Data Science For All / Empowerment

Last August, I selected skills and areas I wanted to focus on during my last year of grad school - one of which was data analytics. Coincidentally, within the next week, I received a promotional email about a data science "Bootcamp" through Correlation One. The program hopes to provide more access to the data science field to folx from marginalized identities - creating Data Science for All (DS4A). I applied for the program the next day and was accepted into their very first cohort. After a long 15 weeks where I dedicated 9 hrs of my Saturdays, I finally graduated from the program a couple of days ago!During DS4A / Empowerment, I learned data analytics through practical cases using real data sets and completing assignments. I also completed a team project where my group aggregated Department of Ed data on colleges and created a tool to help high school seniors make the best college decision for them. I am proud of all I learned: technical skills like Python, data concepts like A/B testing, and overall data literacy. Looking forward to using my new tools in my journey post-graduation.

DS4A is an excellent program! I was honestly skeptical at first about the program since it was new and free, but I can assure you it's well thought of and well designed. Whether you are a beginner or advanced in your data science/ analytics journey, the course offers a lot of benefit and support. Teaching assistants are available to assist with understanding the material and helping you with your group project- which you have to complete to graduate from the course. You are also assigned mentors (who are domain experts in their fields and the project topic you are working on). DS4A really cares about the success of their fellow, so even after graduation, they check on us and send us awesome opportunities (like jobs). Feel free to find me on LinkedIn and reach out to me if you have specific questions about the program. 

The program was a fantastic experience. All of the instructors were incredibly helpful and passionate about teaching. And the community is one of a kind.

It is probably the selection process, complete with practical tests and incredibly competitive admissions (<6% for our cohort) that created such a great experience. Every other fellow there was passionate and brilliant, and the cohort was incredibly diverse both in terms of work experience, educational background, and life experience. Our team could not have been better, and I hope to continue working relationships in the future with the four other fellows that were assigned to our team.The quality of instruction was the best I've ever had, and the engagement and encouragement has helped me better define my plans going forward. I am considering more education because of how wonderful this experience, led by professors from top universities, was. There are a lot of job opportunities for Fellows who are looking to change careers. Several people I know received good offers as a part of the program, even if they had little formal tech experience. The partner companies are very active in recruiting, and fellows have access to Q&A sessions and interactions with representatives from those companies. Despite not looking for a career change, I attended several of the sessions and learned a good amount about how different companies are structured and what they are doing in terms of both Data Science and Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.I'd hire any one of the fellows I graduated with because I know how intensive both the training and the initial recruitment process were. I recommend this program to everyone I know, and plan to stay involved in the future. I would do it again if I could!

If you're looking to build your skills in data science and gain access to well paying jobs this is the program for you. Correlation One goes the extra mile to make sure that you learn how to analyze data in python and SQL and get exposure to some top companies that are looking to hire entry level data analysts. I really enjoyed my experience here and they do their best to make lectures engaging as well. 100% recommend people to apply for this program. 

I was so blessed to be apart of the Correlation One: DS4A Empowerment Cohort for Fall 2020. The 13-week program was way beyond my expectations.  Each Saturday our professors brought the energy and real-world application of Python and SQL. I will admit; I am no expert at Data science tools but I have a better understanding of how they can be used and can't wait to utilize these tools going forward. The Correlation Team will keep you engaged through guest speakers and lecturers and the ice breaker activities give you a chance to learn more about your cohort (500 for Fall).  It will be a lot of work depending on your skill-level with Python and Jupiter notebook. Also you spend a lot of time with your small group, and it is imperative that you all set rules of engagement and hold one another accountable for deliverables and your capstone project. You will get a dedicated Teaching Assistant, and ours was great and always kept us on task and pushed us to do more. We also had access to Mentors too. We didn't utilize them as much as we should of but they encouraged us and gave great direction and advice when we needed.Honestly, I wish I had given more effort to the course but the great part is that I now have a network of like minded scholars that are available to help me in the future. It's a family and Professor Natesh is a true Data Rockstar and the best professor I have had. He keeps you engaged and knows how to read the room to know when to circle back on concepts and point out what we need to grasp. He will instill confidence in you and will have you hype to open your Notebook and get to coding. The 13 weeks are tough no doubt, but it goes by fast and next thing you know you will be wondering what do I do without my DS4A family?

Correlation One's Data Science for All/ Empowerment is a life-changing program. It is taught by a variety of the best academics as well as experts in various fields that relate to data science. I got to not just learn information, but also practice as much as I can possibly in a short period of time. It is also unique in its community. The diversity of the program creators, as well as participants, is something I have never experienced anywhere else. The program is immersive and well-designed to help you succeed. The staff will go above and beyond to support you during the program, and after you graduate. The mentorship provided by the program is also another aspect that made my experience excellent. The prospects of my career are now vast after completing the program. 

This training is just amazing. As a data engineer I wanted to learn how to better support data scientists and I not only did learn that but got a full grasp of data science.Highly recommended

A life-changing experience. I am so honored and fortunate to be apart of an amazing community! This program gave me the tools to succeed and dream beyond my wildest beliefs. 

This program was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about data science and techniques in a friendly and welcoming environment. I especially enjoyed working on a team project because it allowed us to challenge each other and produce something that we were all proud of. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking for a fun and hands-on way to increase their data analytical abilities, while building a great network!

As many reviewers have said, DS4A/Empowerment is an amazing opportunity to improve your data science skills and grow your professional network, all while learning from a supportive community of peers and passionate instructors. I came into this program with limited data science/coding background, and although I found it very challenging, I could not be happier that I decided to take the leap and pushed myself to complete it. I would recommend this program for anyone, from people with prior DS/coding experience, to those like me who come from non-traditional backgrounds.

Correlation One's data science for all program will exceed your expectations. Their curriculum is evidence-based, and the additional benefits that help to shape the DS4A program deserve recognition. 
Training like this has been a long time coming. I think there has been a divergence over the years between post-secondary school’s value proposition (undergraduate and graduate) and the changing business landscape. The ‘degree’ has been on the decline for over a decade, and I would posit that is because many of the traditional degree-type schools grew complacent with their 20th-century model. Career progression and mobility require lifelong professional development – and the solutions need not require a pile of money or synchronous learning. #rantover
Correlation One began as an idea, as most things do in life. The team’s passion and internal compass are what gave form to DS4A. Mark my words, this program’s influence has just begun. 
The more you invest (your time, your focus) in this program, the more satisfied you will be in the end. 
One of the main selling points, imo, for this program is actually being able to match supply (companies) with demand (underrepresented talent). Key word, actual (and a non-trivial number of jobs looking to be filled). 
Another invaluable pro. Professor Natesh Pillai. Have you seen barbers advertise, “I’m your barber’s barber”? Professor Pillai is unequivocally your professor’s professor. His energy and passion will permeate throughout the program. Professor Pillai is truly a force multiplier.  
The only criticism that I can think of about the program, and it is really not enough to reduce the overall surplus in value, has to do with some of the lectures not taught by Professor Pillai. (I would be interested to hear if the C1 team was able to do any analysis in the Slack channel on lessons that Professor Pillai did not teach.) 

I entered the program with previous experience from internships and found that the program was immensely beneficial. Not only did I have the chance to hone my skills but also to grow my network. Another key benefit was being connected to recruiters for job placement assistance both during and after the program 

The program gave me exactly what I was looking for. It offered clear structure in following a curriculum teaching the programming tools data scientists use, along with offering a statistical framework for thinking about data and strategies to visualize data informatively. This curriculum was backed by fantastic teachers led by Prof. Natesh Pillai and TAs who went out of their way to make themselves available to help students grasp the information taught throughout the week. And on our final project, we even got our own industry mentors to both network with and help form an ultimate final project on. The cherries on top were the fantastic talks that the Correlation One team helped organize by bringing in data leaders and diverse leaders who were sponsoring our program. I greatly enjoyed being part of this community of people as excited about programming and statistics as I am. I also enjoyed being part of career conversations to learn about different applications of statistics at firms in various industries. I hope people were able to take away at least as much as I was able to from this program.

Create a great environment to learn and socialize with everybody.  The curriculum may be challenging at times, but you always end class knowing you've learned something new and valuable, plus Natesh and the awesome TAs is always there to help.  The group project was a great way to start my portfolio and form a strong bond with others.  Was sad once the program ended.

This is an intense, but rewarding, program that gives its fellows a strong grounding in data science.

DS4A has been a great learning experience for me. The case studies in the curriculum are real life business cases, that expounds your knowledge beyond the "book". Thanks to the prof too, Natesh - always making the learning experience fun for us. Great community to be a part of. 

DS4A - Empowerment was very important to me in terms of my skill/career development, as well as my confidence as a professional and what's possible with data fluency. Before DS4A, I was a rising senior in undergrad that knew data science and analytics was a good knowledge set to have, but didn't have the structure or the mentorship to really engage with it. My coding experience beforehand was an intro to CS course at my school, a little bit of R within behavioral sciences, and half of the online Harvard CS50 course. This program hands down taught me Python, and made me feel comfortable using packages like Pandas, matplotlib, and some statistical packages as well. It also exposed me to more command line work with Docker and AWS. The extended cases (jupyter notebooks with real business problems and guidance) and the 3 homework assignments went in depth into various DS methods, and I'm looking forward to reviewing them in the future.Most of the lecturers are really great, however, be prepared for a commitment, as every Saturday for 13 weeks will be taken up (4 hours of lectures, talks, and then group capstone work). Many of the mentors for the program are awesome DS experts in some really fantastic industries and positions and are great resources too. Having some prior coding knowledge will really put you at an advantage to take in the full breadth of what the program has to offer, as well as some interest in behavioral research or statistics in general. However, if you're willing and able to put in the time, and looking to transition or start a more data-centric role or career, this program will be great for you. 

The Data Science For All Program was truly a wonderful experience. This program was great for people who have never had a formal education in Data Science. Correlation One has a vision to make everyone data fluent and removing the barriers to education for minority groups that otherwise would not have the opportunity to join. The education provided by Natesh and all the talented teacher assistants at Correlation One is probably the most exemplary part of this program. I consider myself lucky to be able to receive instruction and recommend anyone interested in STEM and Data Analysis to apply to this program. I truly recommend it.

Great opportunity for people in different stages of their data careers. Helps to learn/solidify knowledge of Python, grow your network of data people, and connect to data oriented job opportunities.