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Is studying Data Science still worth it?

reddit.com › r › learnmachinelearning › comments › 1hc4jdd › is_studying_data_science_still_worth_it

Even with how the industry is changing, I still think data science is a good career path. The role is evolving, with more deployment work handled by ML engineers now, but there’s still strong demand for people who can work with data, analyze it, and understand real-world problems. What matters most today is learning practical skills, not just chasing buzzwords. If you’re just starting out, structured learning really helps. I found this article useful because it explains IBM’s Introduction to Data Science course on Coursera in a simple and easy-to-follow way. Answer from khureNai05 on reddit.com

reddit.com › r/learnmachinelearning › is studying data science still worth it?

r/learnmachinelearning on Reddit: Is studying Data Science still worth it?

December 11, 2024 -

Hi everyone, I’m currently studying data science, but I’ve been hearing that the demand for data scientists is decreasing significantly. I’ve also been told that many data scientists are essentially becoming analysts, while the machine learning side of things is increasingly being handled by engineers.

Does it still make sense to pursue a career in data science or should i switch to computer science?
Also, are machine learning engineers still building models or are they mostly focused on deploying them?

It's pretty much the only industry that has a future, don't listen to the lies on the internet, the layoffs are mostly due to a natural downturn in the market, it's been happening forever and it happens in every industry, only in tech you have almost guaranteed recycling, as opposed to others who once caught up in the crisis had no recycling

Even with how the industry is changing, I still think data science is a good career path. The role is evolving, with more deployment work handled by ML engineers now, but there’s still strong demand for people who can work with data, analyze it, and understand real-world problems. What matters most today is learning practical skills, not just chasing buzzwords. If you’re just starting out, structured learning really helps. I found this article useful because it explains IBM’s Introduction to Data Science course on Coursera in a simple and easy-to-follow way.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is studying data science still worth it?

r/datascience on Reddit: Is studying Data Science still worth it?

May 24, 2025 -

Hi everyone, I’m currently studying data science, but I’ve been hearing that the demand for data scientists is decreasing significantly. I’ve also been told that many data scientists are essentially becoming analysts, while the machine learning side of things is increasingly being handled by engineers.

Does it still make sense to pursue a career in data science or should i switch to computer science? I mean i dont think i want to do just AB tests for a living
Also, are machine learning engineers still building models or are they mostly focused on deploying them?

deploying models into production is definitly being taken over by engineers but I've seen several data scientists transition to that side of the house. data science, comp science, stats, engineering, it really doesn't matter that much. Your first job matters waaay more

I don’t think demand has decreased significantly, although competitive, the mid level market is decent. Entry level is just saturated because people were made to believe they can get into the industry with a boot camp or some self-studying. In reality, every single DS coworker I’ve had pretty much have at least a masters in a quantitative field, many PhD’s. It’s still a lucrative industry if you have the proper education to get in. As for the analytics vs ML. It’s company and team dependent and really up on the individual to navigate this nuance. Some DS do end up becoming MLE’s. I used to imagine my DS career will be just training fancy models everyday but at this point I’ve done a bit of everything and I’m open to learning whatever to drive impact for the business. Can’t optimize you job for everything and all else considered, DS is a pretty great industry to be in. Even among DS, only a small percentage of us get to work on the latest fancy AI models, and that’s ok.

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reddit.com › r/datascience › what's the point of doing a data science degree when you can do computer science instead?

r/datascience on Reddit: What's the point of doing a data science degree when you can do computer science instead?

March 10, 2023 -

From what I know, computer science is the more respected and recognized degree and having a CS degree can get you every job a data science major is able to get. What is the point of doing a data science degree when you can do the OG degree instead?

They are different. The reason you can get every data science job with a computer science diploma is that there isn't all that many data science programs out there (with respect to people taking it). Essentially a physicist who learned the tools necessary would likely also be able to get into most junor data science job. However, someone studying data science will learn different things than someone studying computer science, with some, but not huge overlap. Data science is not the continuation of computer science, it is the continuation of statistics/analytics, using computer science. (With regards to one being the "OG") That said, someone who doesnt know what they want between them, should likely start with computer science or comparable broadly usable study. (Especially when talking about a bachelors)

Both are respectable careers. It all comes down to what you prefer doing.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a data science degree worth it in 2023?

Is a Data Science degree worth it in 2023? : r/datascience

September 27, 2023 - Keep in mind also that DS jobs usually require a masters degree, you might want to look at what masters degrees you would be able to apply for after you get the bachelors if that information is available. ... Very worth it. Just pause for a second and think of the word Data Science.

reddit.com › r/analytics › is a data science degree still worth pursuing if i want to get into this field, or would a mathematics degree be more employable instead?

r/analytics on Reddit: Is a Data Science degree still worth pursuing if I want to get into this field, or would a Mathematics degree be more employable instead?

April 7, 2025 -

I was planning to post this in r/datascience but I don’t have another comment karma yet to do so.

I’m currently a senior in high school planning on going to community college post-graduation despite getting accepted to every school I’ve applied to as a CS major (CPP, SDSU, CSUSM) in order to save money. After taking a course at school and a program online, I’ve decided that Data Science is the branch of CS that I’m most interested in pursuing at the moment. I’m not entirely sure what career I want specifically yet, but something along the lines of Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Statistics, and Healthcare seems up my alley.

I’ve come across mixed opinions on the Data Science degree. Since it’s still a fairly new degree, there’s not much consensus yet as to whether it’s just as valuable as earning a B.S in Computer Science or Mathematics. While I’ve heard more people who have gotten into Data Science jobs with a Computer Science degree, it is currently very difficult to transfer from CC to University as a CS major due to how impacted it is. My initial plan with choosing CC was to complete my lower division requirements and IGETC courses via community college so I can transfer into University. The classes I’m required to take as a transfer for CS are very math heavy and much more difficult than typical high school classes. The acceptance rates for transfer students while slightly higher than college freshman are very low to the point where even students who have a 4.0 GPA are getting rejected.

I was told I’m better off majoring in Data Science or Mathematics instead because of competition. But given how saturated CS currently is, does this mean Data Science degrees will become redundant in the near future? If there are thousands of Computer Science students who aren’t getting interviewed for jobs, then how bad will it be for Data Science majors in a few years?

I’m still certain this is the field I want to pursue, however, I’m not sure if I’m making the right choice by going this route. I’m planning to transfer from CC within 2 years, but I’ve got to play my cards right. Will choosing Data Science as a degree be a mistake? Should I still apply to some safety schools with CS as my main major? Or is it still going to be nearly as employable as a CS degree if I put in the work (do internships, projects, etc.)

Most jobs say something like bla bla bla degree in Computer science, data science, engineering, math or equivalent.

Definitely mathematics is better. Any interviewer will accept someone with math degree. It is the foundation for all of them and you can learn data science concepts in a heartbeat if you have mathematics skills. Math also opens up to other areas later on if you want to go in other fields

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a degree worth it?

r/datascience on Reddit: is a degree worth it?

December 3, 2023 -

I have seen many people in this thread/channel discuss the importance of stem degrees to get into the field. I currently have a bachelor's degree in Sociology with foci on data science and data analytics.

I have the opportunity to get a reduced tuition degree, and I'm thinking of getting a data science degree.

First question - is it worth going back to school to get another degree if i want to enter into data science at some point and not just data analytics?

Second question - If I go back, should I get a second bachelor's in Data Science or add to my current bachelor's and get a Master's? Would there be a difference in what I'm learning per degree? Would one look better/sound better? Does it matter which one I get?

Third question - should I consider something outside of data science as a degree?

Thank you so much!!!!

The field is flooded with people who don't have degrees trying to get into the field. At this point you basically need a master's to stand out.

Do not get a second bachelors degree. That is overkill and won’t add much. A masters (last time, less money) will add more to your appeal. You should be able to pivot to an MSTAT or something with your current credentials. But it also depends on your objectives and what opportunities you can get now. But I’d reccomend the masters

reddit.com › r/datascience › does any of you regret getting into data science? and why?

r/datascience on Reddit: Does any of you regret getting into Data Science? And why?

July 10, 2024 -

And if it wasn’t for DS, what profession will you be in?

I don't regret getting into Data Science since I've always wanted to be able to parse data and make predictions. I hate how people are attaching Data Science buzzwords to everything

Nope. The beauty of the DS field is that it’s very broad with many options. You can go DS, or data engineering, data analytics, or business intelligence. These fields are interconnected and there’s a lot of overlap.

reddit.com › r/learnmachinelearning › is data science worth it in 2025

r/learnmachinelearning on Reddit: Is data science worth it in 2025

May 4, 2025 -

I will be pursuing my degree in Applied statistics and data science(well my university will be offering both statistical knowledge and data science).I have talked with many people but they got mixed reactions with this. I still don't know whether to go for applied stat and data science or go for software engineering.Though I also know that software engineering can be learned by myself as I am also a competitive programmer who attended national informatics olympiad. So I got a programming background but I also am thinking to add some extra skills. will this be worth it for me to go for data science?

Anyone who has any question about whether a field is worth studying or not needs only look at this: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/infographics-94b6214b36/

do math instead

Find elsewhere

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reddit.com › r/cscareerquestions › is data science really the future? is it worth pursuing?

r/cscareerquestions on Reddit: Is Data Science Really the Future? Is it Worth Pursuing?

November 29, 2024 -

I’m still deciding on which degree to pursue and doing some research before I commit. Everyone keeps saying that data science is the future and will be in high demand, but I'm hearing mixed opinions. A lot of students are shifting their focus to data science, but there’s also a lot of competition.

I’m planning to pursue a master's or PhD abroad after my bachelor’s (US or Europe), but I want to know: Is data science really the career of the future? Will it be the highest-paying job in the coming years, like some YouTubers claim? Is it really as big of a deal as people make it out to be?

I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts, especially from those already in the field.

I'm a Data Scientist on paper and all I've been doing in the last 2 months is traditional software engineering applied to chatbot development. There are less DSs than there are engineers, but the need for them is much lower as well. Also, youtubers hyping the market can go eat grass. If all you're concerned about is some career, my advice is to follow a MS only if you can't land an internship or a first job out of college. And I'd favor Machine Learning MSs over DS if you are able to - they are much harder to land currently for a reason, but in case you can't, DS programmes are a nice alternative.

34 year veteran here. It’s just my opinion, of course. It sounds like you aren’t thinking about your career in a useful, yet. “There is no future but that which we create.” generally applies along with “nothing is permanent except the certainty of death”. You are going to have to reinvent yourself about every 3 to 5 years because of technology shifts. So asking “is data science really the future” is missing the point. There are core skills, industry skills, and context skills. Core skills are skills that last a lifetime and underpin everything. Examples are: Communications Business analysis Critical thinking Systems thinking Algorithmic thinking Interpersonal and relationship management Technologies will come and go but these will always remain central to your career. Industry skills begin to matter after the first three years because they are the deep industry implicit knowledge that differentiates you from a computer that can do task mimicking. Then there are context skills. Maybe data science is one set of skills that is MORE important now than other skills, but that will change and something else will be more important than Data Science. Context skills are interesting because you always need them but their emphasis in the job market is always temporal. Which leads me to the wisdom of the most important core skills: reinvention. And then there is one caveat I put on it all: if all you care about is getting a job, you’re likely focusing on the wrong thing. Also, if you are worried about hyper-competition like what happens in places like India… be a contrarian. Go where there is demand but lacks competition. And ONLY go where you have passion about the work, have SOME but not all skills required, and where you have identified what others see in you as your potential. This means finding mentors that can see you the way the employer sees you instead of how you see yourself.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is data science still worth it in 2023

r/datascience on Reddit: Is data science still worth it in 2023

January 25, 2023 -

Hello I have a degree in physics and I want to learn data science is it still worth it in 2023 can I find a job after I finish my studies or this field is dying?!

It is certainly not dying, but it is certainly very competitive at entry levels right now

I would say it’s highly competitive now. 3 years back you could have gotten in with a masters degree relatively easily. Now it’s hard to get in even with a PhD. But totally worth it when it comes to pay. I would say software dev would be a better track. It’s relatively less exploration work compared to data science since software dev has predefined goals.

reddit.com › r/datascience › why did you choose data science as a career? what's your daily life like? did you regret it?

r/datascience on Reddit: Why did you choose data science as a career? what's your daily life like? did you regret it?

January 13, 2024 -

I asked this question because it seems that most data scientists jobs require at least a Master's qualifications and it is not cheap. Online courses would teach me how the models work but not really the in-depth theory and knowledge that would be useful in the long-run. Hence, before I really commit to study data science in the future, I would like to know if this career is really for me.

Would also like to caveat that I have an economics degree and am still thinking whether to pivot to a data analyst role or data scientist role. Any tips would be helpful.

What is your day-to-day like? Do you enjoy it? What tools do you use regularly?
Did you regret your choice?
What education and professional qualifications did you have prior?
Would you recommend a data scientist career? Why/why not?
Tips for those entering

I recommend it. I think it's a great way to make money if you enjoy mathy things and coding. I regularly use SQL, python, and powerpoint (communication skills are underrated). I got a BsC in computer science and stats. After 4 years of work in the field my biggest tip is to learn how to communicate with non-technical people while still making them feel respected. Also freshen up your knowledge of statistics and linear algebra regularly.

Why Because that's what most people with a PhD in physics were going into if they left academia What is your day-to-day like? Do you enjoy it? What tools do you use regularly? Meetings, coding, used to do more testing, yes I enjoy it, Visual Studio, git, mssql, python Did you regret your choice? No. What education and professional qualifications did you have prior? BA math and physics, PhD physics Would you recommend a data scientist career? No. It is oversaturated and overly broad. Tips for those entering Start moonwalking.

reddit.com › r/education › is data science a good major?

r/education on Reddit: Is data science a good major?

July 7, 2025 -

Hello guys. I'm a grade 12 student and I'm really confused about my major. Recently I'm thinking about data science. But the problem is some people are keep talling me that it's not a good major/It doesn't have good future which makes me really very sad and confused. Is there anyone who is studying in this sector and have idea about it. I would really appreciate it if someone give me information regarding this. Thanka in advance!

I wouldn’t touch it for longevity purposes. If you want to do it, that’s great and there’s nothing wrong with it. A large part of my job involves data but guess who does my job for me in 5 mins flat? No more writing programs to sanitize, aggregate data and review data. Just a few prompts and boom, back to my water cooler chats and runs to the cafe…

Data jobs aren't going anywhere, but they may look different by the time you graduate. Data science as a major can be fine as long as you're building an understanding of how things work through courses in computer science and math/stat, and not just learning current tools. Some business courses (finance/accounting/marketing) can be useful as well, for that domain knowledge to help you apply your data skills.

reddit.com › r/dataengineering › is it worth getting going for a masters in data science?

r/dataengineering on Reddit: Is it worth Getting going for a Masters in Data Science?

March 2, 2024 -

Context: I have some work experience and have freelanced in this field - Built data pipelines(data engineeiring) and BI dashboards. Mostly inclined towards Azure. I have some other clients as well that are related to that of a software architect. I am considering my options to see if a masters can give me a significant jump.

Does it necessarily give me an edge? Alternatively, what's the next best thing to do if not a Masters? Would it be working on projects and building my portfolio?

I have a masters in data science. Perfect 4.0 from an ok school, two national data science competitions. Never did a thing for me. I’d say don’t bother. Most masters degrees these days are cash grabs by universities looking to expand the top line

Are you trying to shift to data science? I wouldn't recommend going for a Masters in DS if data engineering is your desired career and you already have work experience as a data engineer. Spend those two years continuing to work as a data engineer, network, and do interview prep.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a ms in data science worth the time and student loans it would take to get it?

r/datascience on Reddit: Is a MS in Data Science worth the time and student loans it would take to get it?

July 2, 2021 -

Hey guys! I'm considering getting my MS in Data Science but I'm not entirely sure if it's worth the time and loans if I can advance just as far in my career by teaching myself the same skills using cheap and/or free resources like Microsoft certifications, classes on Udsmy and whatnot.

Currently I am contracted as a Data Scientist on a Microsoft project (can't say a whole lot about it due to my NDA). I've been at this job for about 14 months now. Prior to this I have no formal Data Science experience other than making my own minor analysis projects at my previous job such as using Excel to track employees hours worked and graph the data to see if we need to hire more people.

I also have a Bachelor's in Sociology and I am a certified Microsoft Azure Data Science Associate (passed the DP-100 exam). I am currently working on a Microsoft cert for Power BI (the DA-100) and working to improve my Python skills on codeacademy.com. I knew some python going in to this job and have learned some since but I am definitely nowhere near an expert. My skills probably land somewhere between beginner and intermediate.

I'm wondering, will a MS get me further than just picking up more self taught skills and completely online certifications in them? I'm curious what those those who have a MS or don't but have been in the field longer than me think about this.

I think it depends on you financial situation, where you go, if you enjoy it, and also what you make of it. I would say generally, on average, I would expect a BS to MS track (in quick succession) to yield the highest expected lifetime income for a DS, accounting for the cost of the degree. A PhD can take two to three times as long as a masters and earns modestly more (on average). Both degrees have a heavy tail. Some PhDs obviously make a killing by going to industry. Many top DS jobs, e.g. FAANG, are guarded by non-technical gate keepers and the first kind of thing they will filter you on is your degree(s). This means without an MS or PhD, you may have a hard time getting someone to speak with you. Obviously this is not universal, but it is common wherever the number of applicants is high. From their perspective, their hiring pipeline is a gradient boosted tree and the first branch split is post-graduate degree or no post-graduate degree. If you get an MS, something statistics, computer science, and/or deep learning heavy will get you the most mileage. Data Science as a label has lost some of its branding power, and many top machine learning positions are branded as applied science or research science to appeal to people who have post-graduate degrees. If it were me, and I were in your position, I'd try to get an MS from a school with reputable staff in deep learning and would work connections to industry hard starting year two. Ideally get an internship somewhere cool and try to convert that to full time. That's just one path though. Hope this helps. Only do it if you find a good program, and you think you'll like going back to school.

Do an online part time master's like this one https://ms-datascience.utexas.edu/ The opportunity cost for an on campus degree is ridiculous.

reddit.com › r/datascience › do you think bachelor degree (bs) in data science is worth it? more than cs degree?

r/datascience on Reddit: Do you think Bachelor degree (BS) in Data science is worth it? More than CS degree?

May 17, 2023 -

I am a student who got accepted to Wisconsin Madison as BS computer science and UC Santa Barbara as a BS Data science.

I am wondering which degree to pursue. I want to be a software engineer in the future. But I was also thinking to be a backend engineer or product manage in the future.

Lots of advices I took from people are usually “DS and CS is basically the same thing. Just choose based on the school.”

UW Madison and UCSB are both top 30ish school. Which one will help me more in a resume in the future when I am looking for a job?

Lots of people also told me negative aspects about Data science degrees. Since you can get CS job with a coding test, I thought DS degree would be more useful.

I want to hear some thoughts from professionals.

Even if you wanted to be a data scientist I would still recommend a CS degree, as long as you can pair it with statistics courses. A lot of university DS programs are still pretty new so they tend to be hit or miss in the early offerings, so at least the CS degree can serve as a solid foundation to build base knowledge which you can eventually build upon with DS skills later on in undergrad

If you want to be a software engineer, go CS no question. I’d probably also suggest CS over DS for your potential other career path choices.

reddit.com › r/dataanalysiscareers › is a bachelor of data science worth it?

r/dataanalysiscareers on Reddit: Is a Bachelor of Data Science worth it?

January 13, 2025 -

Hello everyone. I’ve just finished HS and would love to get into a data analysis career in the future.

I’ve been offered a spot in a Data Science bachelor degree but I’m not sure if it’s worth it to go.

I’ve seen some people say you can enter the job market with certificates and experience but I expect there would be a ceiling without a degree?

What do you guys think

Eight to ten years ago you had a reasonable chance to get in if you had the technical skills, but not a college degree. Since that time, the field has become flooded with candidates. While theoretically it is still possible to get a DA job without a college degree, the reality is that most openings draw hundreds of candidates, most of which have college degrees, often masters and frequently taken in highly relevant fields. It is unlikely that most people without a degree will be seen as competitive in these kinds of candidate pools.

In the current market it will be close to impossible to get a proper data analytics job if you don’t have a college degree. You would need transferable work experience and probably highly connected network for referrals. Anyone working in the industry who says they got in without any college degree either got in 5+ years ago or had a lot of relevant transferable experience and was able to make an internal pivot at their company or is just an outlier. A DS bachelors is probably fine. It should combine the relevant parts of stats, math, and CS. Otherwise a stats major and CS minor is the ideal combo.

reddit.com › r/datascience › the obsession/hate for ds undergrad degrees

r/datascience on Reddit: The obsession/hate for DS undergrad degrees

October 23, 2023 -

I understand ALOT of online DS degrees are a cash grab with maybe a handful of conceptual courses that aren't technical in the slightest or give good real-world skills like writing efficient SQL queries or otherwise.

That being said, a ton of programs for DS out there including the one I'm taking currently are more or less a mix between CS and Stats with a few database or data science code or math-specific courses mixed in. Before my university had a DS degree path it was considered a specialty focus on data science but the main degree was CS until they swapped it to a full-on path.

Just a rant, I've been considering switching to CS in light of finding out people strongly dislike DS degrees but I enjoy my DS courses way more than a CS or Stats-focused degree that only covers those domains. Can a solid project on github overcome these objections?

Edit: most people are assuming I want to immediately jump into a DS role. I do not. I plan on being an analyst or some other entry level adjacent role before for a few years before switching to DS or DE.

I think most any undergraduate would fall flat on their face besides the most technical and self taught alongside their classes if they jumped into DS from the getgo, assuming someone with even a year more experience doesn't beat you to the punch first.

If you disagree with something I, or anyone else says in here, instead of down voting to all oblivion tell myself or that person you disagree with why they're wrong and need to switch their viewpoint. I'll be making a summary of the points I've seen in here in a few days for people to look through in the future.

Here's the summary of points I've seen made here that have convinced me to switch to CS/Stats minor for anyone in the future who might also have the same question whether or not to choose or switch away from a DS undergrad degree. If I missed anything shoot me a message.

CS/Stats is a much more flexible degree path, if the landscape of data as a whole changes, this degree structure is going to be vastly more resistant to changes in what a "Data Scientist" even is in the labor market. This choice will also set you up much post for grad school.
DS degree graduates, no matter how quality the program is, will be passed in comparison to a CS major. Pre-conceived notions are hard to change and DS degrees are very new / lack a generalized structure compared to CS and Stats majors that more or less have an expected outcome quality in graduates.
DS degree graduates as a result of the lack of a single path / consistent course training, will have gaps in basic skills/knowledge CS/Stats minor graduates won't. It's best to embrace the filter classes of CS degrees to make sure you aren't falling flat on your face if you get into a DS role.
Whether you're choosing something more programming focused like Data Engineering, or something more research / statistically focused like a Data Scientist, CS/Stats will just flat out prepare you better for those jobs while keeping your options open for other roles in CompSci if you end up changing your mind.
DS degrees are fine if you plan on being an Analyst, but then again, there are a lot of other non-technical degrees that can become analysts.
Projects are not weighted as heavily as people might think, recruiters most likely will not be looking at them unless in very specific scenarios which is why having a better base of CS/Stats tends to work out better.
Some aspects of CS degrees will suck but in the grand scheme of being more marketable, the difference in prestige and chances of landing a job vs a DS degree is significant enough to switch degrees or choose CS/Stats to begin with.
In a summarized sense, getting a CS/Stats minor focus is a more pure form of what DS courses should be, but aren't.

Thanks to everyone who didn't just downvote the post and wrote their own perspective, I'll be talking with a counselor to switch to CS & Stats minor tomorrow.

And good luck to anyone in the future coming to this post for answers, it is worth choosing a CS degree and if you have any questions and you're coming through here months or years from now, read through the comments on here to make sure you're making the best decisions for your career.

“Can a solid project on GitHub overcome these objections?” Thats honestly one of the poisonous beliefs the DS degrees/bootcamps infuse into our brain. I have yet to know any hiring manager who has the time to look at applicants’ GitHub specifically. Having solid projects will definitely help you with the interview, but again what’s gonna land you the interview in the first place? I took the hard route too (did a DS bootcamp), and I’d say if you have the luxury of youth to start over, definitely go for the CS degree. It doesn’t matter if we enjoy it outselves, since it’s gonna look more valuable to the whole world.

I wouldn’t take the opinions in this sub as 100% reflective of the industry. Look at people who graduated with your major - where are they now? Reach out to some of them and ask about their experience and opinion of the program and how it prepared them for jobs.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a data science or stats master's worth it with 2 yoe as a data scientist?

r/datascience on Reddit: Is a Data Science or Stats Master's worth it with 2 YOE as a Data Scientist?

November 12, 2024 -

Hello everyone! I am a 22 years old Data Scientist and recently graduated with my B.S in Data Science from a lesser-known state school. My job has been going pretty well, I find the work interesting although I am mostly doing data analysis tasks rather than ML/DS, and I make a comfortable salary in a HCOL city. I'm not sure if I want to be a Data Scientist forever, but recently I have been thinking more about my career path/future plans.

My parents also work in tech (program manager and software developer) and have been pressuring me about getting a Master's as soon as I got my first job. They claim that it is the new Bachelor's, it is necessary for career progression, and if I don't get one soon I will fall behind in my career. They also want me to start doing some DS certifications to be more competitive for my next job but I'm not sure if this would be a very valuable use of my time or make any meaningful impact.

I’m planning to look for a new job and move closer to my significant other in about two years (Chicago area). At that point, I’m considering starting a Master’s in Applied Stats or Data Science, but I’m not entirely sure if it’s the right move or if my experience will be enough to progress without it.

I’d love to hear from people in similar positions or with experience in the field:

Is a Master’s truly essential to stay competitive, or can experience and on-the-job learning be enough?
Have any certifications really helped you stand out or advance in your career?
Any advice on timing or alternative paths for someone with 2 years of experience in data science?

Thanks!

I can give you my anecdotal experience. I’m at nearly 1800 applications without a job in data science. I graduated in May 2024 with a Masters in data science from a top 10 school with a 4.0 GPA, 3 internships, 2 lead author publications, and a BS in physics. I also did some consulting work for a government agency for a few months (unpaid). I currently work as a bartender.

If you want to continue doing data analysis and pursue more data analyst focused jobs, you most likely do not need further education. If you would like to move into a more formal DS position (experiment design, ML/AI), you will need a MS at the minimum. The entire field is littered with phds and multi-masters applicants. My recent job search was difficult enough with 10 YOE and a masters degree. To give you a different viewpoint, my team would not hire a new grad as a DS. Analytics experience + MS or PhD is basically the minimum. I am talking about the average individual. Maybe education doesn’t matter if you end up a lead DS at Microsoft or something like that… but banking on that doesn’t seem wise. Not to be too discouraging, but not all experience is equal. I interview people all the time who have years of experience within data science but they’ve clearly been doing data wrangling & A/B tests… plenty of companies call their analysts “data scientists” nowadays and wading through these applicants is always a big chore in hiring.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a data science undergraduate degree worth it?

r/datascience on Reddit: Is a data science undergraduate degree worth it?

September 27, 2022 -

I'm thinking about majoring in data science. Please advise me on what I should focus on.

It depends. UCLA, for example, has a BS in Data Theory and the required coursework are almost the same as applied math (if you elect more math) or statistics (if you elect more stats). The program place less emphasis on programming, but you have access to computer science courses like most other majors and can use the CS course to satisfy program requirement. In this case, it's a good program because unlike math major, you don't need to spend time on analysis or topology and unlike stats major, you are assigned an industry partner to work on real-world problem. That said, data science isn't an entry-level job. One should not expect to be hired as one even after going through a rigorous undergrad program. Edit: looking more into it the program, I made the mistake in stating that you don't need analysis. Analysis is indeed a required course.

Meh, I’d advise on doing a more general undergrad and specialize in grad school. A stats undergrad with a minor in CS or Business would give you far more options at graduation. Alternatively choose a different STEM field and go into great depth on the subject - like biology or physics. Then leverage domain knowledge into industries that value data science.

reddit.com › r/datascience › is a master’s still necessary?

r/datascience on Reddit: Is a Master’s Still Necessary?

April 13, 2025 -

Can I break into DS with just a bachelor’s? I have 3 YOE of relevant experience although not titled as “data scientist”. I always come across roles with bachelor’s as a minimum requirement but master’s as a preferred. However, I have not been picked up for an interview at all.

I do not want to take the financial burden of a masters degree since I already have the knowledge and experience to succeed. But it feels like I am just putting myself at a disadvantage in the field. Should I just get an online degree for the masters stamp?

You are going to be at a massive disadvantage, especially since your experience didn't have the title data scientist. It's likely that for any large corporations you won't even get past the hiring manager. You're dealing with a convergence of two things. First there's been a shrinking of entry level data scientist positions compared to 5 years ago. At the same time there's been an explosion of data science and analytics masters degree programs. So you're entering a market with fewer open positions and more qualified applicants. The big issue is that, while a hiring manager might look at your experience and understand how it relates to a data scientist position, they're likely never going to see your application. It's the purpose of HR to filter out applications that don't meet the standards. Positions are very often getting a thousand applications. 95% are dropped automatically because they don't meet a qualification, often Visa status, but also experience. Let's say the HR rep gets 30 resumes of folks with a master's degree or more. Why would she add your resume to that list of resumes that she sends to the hiring manager when she probably doesn't even understand how your experience even applies? She's in human resources, not data science, so if the job listed on your resume doesn't say data scientist she won't know how it's related. She also can't send the hiring manager every single resume that might qualify, because her whole job is to filter out resumes and the hiring manager doesn't have time to go through or 200 resumes themself. Ironically enough, you're a great candidate for a data science master's degree. I was in a similar situation. I had 3 years experience as a data analyst and wanted to make the transition, so I picked up a data science master's degree. Then, when I was applying for positions I had a degree and experience and it was pretty easy to get a job.

Pretty much, yeah. The field is getting saturated with new people with masters. When I had the free LinkedIn premium a year ago, I saw 50% - 75% of people applying to the same positions as me had masters. 10% - 25% had bachelor's. That's not to say you can't get a job, but it will be a struggle just to get your resume seen by the hiring manager when HR can be picky. This will limit your opinions considerably. I imagine it's only going to get worse as layoffs continue and the economy nosedives.