When I came to George Mason University (GMU) at the first time, I saw the environment is very highly encouraging for the students to deepen their knowledge based on their interests. Also, according to the research I have done, I know that GMU is one of the best engineering schools in Virginia and considered as one of the best universities in National Scale. The environment and the research I have learned about the university has attracted me more to purse my graduate study in Data Analytics as I dreamed about prior to my arrival in the United States. Other than that, I believe that the bachelor’s degree in computer science I had completed in 7 years ago, along with my work experiences which relates to software engineering and information technology in the recent years, will be the best complement along with the graduate study in data analytics that I wanted to purse in GMU.
During my time in the pathways program, I have learned many things that I believe had prepared me to become one of the best candidates of the data analytics master students at GMU. For instance, I have taken several courses which relates to the Graduate Communication and Transitions for International Students Program. Such courses have made me more prepared to pursue a graduate study program since currently I am able to create an academic article using the proper citation for engineering field, able to summarize and paraphrase the critical points of any articles regardless the academic or non-academic article, understand the honor code which prevails in George Mason, and understand the graduate students life especially for the International Students. Besides that, since during my time in the pathways semesters I already took three major courses which relates to the data analytics tract, such as Analytics and Decision Analysis Course, Analytics: Big Data to Information Course, and Applied Statistics and Visualization for Analytics Course, I believe that now I am more prepared to become a graduate student of data analytics department as I learned the fundamental knowledge of data analytics using R, Python, and Excel in such courses. Other than that, since nowadays almost all companies are looking for people who masters the data analytics field, I believe that by choosing the data analytics as my master degree program will enable me to occupy the demanding skills that most companies looking for nowadays.
On the other hand, the curriculum, which is provided by the data analytics graduate program at GMU, very captivate my interest. For instance, the way of how the data analytics department separate their concentration into several areas such as Business Analytics, Cyber Analytics, Data Mining, Predictive Analytics, and so on, is very interesting. Moreover, since I understand that almost all courses which are offered by each concentration is important and interesting, the department even give an option for the students who prefers not to take any concentration. In other words, the students are free to choose the major courses which they considered will be useful at the time they finished their study without choosing the concentration, and that is very interesting to me since already create my study plan, which contains the courses that I believe are useful for my future career such as machine learning, Advance Pattern Recognition, Optimization, and Analytics for Financial Engineering. The other course which attracts me more is Data Analytics Research Project. I believe that is one of the best courses which is provided by the department since I will have an opportunity to implement the knowledge I have learned prior to graduate from the program.
Being one of the research assistant or teaching assistant is my future goals before I finish my master program at GMU. I believe that by serving as a Research or Teaching Assistant is the best way to contribute to the campus learning environment. I perceive that by serving as a research or teaching assistant, I will have a chance to build a closer connection with the professors at GMU, which I believe is useful for my future career. Also, by serving as such positions, I assume that is the best way to collaborate with fellow GMU students. The good thing is we will never know what our fellows will be or work for after they graduate someday and that will be a good starting point me as well to build the connection with them for my future career. Also, I believe that being a research or teaching assistant will ease me to keep updated about the new technologies or techniques in Big Data Analytics.
Data Analytics major has become one of the most interesting fields that already attracted many people in recent years. Other than that, the numbers of job vacancies which open for peoples who master such field are vast. Also, the company where I work is also still looking for people who masters such field. I am sure that by pursuing the degree on this field, I will be able to support my future career regardless in place where I used to work or in other new place in the future. Besides that, I believe that all the courses which is provided in this degree will support my future career at the time I serve as one of the top level management positions since this degree will be helpful for me to make the best decision in a short time.