might be its greatest strength. I (and the rest of my cohort) kissed goodbye to our social lives and fought through three of the most challenging, stressful months of our lives. Suddenly I'm a proficient coder in two languages, I understand the statistical nuance behind complicated machine learning algorithms, and most importantly, I landed a job that is wildly better than what I imagined I could get. Seriously. I took the screening interview just for the practice. And then I got another interview. And then another. And then a job offer. And throughout, I knew the answer the virtually every question they threw at me. And for that, I have to thank NYCDSA.

David Comfort

I had a great experience at the NYC Data Science Academy.

To give you a little background, I have a PhD in Biochemistry and did a Post-Doc in computational biology and bioinformatics and then worked in industry for a couple of years in both technical and non-technical roles. With the recent advent of data science, I made a decision to make a transition to data science and wanted to get up to speed in data science, Python and R, as well as machine learning, in a rapid but focused manner. The NYC Data Science Academy provided the perfect opportunity to do so.

The things that stand out about the Boot Camp were:

Quality and enthusiasm of the instructors - Given the broad range of the participants, the instructors really knew how to challenge us.
The Teaching Assistants - The TAs were patient and provided great guidance and instruction.
Quality of the participants - It was a great experience to go through the boot camp with a really talented group of people.
Projects - The individual and team projects really gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and stretch my abilities. It also provided with a nice portfolio which I can show potential employers.
Vivian and Janet - The heads of the Boot Camp really showed that they cared about the participants and challenged us to work hard and remain engaged.
Guest speakers - The quality of the guest speakers was really outstanding.

A word of caution about participating in the Boot Camp. Be prepared to work like crazy. I worked 12 to 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for three months straight.

Jean-Francois Darre

I attended the data-science bootcamp offered in NYC and had a great experience! I learned a lot on every aspects of data-science and machine learning:

the theory
the tools
coding
and a lot of practice through homeworks, in-class labs and projects

It is very intensive, you will work ~12h+/day and on weekends, but you will leave the bootcamp with so much knowledge, coding experience, practice, 5 projects added to your linked-in/resume, 5 blog posts, a github account to be proud of and even, if you want to, a participation in a Kaggle competition. The team is amazing. Vivian will do everything she can to improve your experience and has a huuuuge network:

This week, for example, she organized drinks with 20+ companies who came to meet with us (ranging from Guggenheim Investments, Two sigma, Goldman to Medivo, Draft Kings, About.com and many startups too).
Last week, she got Spotify to bring in 3 speakers who then individually interviewed 15 people the rest of the afternoon!

Janet, also will be in charge of continuously improving the program. That girl does not need to sleep. There were nights were I would leave at 11pm+ and she would still be there. A few weekends/sundays, I came to the bootcamp to work on projects with team-mates and she was there. She is incredible and really dedicated. She organizes "Therapy sessions" every Friday to make sure we address and confront every problem we have encountered during the week which is really useful. The instructors are friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Every class has slides and code. I saved everything. What a resource this is! I have all the theory and code right there on my computer, no more looking on google's 20th page of results to find something somewhat relevant, or reading un-understable wiki pages about all this machine learning. Here, the way we learn is:

theory briefly (no proofs) but complete.
focus on the different parameters, what they do, how they affect the model etc...
then code and actually show how to use all this
then homework to let us try to replicate what we just learned
then projects to make sure it sinks in!

rather than everything you will typically find on-line which is: theory and then more theory. If this was not enough, on top of all the team and instructors, you'll have access to TAs too! They are very nice, smart and competent... and especially they are veeeeery... patient with us and our questions! Additionally, you have projects that you have to present to the class. So you get valuable practice both in presenting and also in collaborating with peers that no amount of sitting behind your screen can bring! Everything is recorded and edited by a pro. All the classes and your presentations too! Finally, they will regularly bring presenters to teach us about their projects, the real-world problems they face at work etc... Our class mentor (yes we also have a mentor/sponsor) is also amazing and very helpful. And lastly, (I promise that's the last comment!) they will bring professionals in to help you optimize your resume, your linked-in etc... and prepare you for interviews etc... Overall I am really happy with the program and glad they covered both Python AND R. I know some bootcamps do not teach R and the reality is that most companies use R and R is must. I am very grateful to everyone involved and working so hard to make this bootcamp a true success.

Nate Aiken

Data Analyst
Memorial Sloan Kettering

I had an interest in data science but was making slow progress learning it on my own. This program gave me a strong foundation to build my future growth upon. It covered all the statistics necessary to apply statistically learning methods appropriately. It taught the most commonly used machine learning methods across industries. These methods were covered in both R and Python. Seeing the material in both languages was great, it gave you two chances to be exposed to each topic. All of the material was presented with clear lecture slides that will continue to be a resource. Each topic was also presented with sample code and exercises to explore the material in a hands on fashion. We also had the chance to work on real world data science projects that applied the material covered, with the assistance of our teachers and TAs. The bootcamp hosts a monthly Meetup that gave us a chance to present our work publicly. We had weekly speakers who were leaders in their respective fields come and speak to the class about different facets of data science. In some instances these speakers also had projects we could work on if we were interested in their field. The bootcamp went to great lengths to get us access to hiring partners, actually bring data science managers/HR managers to us. To be successful in this program you need to work as hard as they work for you. It wasn't uncommon to work with instructors late into the night or on weekends. This has been a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about becoming a data scientist.

Shin Chin, Senior Data Scientist

Associate - Senior Data Scientist
Booz Allen Hamilton

I am really enjoying taking the NYC Data Science Academy data science bootcamp remotely. I find their online classroom and materials very effective for learning the fundamentals of data science. The videos are very informative and the material well communicated and taught by the lecturer. The accompanying slides are clearly written and mostly self contained and you can learn a lot, just by reading them. The course is a nice blend of theory and practical programming experience using R and Python and other tools. The learning process is aided by doing and submitting the homeworks for the lecture materials, as well as completing project assignments. I interact frequently with the TA assigned to me. We often have Google hangout sessions where he helps set up my environment on my laptop like Git, R and Python. We also review my project assignments through Google hangouts where he provides valuable feedback and suggestions. The TA is very helpful, competent and knowledgable. I would definitely recommend the online version of this bootcamp.

Pokman Cheung

Associate
Goldman Sachs

I attended the Data Science Bootcamp in summer 2015. It was a very enriching, useful and enjoyable experience. It offered plenty of important things that one couldn't hope to find by taking online courses or reading textbooks. The instructors possessed valuable knowledge and perspectives in the data science industry, and were able to share them with the students through various activities (e.g. lectures, invited talks, meetups, company visits, individual counseling, etc.). Also, students had a lot of opportunities to interact with established data scientists, as well as collaborate with other aspiring ones on real-world projects.

Sam Brand

Product Growth Manager
Stack Overflow

I took both Data Analysis and Machine Learning with Python with Vivian. I highly recommend these classes to anyone who wants to take their analytics skills beyond Excel, pivot tables, and averages and into more advanced predictive modeling methods. Luckily, a lot of the work has already been done for us by the developers who created pandas, matplotlib, statsmodels, and scikit-learn. I didn't know anything about these tools prior to taking this class. Vivian makes machine learning easy. At work I can now stand on the shoulders of Python's giants. Pretty cool. Extremely useful.

Punam Katariya

Biostatistician
Mount Sinai Hospital

Data Science Bootcamp was the best experience in my career. Instructors were not only helpful in teaching the regular materials but also guide you to establish your confidence in yourself to be a Data Scientist. They will help you even after completing your bootcamp. Nice and honest environment.

Mark Li

Quantitative Researcher
Twitter

I took Machine Learning with R and Hadoop data engineering classes in 2015. They are all well-structured classes with extensive information coverage and concrete learning process design. All the techniques been told in the class are very practical and can be applied to work very fast. In addition, it is also a great opportunity to build your "data science" fellow network because all your classmates are "Pro" in this domain with a lot of wonderful industry experiences to share. I would definitely recommend NYC Data Science Academy to my friend!

Jinying Li

Director of Campaign Analytics
Bloomberg LP

Vivian came to our company and taught us five one-day sessions in R from entry level to intermediate level. I had no experience in R before. But I have learned a lot from Vivian and from the resources she provided, both from online and from the books. The homework and the office hour are also very helpful. After the classes, I have started to use R in my job from very basic stuff to more advanced data manipulation and analysis. Vivian is very knowledgeable in R and a warm person to work with. Thank you, Vivian.

Yu Ma

Risk Analyst
Upwork

I took Machine Learning with Python and Data Analysis with Python in the Spring. I found both course useful and informative. The courses have given me a comprehensive and yet in-depth introduction into Machine Learning and Python. And these skills turn out to be invaluable at work. Most importantly, Vivian is an excellent instructor. She is immensely helpful and supportive which makes the learning process quite enjoyable. Definitely recommend NYC Data Science Academy!

Liz Klobusicky

Senior Manager, Management Science & Integration
NBCUniversal Media, LLC

I took the Data Science with Python: Machine Learning course and I learned a lot. This course helped me to improve my data analysis and general Python skills. It introduced me to several new libraries and algorithms, most of which I plan to use at work. Overall, I had a very positive experience.

Bret Fontecchio

Python Developer
Akamai Technologies

I took Vivian’s Data Science course and had a fantastic experience. I networked with Data professionals from the NBA, the Federal Reserve Bank, NYC startups, and more. I learned a lot very quickly and had a lot of fun. It’s a nice part of the city and the building has a great startup feel to it. …While I was still enrolled I implemented a hierarchical clustering algorithm and put it into production. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I hadn’t learned Data Science at NYC Data Science Academy.

Korrigan Clark

QA Engineer
Basho Technologies, Inc

Thanks to NYC Data Science Academy, I was able to find a great job as a data scientist at a startup before the 12 weeks was even up. Had it not been for the Data Science Boot Camp, I would still be looking for a job. The Boot Camp builds confidence in data science through exercises, homework, lectures, and personal projects. These projects are immensely helpful when job searching, and students are encouraged to take on as many as possible. Over the 12 weeks, I gained proficiency in R, Python, Hadoop, and SQL, just to name a few. Vivian, the Program Director, is truly devoted to her students’ success. She continuously challenged us to step outside our comfort zone and dive head first into the most difficult concepts. The other staff members at NYCDSA including Bryan and Janet, are also extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Students have the full support, encouragement, and expertise of the NYCDSA staff. This experience, while extremely challenging, exceeded all my expectations. The skills and knowledge gained from NYC Data Science Boot Camp is well worth the price, and the effort.

Aaron Ouyang

Analyst
Annalect

Great class. For only a 5 week class it is very comprehensive. Covers the basics and commonly used libraries used in python for data analysis as well has how to use them. Notebooks used in the class are a great go-resource after the class ends. Also a great community of data professionals and networking if you are thinking about a new gig.

James Cai

Head of Data Science
Roche

Vivian led two training sessions for our team at our company location, and covered both introductory and intermediate data analysis using R in five days. We very much enjoyed Vivian’s engaging teaching style and the hands-on exercises. She was able to draw on a broad array of real world experiences she had with clients in many different industries. This helped us feel the excitement of how data science techniques were used to solve challenging problems. I particularly like the fact that she insisted on the post-training projects that were completed by all attendees. It was satisfying for me to see what our team could do in a very short period of time using the skills gained in the training.

Michael Caruana

Senior Product Manager, Data Science
Fusion

Great comprehensive course that give you a thorough overview of Python and how it can be used in the field of Data Science.

Matt Gray

Analyst, Insights & Strategy
NBCUniversal, Inc

As a novice coder, this class was a great way to learn how I can manipulate and analyze data in Python. Would recommend for anyone interested in learning how to use python and apply to daily work.

Mark Rothe

Senior Statistical Programmer
Roche Innovation Center

Excellent 2 days of GIT and GITHUB training! The trainer, Bryan Valentini was very personable and took the time to answer everyone’s questions as well as provide desk-side assistance. Would definitely recommend to others new to GIT and GITHUB!

Christopher Bian

Cofounder & CTO
Unlockable

The intermediate python machine learning course was a fascinating time. It gave me a much better feel for the variety of practical techniques that can be used in the field, and I’m frankly really excited to apply what I’ve learned in the near future. Make no mistake, the course and topics are challenging, but your perseverance will be rewarded.

John Maiden

Data Scientist, Digital Intelligence
JP Morgan

I found Vivian’s Intermediate Python class to be very refreshing, given the formulaic approach that most books I’ve read on Data Science tend to be. She definitely knows her subject, clearly communicates that to her students, and fosters lively debate during class. Can’t wait to see what my fellow students present for their final projects!

Margaret Hung

SVP, Intelligence Solutions & Strategy
Millward Brown Digital

As the business world becomes increasingly data-driven, the Data Sciences classes at NYC Data Sciences Academy are invaluable to driving career success, not only for actual data science practitioners, but those who collaborate with them day-to-day to execute on insights to be gleaned from data sciences. I just completed the Intermediate level Data Sciences with R class and have immediately benefited from the ability to understand the different type of advanced analytic techniques that are available to help my clients with their business issues, to better communicate and collaborate with our Data Sciences team on a tactical level and then to take their output and accurately translate it into our clients’ business language. The course was comprehensive and Vivian brings a lot of passion and dedication to the class and ensuring her students’ success.

Yide Pan

Business Consultant
Binocular Vision LLC

The 4 days R training was very impressive. I am new to the R world with little technical background, Vivian and her team explain the R with various examples close to my daily works, they prepared a very detailed training slides, and gave us plenty of time to do the hands on. We also created some virtual project after the class under the help from trainers. The trainers are very very energetic, they are very good at leading you to the key points, and always pushing you to complete the homework,LOL. Great thanks to Vivian and her team. I am exploring R in more area in my works, looking forward to work with you again.

Kai Sun

Scientist (DMPK & Safety)
Roche

It was only a four-day entry-level training, but it turned out that I made the right choice to come along, join Vivian and her talented colleagues, and benefit tremendously from the lessons, discussions and on-site exercises. What’s more, with the encouragement from the teachers, I managed to complete my own small R project, and have been interested in further my studies on R ever since. I strongly recommend any one, who is intrigued by data management, visualization, data mining, statistics, or critical thinking using mathematical tools, to learn R, or preferably, learn R with Vivian and her colleagues, to expand his or her horizon, and make use of R in many ways possible.

Harrison Adler

Product Adoption/Data Scientist
Google

I took both the intensive beginner and intensive intermediate R classes back-to-back on weekends over a four-month period. Although 7 hours a session may feel hefty, once you’re in the class time will fly by. Sessions split time between lecture and hands-on exercises, so you have lots of time to ask questions. Homework assignments are manageable – Vivian is very accessible should you have a question by email or in-person office hours. Each class ends with a Demo Day of a project of your choice. You will access real data from the Internet using APIs and analyze this information and ways you never would have thought possible using Excel or even SQL! Because of the initiative I took to learn the material, I have accepted a position as a Data Scientist at Google. A big thank you to Vivian and the team at the NYC DSA for helping me make the leap in my career from business analyst to data scientist!

Jiten Pai

Big Data & Business Intelligence Architect
A+E Networks

I took the Data Science by R programming (beginner level) class taught by Vivian. The class material was very well organized and consisted of tips and tricks that only someone who has worked extensively with R would know, some undocumented features included. The course, home work, and project are quite intensive, so be prepared to put the time in; but when you are done, you will be a much more valuable professional! It’s all well worth the effort and hard work. The beginner course has set the stage for me to take the next level data mining class, which I am eagerly looking forward to.

Diana Enriquez

Content Researcher, TED Content
TED Conferences

I enjoyed this class — I would give it a 4, only because it went a little too fast for me at some points. I am a beginner of the most clearly beginner level. I had played with some front end programming, but never attempted backend work. The 5 hour classes on Saturdays were tough because it required a lot of homework and studying during the week, but the instructor was good about answering questions and pushing us to keep working on new and interesting things. The program was extremely supportive of me while I was trying to learn new material, I have and will continue to recommend this class/NYC Data school.

Kannan Sankaran

Software Engineer, Business Systems
AppNexus

I took the first offering of Data Science using Python a few weeks ago, and definitely recommend it to anyone who loves hands-on learning with some guidance. Let me explain: Last year, I took Coursera’s Machine Learning/Intro to Data Science courses and did well, but did not do a hands-on project that would enable me to retain a lot of knowledge. But this course required me to pick a detailed project and present it to a live audience, who then determined whether I did well or not. So I learned how to do web scraping, extract social media API data, write object-oriented Python, utilize a NoSQL database (MongoDB) to store results, and finally create visualizations in D3 and HighCharts. And then the pressure to present well, just to pass the class. Our instructor John was competent, knowledgeable and helpful, and covered a variety of useful tools like Pandas and Scikit Learn, including machine learning algorithms. And Vivian is always pushing us harder to do better. Sounds familiar?

Christopher Crosbie

Healthcare and Life Science Solution Architect
Amazon Web Services

The instructor, John Downs, was very knowledgeable and did an excellent job of providing an overview in the key areas of Python. After the five week class I went from knowing essentially nothing about Python to using it as one of my “go to” tools in which I am able to accomplish tasks at work on a daily basis.

Sasha Bartashnik

Analytics
Zulily

I took the beginner level Python class with John Downs and really had a great experience. John is very knowledgeable about Python and programming in general, and was able to be helpful to students of all levels in the class. The exercises in class and the homework got our hands dirty with the language and the final project was a great way to create a real result by the end of the course. Overall it was challenging, but a valuable intro to a useful tool that was easier to approach with real-life sessions than self-study demos on my own. I’ll definitely take classes with NYC Data Science Academy in the future and would recommend it to my friends.

Pia Ramchandani

Manager
PwC Advisory Analytics

John Down’s Python for Data Analysis class was a helpful introduction to using python toolkits such as Pandas and Scikit Learn to work with large and complex data structures. John started the class off slowly to get the group adjusted to Python syntax, but made sure to include all of the essential data management/analysis techniques to get started (e.g. dataset merging, manipulation, basic stats/regression, etc). In a short course, John did a great job of including numerous examples in ipython notebooks that he gives to the class– this approach was very helpful for exposing beginners to more complex techniques that they can go back to when they are ready. I definitely recommend this course to any beginner interested in learning how python can help make data analysis faster and easier.

Akiko Togami

Business Analytics | Data Visualization
Bloomberg LP

Before taking Vivian’s R Intensive beginner course, I had no experience in programming and I was just someone who was interested in data visualization in more sophisticated ways than making bar graphs in Excel. The class was really intense. A lot of preview and review would be needed to keep up with the 5 weeks long course, but Vivian always lifted our spirits up and consistently provided necessary help, online and offline, literally anytime we needed. After completion of the class, I am still not used to myself who can confidently use various packages and functions to come up with different kinds of data visualization and manipulation. This is indescribably great feeling and Vivian’s voice “delivery is our goal” echoes in my head now. Creation is pure joy (though the process could be painful). I think taking this course was one of the best investments I made in my life, and it could not be it if that was not brought by you, Vivian. Thank you so much!!

Roger Huang

Data Analyst
Shyp

Very informative class. Vivian uses intensive exercises and hand-on practices to make sure you understand how to use the packages she teaches!

Marifel Corpuz

Associate Director, Advanced Analytics
MEC Global, Rosetta

I completed the Intensive beginner course for R and I highly recommend it! I’ve learned a lot in 5 weeks and I can say that I am now an R convert (from SAS). I’ve learned so many functions and packages that I am now able to use them confidently at work. Vivian was also a great, hard working teacher who encouraged every one in the class to study harder which means she really cared that that her students would become great data scientists sooner than later. I like the class so much I am now taking the R intermediate class.

Paul Schaffer

Director
Analytics Media Group

I strongly recommend this class to all potential students who have some programming background. The pace at the beginning is necessarily rapid to cover the basics of syntax and structure, so that more time can be devoted to numpy/scipy/pandas/etc. John was a fantastic instructor, and impressively it was his first time teaching the course! Super nice/patient/knowledgeable, and he has a real knack for explaining stuff. Taking introduction to Python for Data Analysis was a great decision for me. In a relatively short period of time, I was introduced to the top analytical code libraries in Python and gained experience using them. Well worth the time and money: I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Morgan Polotan

Software Engineer
Tapad

The D3 class was a great intro to the library. After finishing the class I can create simple data visualizations (bar, line, scatter, chloropleth, etc) and know some more advanced concepts (brushing, reusable charts). I also know enough about how the library works to continue learning on my own. I’d recommend coming in with some JavaScript knowledge as that will help you grasp the concepts quicker.

Eugene Zee

Google for Work - Global Head of Android Operations
Google

As an employer, I have found NYC Data Science Academy classes significantly improved the data science and visualization skill set of our research and business analyst. The courses are practical, compressed and come with lots of support. We sent a motivated team member to the Intensive Beginner R class. Previously he had no R experience and in one month’s time he was able to achieve proficiency. Since completing the course, our analyst has built, analyzed and presented data in valuable new ways.

David Russo

Landscape Architect / Data Science Student
ExecThread, Inc.

I just finished the 002 session of the beginner R class. We certainly got a lot of “bang for our buck”, because Vivian is preeminent in the field of data science, and she was able to move through a lot of material very quickly. She worked extremely hard in preparing well organized slides, and for me the key was to go through the day’s presentation, provided beforehand, during the week prior to the class, running all the code and seeing what it does. This allows you to keep up and absorb her lesson when you get into class. In addition to getting a solid start on the use of R, the class also provided valuable insight into the field of data science, which is a career into which I am interested in transitioning. Lastly, Vivian made herself available to us weekly for extra help, either in person or via web interaction, which was much appreciated. Like I said, she is very dedicated and works extremely hard at seemingly everything she does. Thanks Vivian!

Heena Doshani

Quantitative Researcher
QS Investors

I attended the beginner’s workshop for R and I found it extremely useful. The classes were very well organized. The slides were well paced with many practical examples. I especially like the hands on format of the class, you work through the slides on your laptop. I had very little knowledge of R before and I learned many tools during the course. I was particularly interested in the visualization tools. Since the course, I have used some of the charting tools that I learned in my presentations at work as well. Both Scott and Vivian did an excellent job teaching R basics. They were very helpful and answered questions in person, email and piazza (online platform where we would post our solutions). Vivian also shared with the class a lot of material and practical examples. I would highly recommend this course to users who are interested in learning R.

Donald Fleurantin

US Private Equity Lead
Thomson Reuters

NYC Data Science Academy provided me great exposure to data science topics that I haven’t come across in either school or previous jobs. The hands-on assignments are practical and make use of real-world examples. As product development is becoming more data-driven, it will be crucial for product teams to have a solid grasp of data analysis which NYC Data Science Academy fills the knowledge/skill gap.

Mike Selender

Technical Analyst
Chubb

I took the initial version of this class late fall 2013 and found it to be well worth the time. The slides, examples and exercises were well organized. Scott Kostyshak’s presentation style is clear and concise. The second iteration will have twice the classroom hours and cover a lot of material that there wasn’t time for in the initial format. It’s worth the investment if you want to dive into the R ecosystem.

Jasna Vukovic

CCB Risk MIS Reporting & Analytics Manager
JPMorgan Chase

The Introductory R class covered a broad range of information, and for a statistics and programming newbie like me, was indispensable for coming up to speed on a variety of related subject matter. Vivian is passionate about R, open data, statistics, etc.. Her enthusiasm is contagious!

Annaliese Wiederspahn

Managing Member
Equipoise

Super helpful. Vivian is a fantastic teacher. She really pushes everyone to dig in and start solving problems.

Student Testimonials

"Extremely rigorous and rewarding bootcamp"

"Best decision I have made in 2017!"

"Wonderful learning experience!"

"Rigorous Training Program; Highly Recommended!"

"Highly recommended bootcamp experience"

"Great training, environment, and job support!"

"Great experience."

"Positive Experience."

"Great experience."

"Great experience. Highly recommend."

"Great Experience!"

"Just love it, just do it!"

"Great Course! Learned A lot!"

"Strongly recommend."

"Great Bootcamp!"

"Excellent, rewarding, and challenging experience!"

"Rewarding Experience!"

"A life changed experience"

"Very Fulfilling Bootcamp Experience"

"An Amplifier"

"Great introduction to Deep Learning "

"Great Job Support"

"The place to begin your journey into Deep Learning/AI"

"Most Rewarding Experience!"

"Learn everything you need to succeed"

"Amazing experience and job training"

"Best choice for Data scientist fellows"

"Rigorous, practical training for data science"

"The most supportive institution"

"Great training, environment, and job support! "

"Great bootcamp to learn data science"

"Immersive 12 week bootcamp"

"Great bootcamp experience!"

"Great bootcamp!"

"Intensive, carefully designed curriculum that will help you succeed!"

"Excellent Data Science Bootcamp"

"Deep Learning course by Jon Krohn was very good..."

"Transformative, enterely recommended"

"Good Starter"

"Great Intro to Python and Data Analysis"

"Transformative Bootcamp"

"Worth Your Investment!"

"Great bootcamp. Highly recommend"

"Great experience"

"Great Bootcamp"

"Amazing bootcamp. Highly recommend"

"Great and supportive bootcamp experience"

"Highly recommended!"

"Life Changing Experience"

"Success dangling on a string, you need to reach out and take it"

"No one can define you anymore, taking this bootcamp changed my life"

"Extremely practical and useful Data Science skills and experience"

"Brilliant!"

"Highly recommended!"

"Something you will never regret doing!"

"Awesome experience, highly recommend!"

"A great way to jumpstart your Data Science career"

"A worthwhile investment for your career"

"Making a Career Change"

"Incredibly rewarding experience"

"NYC DSA Fall 2018 Cohort Review"

"Deep Learning w Jon Krohn"

"Jon Krohn: Deep Learning "

"An immersive program that treats you like family. "

"Great Bootcamp"

"Deep Learning by Jon Krohn"

"12-Week On-site Bootcamp"

"Amazing program"

"Great intro to Deep Learning!"

"Fantastic 12-week DS Bootcamp"

"Challenging, Yet Extremely Rewarding Experience"

"Amazing Experience"

"Great bootcamp to start your data science journey,

continue job hunting assistance"

"Fantastic Instruction"

"Awesome bootcamp"

"Great Bootcamp"

"Cutting-edge for all of today's industries"

"Introduction to Python Class "