Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#1

Post by thewarrior » Fri, May 05, 2017, 7:56 AM UTC

I see a lot of people teaching themselves data science and machine learning but it seems that in the real world you won't be allowed anywhere near such a position without having a degree in the subject.

This is opposed to regular programming gigs where you can get work based on a portfolio.

Also there are efforts to commoditize common methods and algorithms by wrapping them up in APIs and SDKs.

So is it a waste of time to learn it on the side with the hopes of getting a data science job ?

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#2

Post by qubex » Fri, May 05, 2017, 8:38 AM UTC

You seem to assume that the only use for knowledge is garnering employment: this is patently false, as you could easily learn something and apply it for your own pleasure in the non-professional domain.

P.S. It's called ’statistics’.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#3

Post by charsifood » Fri, May 05, 2017, 9:37 AM UTC

qubex wrote: post #2

You seem to assume that the only use for knowledge is garnering employment: this is patently false, as you could easily learn something and apply it for your own pleasure in the non-professional domain. P.S. It's called ’statistics’.

> So is it a waste of time to learn it on the side with the hopes of getting a data science job ?

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#4

Post by michaelflux » Fri, May 05, 2017, 10:22 AM UTC

charsifood wrote: post #3

qubex wrote: post #2

You seem to assume that the only use for knowledge is garnering employment: this is patently false, as you could easily learn something and apply it for your own pleasure in the non-professional domain. P.S. It's called ’statistics’.

> So is it a waste of time to learn it on the side with the hopes of getting a data science job ?

Not at all. Worst case scenario even if it doesn't land you a data science job, doesn't mean that it won't greatly help in another job that you may be doing.

The question you're asking is essentially "what's the point of going to the gym if I won't ever become Mr. Olympia".

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#5

Post by wdroz » Fri, May 05, 2017, 10:22 AM UTC

You can do a "regular" programming job and seeking business cases at your company where data science could help.

After, meet your boss and tell him something like "I can make this process 10-20% faster with a 3 month projects"

If he accept, you will have data science real world experience in your CV and it will increase your weight on the CV stack when you apply for data science jobs.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#6

Post by charsifood » Fri, May 05, 2017, 10:27 AM UTC

michaelflux wrote: post #4

charsifood wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So is it a waste of time to learn it on the side with the hopes of getting a data science job ?

Not at all. Worst case scenario even if it doesn't land you a data science job, doesn't mean that it won't greatly help in another job that you may be doing. The question you're asking is essentially "what's the point of going to the gym if I won't ever become Mr. Olympia".

I'm not the OP.

The comment above responded to the OP by treating his/her question as trivial and followed it with a snarky "P.S. It's called ’statistics’." remark.

P.S. @qubex Some people don't have degrees and would actually like to work in data science regardless. The OP is asking about the practicality of that scenario.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#7

Post by muninn_ » Fri, May 05, 2017, 11:24 AM UTC

It depends on what else you're doing. If you're a Scala dev and regularly work with something like Spark and Hadoop you could probably find an entry level data science job at a non-FB/Google company because your programming and framework experience are much needed. But if you're just a Java dev and you're taking an Udemy nanodegree or something you would have to know somebody or get very lucky.

It's possible to maybe help another team and sequel that into a data science job internally, but outside, forget it.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#8

Post by qubex » Fri, May 05, 2017, 11:29 AM UTC

charsifood wrote: post #6

michaelflux wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not at all. Worst case scenario even if it doesn't land you a data science job, doesn't mean that it won't greatly help in another job that you may be doing. The question you're asking is essentially "what's the point of going to the gym if I won't ever become Mr. Olympia".

I'm not the OP. The comment above responded to the OP by treating his/her question as trivial and followed it with a snarky "P.S. It's called ’statistics’." remark. P.S. @qubex Some people don't have degrees and would actually like to work in data science regardless. The OP is asking about the practicality of that scenario.

I didn't treat it as trivial (exactly) but I oozed what I judge a suitable level of condescension for what is clearly a very venal question that transpires a very narrow horizon. As for the ”it's called ’statistics’” comment: it is, and that subject has a rich history going back centuries — much of the ’modern’ ”data science” is just a less refined, more brutal reinvention of those same techniques.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#9

Post by NumberCruncher » Fri, May 05, 2017, 11:29 AM UTC

It depends on how you define "data science".

If you are like AWS and say that using logistic regression is machine learning, then yes, you can teach yourself data science. Learn SQL, read a couple of books on logistic regression, use some open data for building a couple of models. There are many companies where you can have a decent job and an easy living with SQL and logistic regression on your tool belt.

If you say that data science starts with automating stock trading or building the intelligence of self driving cars, than no, you can not teach yourself data science. You will need at least one degree. Or more.

Re: Ask HN: Is it a waste of time to teach yourself data science without a degree?

#10

Post by usgroup » Fri, May 05, 2017, 11:32 AM UTC

Not a waste of time but you'll need to be entrepreneurial to get a job without a higher degrees at the moment . In a few years time you'll be able to nail a job in DS simply because it'll likely be more pervasive in every day SaaS products and it'll become yet another thing you do as a dev that isn't strictly part of your job title.