The Journey begins
Growing up, my fascination with computers was driven by the quick technological advancements of the 90s and early 2000s. From experimenting with web development and photo editing to creating intricate spreadsheets, I was always drawn to technology. However, despite my curiosity, I never really had the opportunity to programme.
That changed when I decided to take a break from my career as a Commercial Property Surveyor to dive into Full Stack Development through a bootcamp. This was an incredible experience. We focused on Ruby, using Rails 7 as our framework and developed fully functioning web applications, including AirBnB clones and estate agent websites. The excitement of seeing our designs come to life on both the frontend and backend was amazing, but it was the backend—specifically the data—that caught me.
As we built these applications, I found myself intrigued by the data’s role in driving functionality. Questions about data structure, patterns, and insights began to cross my mind. Although these questions didn’t have significant implications in the context of our small-scale projects, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was so much more to explore in the world of data.
Continuing my career in the property industry, I didn’t let my curiosity wane. I pursued self-learning opportunities, including the Google Data Analytics Certificate, IBM Analytics courses, and Harvard’s CS50X program. Through these, I gained experience in Python, R, Excel, and Tableau, further solidifying my interest in data analytics.
Despite my growing skills, I hesitated to commit to formal education. The idea of enrolling in a full-time program felt daunting, and I didn’t realize part-time postgraduate courses were an option until a conversation with friends up in Cambridge one evening opened my eyes to new possibilities. I knew I wanted more recognized skills, something that would have a real impact on my career.
After researching various programs, I narrowed my options to:
York University: Data Science
Edinburgh University: Data Science Innovation and Technology
Northumbria University: Computer Science
A quick Google search will reveal the mixed reviews for these courses, but I strongly recommend putting this to one side and digging into the syllabus of each program before making any decisions. For me, the course at Edinburgh University stood out. The modules offered there aligned perfectly with my interests and aspirations.
I am fortunate to have recently accepted an offer at Edinburgh University, and as I sit here, enrolled for the September intake, I'm eagerly awaiting details about the program timetable, my lecturers, and the cohort I’ll be joining. The anticipation of what lies ahead is palpable, and I can’t wait to dive into this new chapter.
This post marks the end of my initial reflections, but it’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a rewarding journey. I plan to use this space for self-reflection and personal motivation as I progress through the program, and I hope my experiences might also serve as a guide or inspiration for others considering similar paths.