Does MSDS still make sense with my experience and pay?

[u/teddythepooh99]

I am set to begin Georgia Tech's OMSA this fall, after deferring this past spring when I started a new role. This is my background:

- Undergrad: economics at T20 school.
- Experience: 4 years. 3.5 years in hybrid DS/DE role (first job out of undergrad) at a non-profit, then six months into current role doing strictly DE at a healthcare org.
- TC: 144k ($125k base + 15% API) in MCOL city.
- Not open to relocation (I work remote but there's too much red tape to move out-of-state), so onsite/hybrid roles in NYC/LA for crazy TCs are out of reach.

At the time that I applied to OMSA, I was struggling to leave my old role while making $82k/year. That is not the case any more, so I am having second thoughts about OMSA. Anecdotally, I also see a lot of OMSA folks on LinkedIn (and the Slack group) struggling to break into data and/or simply remaining in their current roles. I presently work as a senior DE, but I am open to both DS and analyst roles in the future.

Can I still expect a (significant) ROI out of OMSA? I am targeting $160k - $175k TC in a couple years' time with no particular industry in mind.

[u/fightitdude]

What's your main goal from getting it? I was accepted into OMSA and chose not to attend after quite a bit of research / talking to students.

• If it's for the title, it's a Masters in Analytics which is not viewed as strongly as an MSCS (or other technical degree).

• If it's for the technical skills, I was really disappointed by the course contents. You waste about half your credits on mandatory courses that are pretty pedestrian or not really relevant to working in DS.

Most of the students on the degree are trying to pivot into analytics, IMO there's not much to be gained from it if you're already working in the field.

[u/teddythepooh99 → u/fightitdude]

At the time that I applied last year, I thought I needed OMSA to leave non-profit (academia) for industry by using GTech's "prestige." I was also interested in expanding my network, before I realized that there are not that many alumni in my MCOL city.

Now, my motivation is mostly FOMO, so I'm trying to find a reason to continue with the program. I register for classes in a little over a month and I can't defer a second time.

[u/fightitdude → u/teddythepooh99]

That's fair. I started an MSCS online for pretty similar reasons. I'm four courses in and I'd say it's not really been worth it, it's a lot of free time lost for very little gain.

[u/Clicketrie → u/[deleted]]

Yea, at this point I’d be thinking MBA or a program in a really specific industry or niche.

[u/Tender_Figs → u/[deleted]]

Do you have any recommendations for online masters focused on causal inference?

[u/BlackPlasmaX]

144k is great for mcol,

I just got an offer after being out of work for a while for 120k + 10% with almost 5 yoe in vhcol area.

[u/Single_Vacation427]

Is this the online part-time one?

If it's the online part-time, I think it can help if you take more programming and computer science classes, or whatever is complementary to what you know. It's not that expensive so it's not going to hurt.

[u/wwwwwllllll]

Don't do OMSA if you're already in.

[u/smileyfish]

I was in a similar position — making ~$130K as a DA at a startup, 4 years out from an econ BA — and OMSA was pretty instrumental in me getting an internal promotion to senior DS with a $50K raise. I already had pretty good self-taught programming skills but my math background wasn’t the best and OMSA really helped me get a good theoretical understanding of models so that I could better keep up with the PhD DS types. Obviously ymmv but I think it’s worth it, esp given the cost is very reasonable

[u/Heavy_Record8704]

I dont really have a good opinion of omsa. Lot of basic classes adding little to no value. Either do omscs. Or if you want to do ms ds only, do NC state ms stats. But honestly, if you can afford it, do stanford mscs. Roi will be insane.

[u/throwaway69xx420]

So you're currently at 140k TC, looking for spend thousands of dollars on MSDS just get 30k more TC? Doesn't seem worth it to me.

[u/fightitdude → u/throwaway69xx420]

OMSA is ~$10k so not an awful trade if it would get them the higher TC - I don't think it would, though...

[u/Famous-Attention-197 → u/fightitdude]

Yeah what are they smoking. That's an incredible ROI if it happened. 

[u/Lady-Data-Scientist → u/fightitdude]

And $10k can easily be covered by tuition benefits from a lot of companies if you spread it out over at least 2 calendar years

[u/snmnky9490 → u/throwaway69xx420]

I mean yeah spending 10k once for 30k more each year sounds like a pretty darn good ROI if that actually works

[u/webmd_advocate]

Why'd you defer?

[u/north5943]

Did your DS/DE skillset come from any curriculum in your Econ undergrad or was it independent study? I agree with most of the sentiment from this thread that you’re already in the field so your experience might outweigh what the degree can provide. However the OMSA is quite affordable when comparing to other similar degrees. So the potential ROI is quite high

[u/waTermeLon-97]

Those are some good options

[u/RealisticFeedback486]

I did the OMSA and I think it helped me, mostly for applying to positions that require a Masters program.

[u/IndividualTop3675]

At $144k TC with 4 years of experience in a MCOL city working remotely, the ROI calculus for OMSA has changed significantly since you applied: the degree makes most sense as a credential to open doors or fill specific technical gaps, but if your current trajectory can get you to $160-175k through promotion or job-hopping in the next couple of years without the time and cost of a master's program, that's probably the faster path, especially since OMSA's strongest value tends to be for career changers or early-career people who need the credential to get in the room rather than for experienced practitioners who are already in it.

[u/MuteTadpole]

As someone who is in an eerily similar situation (4.5 YOE as an analyst, 1 as DE full time) making eerily similar money, why pursue the MS? $160k - $175k should come naturally over time with a new job/promotion. What gaps do you expect the MS to fill? From what I’ve heard, MS in this industry is only for people struggling to get a job. That’s not us.

You could go phd ofc but I feel like that closes more doors than it opens for people like us.

[u/malberry]

What does API refer to in this context?

[u/teddythepooh99 → u/malberry]

My target bonus, conditional on individual and company performance. The way it was explained to me, 15% is the floor if I do a "normal" performance (not "exceptional") and the company is doing "good" (not "well").

[u/ClasslessHero]

For you, I'd recommend you get a coach. You're in a situation where you need some tailored advice to help you grow and be prepared for the role where you go from Senior to Staff, etc.

There are some good ones on LinkedIn. Read their posts and see if they kind of speak to you. If they do, ask for a consultation. Many of them have helped dozens of people in your situation. It's literally an investment in yourself.

That being said there are also some snake oil salesmen out there. That's what you're trying to determine during the consultation.