Using SoloLearn While Studying Data Science at Harvard
By: Anais Gyulbudaghyan
Tags: Coding, Harvard, Data Science, Python, Sololearn

By any number of metrics and rankings, the data science program at Harvard University has long been considered the premiere option for individuals looking to pursue careers in the field. As with any program at a prestigious Ivy League school, Harvard offers a combination of top-of-their-field instructors, outstanding networking potential, and practical and applied coursework that churn out skilled data science professionals year after year.

As with any demanding academic program, what happens inside the classroom is essential, but is not the only opportunity for you to maximize your education during your time in school. Data science is a tough field — that’s why there’s so much demand for qualified data science professionals. As a result, data science programs are often considered among the most demanding of any postgraduate field of study.

This is where SoloLearn comes in — with a suite of tools designed to help students gain additional practice opportunities, feedback, and answer questions that may not be covered during traditional studies, the SoloLearn app is the ideal way to “upgrade” your time studying data science at Harvard, and offers an invaluable resource right in your pocket to help you navigate the toughest aspects of your coursework.

In this guide we will first break down what to expect when entering the data science program at Harvard. Then, we will walk you through the many tools that SoloLearn can offer you to support your studies.

What To Expect From Harvard’s Data Science Program

In the words of the university, Harvard’s data science program “provides an opportunity for students to gain advanced quantitative methods skills while learning how to apply them to the most interesting and immediate social science questions”. In other words, Harvard’s program is lauded for offering a combination of technical knowledge and proof of application — giving students the chance to apply what they learn in data science to actual questions and problems in the field.

The program is centered around a “Foundations of Data Science” requirement, which requires prospective students to couple their instruction with a series of dedicated methods courses (with some flexibility among specific courses to choose from) designed specifically for “students who have a strong interest in the social sciences but also want to gain the increasingly necessary skills of data analysis”.

There are several tangible and intangible benefits to this approach to teaching data science:

Many novice data scientists struggle with developing the theoretical questions that allow them to apply their learning. Harvard’s focus on applications gives students the opportunity for hands-on experience with this practice, before ever entering the workforce.

The applied/methods approach also allows Harvard to draw on its deep and talented alumni base, many of whom hold senior positions at the biggest names in tech, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and others.

This integration with actual corporations and current experienced data scientists also offers students invaluable networking opportunities. The data science program allows students to cultivate job leads and internships well before their studies are completed.

But what courses would you take? While the data science program’s website can offer an exhaustive list, a few examples include:

Foundations of Data Science course list:

Stat 139 (Linear Models)

CS 109a/Stat 121a (Data Science 1: Intro to Data Science)

Advanced Methods course list:

Gov 1005 (Data)

Gov 1006 (Models)

Gov 2001 (Advanced Quantitative Research Methodology)

Gov 2002/Stat 186 (Causal Inference)

Gov 2003 (Topics in Quantitative Methodology)

So now that you know what you can expect from the program, let’s explore how SoloLearn fits in.