MSDS Admissions Insights: 2020-2021 Essays

Happy first day of fall! The MSDS program recently launched our 2020-2021 application, and we revised our essay prompts for this year. Because we recognize that writing essays is one of the most challenging aspects of applying to graduate school, we want to provide you with some direct insights into what we are looking for when we read your essays.

Essay 1: Why UW MSDS?

We are interested in learning why you would like to join our data science program. A strong essay will go beyond generic responses, applicable to any data science master’s program, and will instead provide a clear and personalized motivation for wanting to attend our program. Before you start writing your essay, we encourage you to brainstorm the specific qualities that attract you to our data science program, and to identify how well the MSDS program aligns with your aspirations. This essay is your chance to show us that you are good fit for the MSDS program, and vice versa.

Essay 2: Data Visualization

Note that this essay prompt has multiple questions. Be sure to answer them all! The 500-word count is brief, so you will have to use good judgment about what aspects of the given data science visualization you choose to discuss. Our favorite thing about this prompt is that there is no one right approach to writing this essay. We are expecting responses that are as diverse and compelling as our applicants. However, an excellent essay will provide strong, detailed analyses of a data visualization rather than general reflections or a summary. We hope to see evidence of strong communication and critical thinking skills, and we encourage you to put those skills on display in your response to this essay prompt.

Essay 3: Overcoming a Barrier

We are asking you to tell one specific, discrete story about a time you overcame a barrier in your academic or professional life. The 350-word limit is short, so you will have to decide what level of context to provide. We recommend offering us just enough situational detail to set the scene while leaving yourself space to reflect on how you overcame the obstacle and what you learned about yourself in the process. Writing about a time you overcome an obstacle gives you the opportunity to implicitly convey some of the character traits and strengths that define you as a person.

One final piece of advice: the essays are an opportunity to share with the admissions committee who you are behind your transcripts and your resume, so take your time. Think carefully about the content and the quality of your essays. Please respond thoroughly but concisely to the prompts. Applicants are required to adhere to the word count.

Good luck! We look forward to reading your essays in January.

It’s Almost Time to Apply!

Believe it or not – 2020 is almost here! This means that the January 6^th deadline to apply to the M.S. in Data Science program is just around the corner. Many of you will spend the next month working on your applications. Because we know that writing admissions essays is not the most exciting way to begin the New Year, we have some tips to help make that task a little easier.

Make a list. Start by creating a list of everything you need to do between now and January 6^th. Do you need to finish updating your resume? Have you uploaded your transcripts to your application? Write down everything you need to do and then prioritize your tasks.

Create a schedule. After you’ve written down a list of everything you need to do and prioritized the most important tasks, you should try creating a schedule to ensure that you’re able to complete everything by the application deadline. If possible, try to schedule some time to work on your application during a part of the day or week when you’re not exhausted from the rest of your schedule. You want to be able to work on your application with a fresh mind.

Crank out an essay. You’ve set aside time to work on your application, but when you sit down at your computer, you can’t seem to find the right words to write your admissions essays. Does this sound familiar? You’re not alone. Applicants often tell us that writing essays is the most difficult part of the application process. There’s a lot of pressure to put the best of yourself on display in your application, and the desire to write something “perfect” can hold you back from actually writing. The first step you can take to get the writing process started is to write down whatever comes to mind. You can then edit and tweak your writing until your essays better represent what you want to say to the admissions committee.

Take some time for yourself. If you start to feel overwhelmed, you should give yourself permission to put your application aside for the day and do something that brings you joy, such as watching a movie or spending time with your friends. Carving out time for yourself will help you recharge and come back to your application with renewed focus.

Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your colleagues, classmates, professors or your university’s writing center to ask for help with your application. Whether it’s help reviewing your resume or editing an admissions essay, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

If you have questions about the application process, be sure to contact us at uwmsds@uw.edu. We hope you all have a Happy New Year, and we look forward to reading your applications in January!

The MSDS Program: 2018-2019 Year in Review

The end of the 2018-2019 academic year marks a threshold and invites a pause for reflection. It’s a great time to take stock of the year behind and look ahead.

It was an exciting year for the MSDS program! We received the largest number of applicants in our history, enrolled the biggest cohort to date, increased the percentage of women in the program, and placed alumni at leading companies. We are proud of our accomplishments, so we want to highlight everything the program achieved this year.

Admissions

First, the MSDS program received a record number of applicants. Nearly 900 students applied to join the MSDS program, reflecting an 18% increase in applicants from last year. With an acceptance rate of less than 12%, this year’s admissions cycle was the most selective ever. The MSDS program also enjoyed an unexpectedly high yield rate, with 58% of admission offers being accepted.

The incoming MSDS cohort is comprised of 62 bright students from across the country and around the world. The countries represented include Argentina, Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

The incoming cohort also includes an increase in the number of women enrolled in the program. Fifty-eight percent of new students are women. The increase is a nod to the value the MSDS program places on diversity and inclusion.

Class of 2019

Dr. Adrian Dobra, the MSDS Program Chair, addresses the Class of 2019.

This year the MSDS program graduated its second class of alumni. The intimate ceremony was held on campus in the Intellectual House. Degrees were awarded to 41 MSDS students. Our graduates had much to celebrate. This year’s alumni have accepted job offers at leading companies, including Amazon, Boeing, eBay, Google, Facebook, Merck, Micron, Microsoft, Nordstrom, T-Mobile, Zillow, and more!

Based on a survey of this year’s alumni, the base salary range for MSDS graduates is $91,000 – $186,000, and the median base salary is $117,000. The most common job title for graduates of the full-time program is Data Scientist, while the most common job title for graduates of the part-time program is Senior Data Scientist.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

Summer Internships

Current MSDS students have much to celebrate, too! They secured summer internships at a record number of companies and not-for-profits throughout the Seattle area and beyond, including Allstate, Apple, Capitol One, Clobotics, Facebook, Fred Hutchinson, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Walmart, and more!

Faculty and staff look forward to hearing about students’ internship experiences when they return to campus in the fall.

Industry Advisory Board

Last, but not least, the MSDS program is excited about our new Industry Advisory Board. The board is comprised of esteemed data science experts from Amazon, Boeing, Google, HCL Technologies, Microsoft, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. They will help support program innovation and ensure that the MSDS degree remains cutting-edge and industry-relevant year after year.

Looking Ahead

As the program enters its fourth year, we look forward to achieving more milestones, and reaffirming our national reputation as a leading data science program. For a program that just finished its third year, we have built a flourishing student body and an impressive alumni community. We are committed to providing our students and alumni with the support they need to have rewarding and impactful careers in data science.

Advice on Financing Your Degree

If you are thinking about pursuing an M.S. in Data Science in the near future, chances are you are also exploring how to finance your studies. While the M.S. in Data Science degree is a great investment in your future, it may require some planning. The admissions team is here to offer information on what to expect and some additional options you may not have considered.

Research What Expenses to Expect. We suggest you start by looking at current tuition costs and fees at your target programs. Even if it is a year or two before you intend to enroll in a program, you can start by calculating an approximation of costs ahead of time. In addition to tuition and student fees, you should break down your cost of attendance to include estimates such as renting an apartment, buying a laptop, groceries, transportation, and health insurance. These are all expenses that most graduate students will have to consider.

Be Mindful of Cost-Saving Strategies. For example, if you can find a roommate, you can save a significant amount of money every month. Many students choose to leave their car behind and take advantage of Seattle’s public transportation. At the University of Washington, students have the advantage of living in a city that is more affordable than other major cities such as San Francisco, Boston or New York City.

Know Your Funding Options. In addition to applying for federal or private student loans, doing the research to learn about your funding options will pay off. Does your employer offer tuition benefits? Some companies may cover the full cost of tuition while others might cap tuition reimbursement at a certain amount each year. If you are a military service member or a veteran, you can learn more about your educational benefits by contacting the Veterans Benefits Officeat the University of Washington.

We also suggest researching the funding opportunities and resources available at your target programs. For example, the M.S. in Data Science program awards some partial scholarships to incoming and returning students on a competitive basis every year. These scholarships can help defray the cost of your master’s degree. Additionally, the Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) at the University of Washington offers $1.5 million in funding to graduate students every year.

Do you belong to any professional associations, academic honor societies, Greek life organizations, or religious institutions that offer scholarship support to members? If so, it may be in your best interest to tap into the resources they offer. You could also use a big scholarship database like fastweb.com to research funding opportunities. In addition, the Graduate Funding Information Service at the University of Washington offers guidance and resources for graduate students looking for funding opportunities. Personal or family savings are another source of funding that may be worth considering.

Apply for Internships. Internships for students in the M.S. in Data Science program are extremely important. In addition to gaining industry experience and increasing your chances of a full-time job offer after graduation, pursuing paid internships is one way to earn money that will help cover your living expenses and/or pay down some of your tuition. Students in the M.S. in Data Science program have the advantage of living in one of the largest tech hubs in the world and can experience the convenience of applying for internships at major tech giants and innovative startups in their own backyard. Additionally, the M.S. in Data Science courses meet in the evenings, which frees up your time during business hours to pursue an internship at one of the many tech companies in the area. Many students also hold full-time internships during the summer when classes are not in session. Students enrolled in the M.S in Data Science reported full-time summer internship salaries ranging from $5,000 to $8,850 monthly.

If you are an international applicant, please note that you can learn more about eligibility for internships by visiting the International Student Services website.

Consider Our Part-Time Program. For prospective students who currently work in industry in the Seattle area, you may want to consider enrolling in our part-time program. Our part-time program would allow you to spread the cost of the M.S. in Data Science degree over 2.5 years. If your employer caps tuition reimbursement at a certain amount each year, the part-time program would also enable you to maximize your education benefits. You could space your courses over 2.5 years so that your education benefits cover most or all of your degree.

Understand the Return on Investment. LinkedIn recently published a report naming the fastest growing jobs in the U.S. The top two spots were machine learning engineer and data scientist. According to a 2018 alumni survey, graduates of the M.S. in Data Science program reported a salary range of $90,000-$130,000. This may help set your mind at ease when it comes to understanding the value of a master’s degree in data science.

Fall 2019 Application Now Open!

For those of you eager to get a head start on your application to the M.S. in Data Science program, we are pleased to announce that the application for fall 2019 entry is now open! To help you get started, check out the updated Admissions Requirements on our website.

Identifying applicants well prepared for academic and professional success in the field of data science is key to our admissions process. To that end, we are implementing a more strategic approach to admissions this year. We are no longer requiring applicants to submit GRE scores.

In place of GRE scores, the admissions committee will evaluate factors that we know have a bearing on success in data science – including academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, quantitative and technical abilities, leadership, communication skills, creativity, and critical thinking. A new admissions application, which includes three required essay questions and one optional essay question, is designed to provide insight into these factors. Alongside your academic background and professional experience, the admissions committee will read your essay responses to learn about you and assess your candidacy to the M.S. in Data Science program.

The final deadline to submit your application is January 18, 2019.

Good luck on your application! If you are interested in learning more about how we evaluate applications, be sure to check out our upcoming blog post on the subject.