Student Spotlight – Marina Yue
How did you become interested in Data Science?
Personally, I prefer to learn different types of skills instead of digging into one, so even though I majored in Statistics during my undergrad college years, I took many computer science courses as well. I thought they were all exciting, and thought if I could work on something that uses both Statistics and CS knowledge, it would be wonderful. So, I started to learn more about Data Science and realized how cool it was.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt’s DS MS program?
Vanderbilt was my dream college when I was a high school student. I applied to get in as an undergrad, but didn’t; so, it became an unfinished wish. This is one of the reasons that I chose to join the graduate program. Another reason is even though this program is new, everyone involved with the program has been putting in extra effort to ensure the quality of the program. I believe that once we joined as the “first generation” of this new program , we could get the best experiences and become excellent data scientists in the future.
What is your best piece of advice to incoming students?
There are so many opportunities and available resources, but they are not for someone who does not take actions. Going to class and getting good grades is not enough, so being active with your involvement on campus and utilizing resources will be key.
What are your internship plans for the summer?
I always knew that I wanted to work in the field of public health, so I applied to healthcare centers and institutes. Luckily, I received a data scientist summer intern offer from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The internship will be centered around a task to populate a tool used by clinical staff to provide hospital recommendations. I am sure this internship opportunity will prepare me for the job market since I will have this experience of working in a healthcare institute already by that time.