SOP Sample for MS in Computer Science - Data Science in Ireland

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

# MSc in Computer Science - Data Science

During my formative years, my interest gravitated towards new gadgets and gizmos. Therefore, I followed my passion for technology and opted for Computer Science in High School. Simultaneously, I was preparing for the National Board & Engineering Entrance Exam. My leisure time was completely devoted to learning and understanding the latest innovations in the tech industry. I have always been a meritorious student and I proved my mettle when I scored 91% aggregate in class XII. Also, I bagged a good rank amongst 1.4 million students in JEE Mains exam. Later that year, I secured my place in [UNIVERSITY_NAME] affiliated with [UNIVERSITY_NAME].

In the first year of my B.Tech, I joined a Summer Training Program at the university campus conducted by [COMPANY_NAME]. We developed a Smart Navigation System for visually impaired people, to help them navigate using obstacle alerts and voice commands. I also wrote the GPS Navigation Code in Python, Obstacle Detection Code using Ultrasonic Sensors on Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Also, I implemented text-to-speech conversion using ESpeak. It was satisfying to develop something that leverages technology and could make someone's life easier.

In addition to that, I got a great opportunity of attending a 2-month training programme where we developed a web application called Commuter Aide that helped metro commuters identify popular tourist destinations and avoid crowded places. I extracted user tweets using Twitter APIs and Python and analysed them based on their sentiments via the Naive Bayes Algorithm, population density and popularity. This data was graphically rendered on UI using high charts to help users in comparing two or more locations on the above metrics. It was the first time I applied concepts of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing in a project and got the knowledge of the Social Media domain. I was intrigued by the sheer quantity of the data available with social networking websites, which gave a huge scope for analysis. I would love to make use of that and explore it further.

During the 2-month training, Machine Learning concepts piqued my interest all over again and I decided to apply them in my college projects. In our minor project, our team developed an Unsupervised Algorithm for the Main Content Identification of Web Pages. The solution exploited the DOM Tree Structure and the frequencies of text tokens to attribute scores of content density and via a dynamic sliding window algorithm, we identified the most important set of blocks (the one with the maximum content density). For the major project, my team built an Anomalous Log Detection System using Machine Learning. We used supervised classification models trained using features such as the number of parameters/special characters in the URL request and length of the path/parameters of the request. We used Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machine Classifiers. We employed a Hybrid Machine Learning model as well, consisting of the K Means Clustering Algorithm and the above-mentioned classification models. So, there was a lot of scope in this field, and I would like to pursue this subject further in my graduate program.

During my last year in college, I cleared the Indian Air Army Common Admission Test and got a call for a week-long resident technical and physical scrutinization process for their engineering branch. I got to live like a cadet and got a chance to interact with officers and fellow mates from different states of India. I have prior experience in co-curricular activity management as the head of the College Gaming Club for two years. I was the HR and Logistics Head of the Cultural Event Organizing Committee of our university. So, given a chance, I want to take part in student clubs.

In June 2018, I landed up at [COMPANY_NAME] and joined the team of [COMPANY_NAME], one of the largest job portals in India. As an Automation Tester, my work was to make the user stories live and bug-free. I also automated the user flows for the seamless daily execution of our scripts. In my journey of 2.7 years, I made a stronghold on Java and Selenium. I was conferred with an individual recognition award, for carrying out all the tasks single-handedly. I enjoyed my work thoroughly, but there was always a part of me that wanted to explore the trending fields of data science. I left [COMPANY_NAME] in January 2021 and got myself enrolled in the [INSTITUTION_NAME] for Post Graduate Program in Data Science. During my program at the [INSTITUTION_NAME], I was heavily involved in projects related to Machine Learning, Data Analysis using Python, Data Visualization using Tableau, Dashboarding and reporting using SQL and Tableau. It helped me understand a lot about data and further enhanced my capabilities.

After the completion of this course in July 2021, I secured a job as a Data Analyst at a start-up named [COMPANY_NAME]. The start-up offered employers a platform to post blue-collar jobs. My responsibility was to analyse data using SQL. I drew accurate conclusions to provide insights to upper management and create visually impactful Dashboards in Tableau. I also got to implement an A/B experiment for our product to improve the notification click rate.

Although my journey with [COMPANY_NAME] was very short, it taught me something new each and every day. However, I had to part ways with the company in October 2021, since I got a job as Data Analytics Specialist IV at [COMPANY_NAME] (the leading ride-hailing operator). My journey with [COMPANY_NAME] has just started and I am eager to find out what's in store for me. I have also pursued practical work via training and internships. I believe that this varied exposure will help me to utilize the knowledge of all the domains and amalgamate them into my solutions. So, to do so, and pursue a career in Data Science and implement automation in all fields, I want to pursue this comprehensive Data Science program.

I had the chance to connect with students studying MS in Computer Science – Data Science in [UNIVERSITY_NAME], and their experiences have inspired me to join your prestigious institution. The world-class course includes subjects such as Machine Learning, Data Visualisation and Statistics and gives an opportunity to study in the Data Science Lab that encompasses research facilities. I am certain that learning under such eminent faculty would set me on the path towards establishing myself as a proficient technologist. I am sure the cohort community and the facilities would further help me in my pursuit.

I fervently hope that the evaluation committee recognizes my passion for the field and replies favourably to my request for admission. I would do my best to make this institution proud and would try to set an example for Indian students.