I'm going to echo the Insight Data Science Fellowship Program as, by far, the best in that space. Even then, please pick up a copy of Clean Code if you're from another field. That's a chronic issue with data science candidates.
Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
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Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#12Obvious bias, but myself and a number of people I know have obtained great value from the Insight Fellows Program [1]. From what I can tell, nothing else really comes close. For their Data Science program, I believe a PhD is still a requirement, but it seems you have one. The bigger caveat is that it's not really a "bootcamp" per se, in that there are no real lessons or assignments. Applicants to the program are expe…
As a former DS hiring manager who phone screened over 200 candidates, Insight is the only DS bootcamp that I've found to be positively correlated with capability.The other programs had candidates that were weaker than the generic new grad pipeline. Eventually we just made a PhD a hard requirement to filter down the ridiculous application volume.
I can second this. Exact same policy for our data science program's recruitment pipeline; a PhD is a hard requirement and Insight was the only program we noted when reviewing applications. Still, it would be a toss-up between the PhD/Insight candidate versus someone 6 years their junior with 2-3 years of "real world" data science under their belt in the private sector.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#13I'm going to echo the Insight Data Science Fellowship Program as, by far, the best in that space. Even then, please pick up a copy of Clean Code if you're from another field. That's a chronic issue with data science candidates.
I think some of this has Python to blame. It’s very difficult to write idiomatically maintainable code in dynamic, scripting languages.
Now also consider that data wrangling is almost always highly coupled to one or more input formats, lots of index-via-literals, string manipulation, type conversions, field copying etc... I think I’d have trouble writing what others would consider Clean code in such a setting - and I’ve programmed for 40 years.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#14We've had good experience with Insights are a previous company. That said, generic Data Science is somewhat saturated right now in my experience. With a CS degree you should probably look more into the ML Engineering side of it.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#15I don't think you need a bootcamp. Foundational DS concepts can be self-tough given the right resources (such as Manning's "Data Science Bookcamp" https://www.manning.com/books/data-science-bookcamp)
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
As a former DS hiring manager who phone screened over 200 candidates, Insight is the only DS bootcamp that I've found to be positively correlated with capability.The other programs had candidates that were weaker than the generic new grad pipeline. Eventually we just made a PhD a hard requirement to filter down the ridiculous application volume.
I can second this. Exact same policy for our data science program's recruitment pipeline; a PhD is a hard requirement and Insight was the only program we noted when reviewing applications. Still, it would be a toss-up between the PhD/Insight candidate versus someone 6 years their junior with 2-3 years of "real world" data science under their belt in the private sector.
> Exact same policy for our data science programs recruitment pipeline; a PhD is a hard requirement
> Still, it would be a toss-up between the PhD/Insight candidate versus someone 6 years their junior with 2-3 years of "real world" data science under their belt in the private sector.
Aren't these contradicting each other? It sounds like you don't even consider the latter candidates. Or do you mean from your prior experience?
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#17I hire Data Scientists. I get A LOT of applications. The name of the bootcamp doesn't matter.
If you haven't worked as a Data Scientist before, have a portfolio of code I can look at.
If you have, I care about how relevant your experience is to my problems, not about where you learned pandas.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#18Obvious bias, but myself and a number of people I know have obtained great value from the Insight Fellows Program [1]. From what I can tell, nothing else really comes close. For their Data Science program, I believe a PhD is still a requirement, but it seems you have one. The bigger caveat is that it's not really a "bootcamp" per se, in that there are no real lessons or assignments. Applicants to the program are expe…
As a 2019 Insight alum, I can't say more good things about the program. As someone who has now been on the other side of hiring, I can say that the fellows from the program really differentiate it from every other 'bootcamp' (I wouldn't call Insight a bootcamp as there are no real tests/homework/etc, but of course lots of expectations set by the program directors).
Unfortunately, Insight kind of imploded like most other talent recruiting did during the pandemic, laying off basically the entire staff and not having a spring 2021 cohort (and I have no clue what ended up happening with the fall 2020 cohort). I believe they are trying to revive it, albeit at a smaller size and likely with the ISA. I truly hope they succeed as it was a fantastic program. I also hope they stay small.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#19Why not try for data engineering? I'm looking for data scientist and data analyst jobs and it's been rough, you'll get over 100 apps for most positions because so many scientists like myself pivot out of the ridiculousness of academics. It's very hard to stand out, even with multiple publications, employers are flooded with great applicants.
Maybe a data engineer can chime in, but the market certainly seems better for that skillset than for us python, R, sql, stats people who are a dime a dozen.
Re: Ask HN: What are the best data science bootcamps?
#20Obvious bias, but myself and a number of people I know have obtained great value from the Insight Fellows Program [1]. From what I can tell, nothing else really comes close. For their Data Science program, I believe a PhD is still a requirement, but it seems you have one. The bigger caveat is that it's not really a "bootcamp" per se, in that there are no real lessons or assignments. Applicants to the program are expe…
If you have to have a PhD this isn't a bootcamp, it's just a pay for play networking funnel. It's literally the thinnest wedge you can fit a business in in this space. Convince people they won't find a job without you and then charge then for the privilege of being a part of it. And charge companies a finders fee.
A PhD could walk into a job without this 7 week whatever. Vulgar and predatory.