Hello, blogging community! This is my very first blog and in this, I want to share my experience about how I got into an MTech program at IIT Hyderabad's Computer Science and Engineering Department.

About the program

This is a work-integrated program and is specifically designed for working professionals. It is called MTech in Data Science (MDS). It is like a regular MTech program. The only difference is that the classes are scheduled on Saturdays. The semester exams happen on-campus. You get a regular MTech degree.

It is a 3-year program consisting of 48 credits which include 8 subjects and 2 projects. You can read more about it in the brochure here.

Why am I studying while working?

Well, there are multiple reasons for this -

I'm always interested in learning new things which challenge me and force me to stretch my mind. Studying and learning outside the work gives me a sense of purpose.
I've always wanted to dive deeper into Data Science and shape my skillset into a T shape (more on this in another blog 🙂).

The reason for diving into Data Science is not to shift my career to a Data Scientist but to be a more holistic Software Engineer.

Entrance process

The whole entrance process is divided into 3 major steps -

Online Application This involves providing your education and work experience details including your resume in an online portal. After the deadline for this is over, IITH releases a list of candidates who have been shortlisted for the online written exam.
Written exam This is an online exam that tests candidates based on their knowledge of Mathematics, Programming, and the Basics of Machine Learning. It consists of 25 multiple choice questions which should be completed in 30 minutes. There is also negative marking for questions wrongly answered.
Interview If you've cleared the written test then you get an invitation for the interview. It happens over a Microsoft Teams call and it is taken by one of the program faculty. My interview was taken by the HOD of the AI Department. This round also tests your knowledge of Math, Programming, and the basics of ML. You are expected to solve some Math questions shared by the interviewer along with writing code for some of them in any programming language you are comfortable with. I did it in Python 🐍. I was also asked questions like "Why do you want to join this program?"

Preparation

I prepared for the entrance process for about a month. I focused mostly on Math as it was the subject I was most rusty with and I assumed that this would be the most asked topic as it forms the base for learning Data Science. I mostly prepared through online lectures by Dr. Jon Krohn. He has created youtube playlists for Linear Algebra, Statistics, Probability, and Calculus where each topic is covered in just the right amount of detail.

Final thoughts

I have always wanted to pursue MTech but can't do an on-campus program because of certain circumstances. So this program kind of fits my need perfectly because I can study while working. I'm excited about this. My classes will be starting in the first week of August. My goal is to write blogs about whatever I learn in the classes so that I can contribute to the community while at the same time preparing notes for myself. Also, I'm happy to help anyone who would want to know more about this program.

Useful Links

Notice Board - https://www.cse.iith.ac.in/admissions/mtechInDataScience.html
Brochure - https://www.cse.iith.ac.in/assets/pdf/MDS-Brochure-2022.pdf
Faculty profiles - https://www.cse.iith.ac.in/people/faculty.html
Dr. Jon Krohn's Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/jonkrohnlearns

Pursuing Masters while working full time