Online MBA vs Data science boot camp

[Anonymous]

I am deciding whether to pursue an Online MBA from an accredited but no-name school or a Data science boot camp. The MBA will cost me $15k and the Data science boot camp probably less.

I currently work as a Statistical Assistant. I can learn most of the Data science courses on my own to be honest.

My goal is to get a job as a data analyst or data scientist. I have been a statistical assistant for 10 years. I use excel, python and SQL in my job. I do not build any models nor do I work with unstructured data.

[Anonymous]

Check out eastern university dual online mba/ online ms data science for 20k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out eastern university dual online mba/ online ms data science for 20k

Great thanks a lot. Def will. I already saved $10k for this. So I will just have to borrow $10k max. I figured if I don't end up with offers as a result of the degree or boot camp, $10k loss won't put in a financial hole.

[Anonymous]

I work with data scientists at a multinational and we do hire junior analysts who come out of the boot camps. I don’t think they are especially well prepared but it gets them the job and then they build skills from there. You have a good background already.

An MBA wouldn’t be desirable for us.

[Anonymous]

Neither the MBA nor the boot camp will be useful. Although your data experience is at a lower level you have a leg up because you work in the field. Data science is honestly dead. I would take courses in AI instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither the MBA nor the boot camp will be useful. Although your data experience is at a lower level you have a leg up because you work in the field. Data science is honestly dead. I would take courses in AI instead.

You can't understand AI without having the fundamentals that DS teaches you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with data scientists at a multinational and we do hire junior analysts who come out of the boot camps. I don’t think they are especially well prepared but it gets them the job and then they build skills from there. You have a good background already.

An MBA wouldn’t be desirable for us.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. If I may ask, which areas do you think they need to improve on? And how much do you pays these junior analysts and do they have healthcare and 401k match?

I have read access to a few of our DBs and I am thinking of fetching some of the data and do independent projects (like building Machine learning models) to build a portfolio to show to employers. However the issue is passing HR filters. I feel like unless I have a recent degree or some boot camp formation my resume won't even land on the desks of recruiters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither the MBA nor the boot camp will be useful. Although your data experience is at a lower level you have a leg up because you work in the field. Data science is honestly dead. I would take courses in AI instead.

You can't understand AI without having the fundamentals that DS teaches you...

You are correct. I was thinking in the line of being a power user. The AI systems like ChatGPT need human inputs and I was thinking for OP to take courses that will teach him to learn those systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with data scientists at a multinational and we do hire junior analysts who come out of the boot camps. I don’t think they are especially well prepared but it gets them the job and then they build skills from there. You have a good background already.

An MBA wouldn’t be desirable for us.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. If I may ask, which areas do you think they need to improve on? And how much do you pays these junior analysts and do they have healthcare and 401k match?

I have read access to a few of our DBs and I am thinking of fetching some of the data and do independent projects (like building Machine learning models) to build a portfolio to show to employers. However the issue is passing HR filters. I feel like unless I have a recent degree or some boot camp formation my resume won't even land on the desks of recruiters.

I do think the data science boot camp helps applicants get past HR. I would do the shortest, cheapest one, do some independent projects, and meanwhile apply for jobs. I don’t know how much the roles pay at our company ($70?) but benefits incl healthcare are very good. It’s a Euro based company.

[Anonymous]

It's sad an online MBA is not valued because the courses I took in economics, marketing, negotiations, and strategic management continue to help today inu job. I am an engineer and technical courses in data science are okay but at least at my company the folks on the analytics side use the like of Tableau. And that's not exactly a differentiated skillet.

[Anonymous]

Excel, python, and SQL are enough to get you in the door for a lot of entry level analyst roles. If you don’t already have experience with querying platforms like SAS and big query, focus on learning those.

$70-80k sounds right.

[Anonymous]

I am a data scientist. I would tell you not to do an MBA (I also have one of those)... Is your undergrad in Math or Statistics-- if so, do you have the basic skills to be an analyst already? As a PP said you already know Python and SQL, those are the main things to understand when being a data analyst. If I were you I would practice solving problems on sites like leetcode. You should also investigate github.io, you can then build a page and then make a portfolio of solving problems from Kaggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excel, python, and SQL are enough to get you in the door for a lot of entry level analyst roles. If you don’t already have experience with querying platforms like SAS and big query, focus on learning those.

$70-80k sounds right.

Not OP but wow I didn't know salaries for so low for entry level analysis. $70-80k wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excel, python, and SQL are enough to get you in the door for a lot of entry level analyst roles. If you don’t already have experience with querying platforms like SAS and big query, focus on learning those.

$70-80k sounds right.

Not OP but wow I didn't know salaries for so low for entry level analysis. $70-80k wow.

It's pretty good for an associates degree level vocational education.

[Anonymous]

+1 for MBA is useless for a data scientist. I would focus on learning Python, SQL, maybe R? Agree that you have some skills but a recent boot camp or cert will help get your resume past HR. Do as much free/cheap training as possible; most of what you’ll actually need to know you’ll learn on the job, you just have to get the job first. Good luck!

As for compensation, I think PP’s right that entry level would be $70-80k, but there would be opportunities for promotion and raises, decent health/vacation benefits, and 401k match.

I work in tech but not data science/AI. I don’t think “power user of chatgpt” is a reasonable career path; you want the ability to tune models to be valuable in the AI space.