SOP Sample for MS Data Science in USA | Early Career Profile

Statement of Purpose

My affinity for Data Science began as an undergraduate engineering student at [UNIVERSITY], when I started learning programming languages for my projects. I specifically started opting for Math courses and electives like Data Structures and Computer Architecture. I parallelly started taking some of the classes from online websites like [URL], where I did a Machine Learning Course by [PROFESSOR_NAME] and a SQL course in Data Science just out of my curiosity. Data Science has always appealed to my inquisitive being. In my current organization, [COMPANY], I got the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the industry on Data Science, Machine Learning, and Cloud Platforms. Under their mentorship, I realized the massive potential of data and its analysis. These discussions and knowledge sessions drove me to pursue relevant programs and finalize the master's program in Data Science. I want to use my Data Science and research skills to advance the human performance methodology while also mentoring my fellow data scientists. I want to pursue MS in Data Science, which will add to my knowledge and provide a robust platform for my future career aspirations and goals.

I have always participated in various national science Olympiads such as [COMPETITION_NAME], [COMPETITION_NAME], and [COMPETITION_NAME] during my school days. Around this time, I first saw one of my uncles working on his old computer, building websites, and selling them to companies. After that, I was intrigued by computers, and I also got a laptop a year later. Besides my fascination for computers, I have always been a super active individual for extra-curricular activities. I was a regular player in Chess competitions at the subzone and central zone level on behalf of my school, which has helped me gain self-confidence. It also helped me improve my concentration and cognitive skills like decision-making and critical thinking. I secured a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) with excellent grades. Later I acquired my Higher Secondary studies with my majors in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, which helped develop my logical, analytical, and problem-solving skills. To further enhance these skills, I chose Electronics and Communication Engineering for Under Graduation.

Whenever someone asks me to choose between learning all languages or becoming an expert in one, I'd always say becoming an expert in one language. I have always wanted to select and master one thing, but nothing interested me enough until my first year of college. I was curious about new technologies like Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and Database Management Systems when I learned about them. Hence, I started taking those courses in electives and discovered that I really liked studying them, and I even scored better there. In one of the summer breaks between my graduation, I did a six-week-long internship at [COMPANY], where I worked on Embedded Systems and IoT Projects involving C++, MATLAB, microprocessors, and several modules like GSM, RFID, and Bluetooth.

I have successfully carried out challenging projects like "Smart Restaurant Ordering System" and "Real-Time Emotion Detection from Facial Expressions." In the last project, a tool was developed to detect the real-time emotions of an individual using a camera, which takes the pictures, saves them into the system that can be fetched, scanned, and later used for image analysis by the tool. We used methods like FURIA fuzzy rules and the Euclidian Distance formula in the model to extract the required information from the acquired image or video and give one of 7 basic human emotions as output.

My undergraduate final year project was "Detection and Classification of Forest Fire." The main objective was to classify the satellite images of forests to identify the fire's origin using a deep convolutional neural network, considering both artificial and natural causes. The model considers the burning of debris, deforestation, lightning, high-temperature environment, volcanic eruptions, and several other causes of forest fires. It was challenging to work on images of different climatic conditions. We used fine-tuning to work on cloudy and hazy weather pictures. The final model combined VGG16 and ResNet50, where we used features like Data Augmentation, transfer learning, and fine-tuning. Data Augmentation expanded the dataset's size by slightly modifying the existing ideas to fit the model.

For the last year, I have been working on an analytics project at [COMPANY] that specializes in performing data analysis tasks to aid in preliminary research of flight data for Aviation companies regarding predictive maintenance of several parts of their flights. The goal is to isolate which component is most likely at fault, predict failure, and provide ample notification to facilitate maintenance action. Initially, we segregated the data to understand the various conditions and factors affecting the machine. We are working on a model using the Regression Approach to predict how much time is available before the subsequent failure of the component. For this project, I, along with my team, was awarded the 'Teams Award – DXC Collaborators' trophy for September 2020 to September 2021 for my dedication and commitment to excellence towards the project.

I kept my short-term goal simple. I want to focus on my degree in the fast-growing specialties like Data Mining, NLP, Data Science, and Machine Learning, and evolve as a computer science graduate with the advantage of this industry shift toward specialization from your university. Following my graduation, my long-term goal is to become a subject matter expert in Data Science disciplines. I want to manage the aspects of high caliber projects coming up in a particular niche field of data science, which would, in turn, make me an indispensable individual for the organization I work in and have a positive impact on my earnings in the future assignments. A master's degree is undoubtedly an achievement you should be proud of and gain additional credibility that invites a high level of respect. I want to enhance my skillset in various areas offered in this program, including cyber security and data mining. The program will also benefit me by reinforcing a deeper understanding of the material through teaching, communication skills, time management, and valuable work experience. In total, these skills make the graduation course a highly sought-after asset in the industry.

I assume that a symbiotic association between the student and his department is of utmost significance for a successful graduate program, and [UNIVERSITY] extends an intriguing and engaging ecosystem for developing individual skills and presenting a staging for pursuing personal interests by determining a set of objects. I am especially captivated by the curriculum of this program that offers electives such as Statistical Machine Learning and Cloud Computing, as they align with my interest. Moreover, I am intrigued by research and study done by [PROFESSOR_NAME] and [LAB_NAME] in the field of AI and Robotics, and working with the experts like him will enhance my understanding of the field. The autonomous agents and intelligent robots they have built fascinate me a lot. With all my experiences, hard work, commitment, and motivation, I would take every occasion to advance myself in Data Science through your program. I will project a vast and conscious choice about social experiences at university, including taking part in volunteer activities.