BS (Data Science)
Theory can only go so far; when practicality comes into the equation, the entire paradigm shifts. And for those like Deepesh Kumar Dawar with a proclivity for real world solutions, the prospect of working with data, applications and complex problems was alluring. After qualifying JEE and securing admission to a prestigious institute, however, he found that the degree in question did not quite align with his vision of the future.
He always had an aptitude for Mathematics and Statistics, something a friend recognised and encouraged him to pursue through a degree specialising in those subjects. This is how he found the IIT Madras BS Degree in Data Science and Applications.
Despite the overlap in curriculum and ability, his interest wasn’t truly ignited until he unexpectedly found the Computational Thinking course engaging.
With that, he continued into the second term, all the while continuing his UPSC preparations from Delhi, driven by his goal of becoming an IAS Officer capable of solving real-world problems and leveraging data to his advantage.
The flexibility of the Degree gave him space to explore his growing interests in the field, allowing him to schedule his lectures around his other commitments. This created a strong personal impetus to use real-world data to address real-world problems and influence how decisions and governance are carried out. He praised the smooth and organised structure of the Degree, something that helped him navigate harsh challenges, specifically mentioning the OPPE, Exam center allocation and Live Sessions’ systems.
His interests span farther than academics however; being a state-level player in two sports, partaking in hackathons in collaboration with companies, which, he says, held incredible technical and networking value to him. And despite the difficulties involved in organizing such events, the payoff is always greater. In this aspect, he has found Paradox “amazing, totally amazing.”
Having been a part of the organizing team, he is aware of the troubles involved and is proud of how far the community has come in sports, culture, and tech.
He has also delved into NPTEL courses, specifically “Data Mining” and “Soft Computing.” He chose them specifically for their synchronization with the degree’s curriculum, overlapping with Machine Learning fundamentals and data acquisition concepts. Currently, his first priority is to continue his UPSC preparations and become an IAS Officer, while keeping Data Science as a tool he can draw upon later in life. He has also shown interest in building software for the education sector, specifically information consolidators to compile Current Affairs and Policy Updates for UPSC aspirants – an attempt to compress the scattered volume of information.
He has often told others that some courses “will feel hard”, but encourages pushing through them with self-driven understanding. He also emphasizes interacting with professors during live sessions, as they can inculcate creative thinking and to connect the dots between subjects through consistent practice. He specifically advocates thinking expansively – to be able to build anything and contribute something meaningful – and focuses on solving real world problems rather than just consuming knowledge.
~written by Krishneal Dutta
