How I Got Into University of Washington, Seattle For MS Data Science?

Hey! Who are you, what are you currently doing and what is your background?

Hey, I’m Ameya! I’m originally from Bangalore, India, and currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, working as a data scientist at a Fortune 25 healthcare giant, Centene Corporation. My role focuses on product analytics, assessing product performance, and ensuring the quality of healthcare plans. I completed my master’s in data science in March 2024 from the University of Washington, Seattle. During my master’s program, I interned with Centene, which eventually became my current employer.

I did my undergrad in computer science at PES University in Bangalore, India, from 2018 to 2022. I specialized in data science and machine intelligence during my bachelor’s degree. I went directly into my master’s program after finishing undergrad, so I don’t have prior full-time work experience.

I do, however, have a fair amount of internship experience. During my undergrad, I interned with a few companies, including Bounce, and Grofers—now known as Blinkit. I also interned with Ernst & Young, where I was a data science consultant working on proof of concepts.

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How did you decide that you wanted to pursue an MS in the US?

I decided I wanted to pursue a master’s degree pretty early on—around the end of my freshman year in undergrad. It started with a hackathon in early 2019, organized by Bounce. I built a ride-share application for them, and the CEO was impressed enough to offer me an internship on the spot.

At Bounce, I developed a computer vision model for real-time license plate detection, handling varied lighting and angles. The feature went live on their app in 2020, and seeing my work in action was motivating. This experience deepened my interest in data science, leading me to pursue a specialization in the field at PES University.

I chose the US for my master’s because I already have an established network of family and friends here, which makes the transition easier. The high-quality education, with its emphasis on practical learning, strong job prospects, and competitive compensation, were also major factors. Plus, being surrounded by some of the world’s top talent was an exciting prospect.

How did you start your application preparation; can you throw some light on profile building, GRE, LORs and SOPs?

Overall Profile

I started building my profile for my master’s application early in my undergrad, focusing on gaining relevant experience and strong internships. To develop project skills, I participated in hackathons and engaged actively with my coursework. Networking with professors and seniors was a priority, as I knew their guidance would be valuable for SOPs and LORs. Later, I researched universities, targeting applied programs with project components rather than thesis requirements. My interest in data science led me to pursue a specialized program over a general computer science track.

GRE

For my GRE, I took the test on July 4, 2021. Leading up to it, I dedicated about five to six weeks of preparation during the pandemic, which allowed me ample study time. I used Magoosh videos on YouTube and supplemented them with Manhattan’s Five-Pound Book for problem-solving. For vocabulary, I practiced with Magoosh’s flashcard app, reviewing 10-20 words daily, which helped me build my verbal skills. I also took several mock tests, tracking my progress to improve my performance in line with GRE’s format and timing. I used the two free ETS practice tests and additionally purchased a test series from Manhattan. My final scores were 158 in Verbal, 167 in Quant , and a 5.0 in AWA.

SOP

For my SOP, which I viewed as the most crucial part of my application, I began drafting in August, shortly after the GRE. I struggled at first to condense my experiences into 1000 words, but advice from seniors with strong admits helped me structure my ideas. After multiple drafts and reviews from seniors, professors, industry professionals, and my parents, I learned to focus on the impact of my work, how it shaped my interests, and what I aimed to gain from each program. I tailored each SOP to the university by researching relevant projects, labs, and coursework.

LOR

For my LORs, I secured four—two from professors in the Computer Science department with whom I had worked closely, another from my capstone mentor, who was a senior professor, and a fourth from my internship manager at Blinkit. Since I was targeting applied programs, this combination of academic and professional references provided a good balance of my capabilities.

Timelines

In summary, I decided to pursue my master’s in 2019, took the GRE on July 4, 2021, and started working on my SOP in August. By December 2021, I had completed my applications, along with securing all my LORs after consulting with professors and managers in advance.

What colleges did you apply for and what was the result?

I applied to 7 universities as below.

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Can you tell us more about the course and what the learning outcomes are?

At the University of Washington, the MS Data Science program is structured as a 45-unit course. It consists of eight courses and a capstone project. We had the flexibility to swap out two of these courses with others of our choice, given prior approval from the department. I decided to stick with the core courses to get a full understanding of all aspects of the data science pipeline.

My coursework covered statistics, math, probability, applied machine learning, applied statistics, software engineering, data engineering, and data visualization. These courses were highly applied, focusing on how we could use our knowledge practically in industry rather than just theory or algorithm development.

In the final six months, I completed a capstone project sponsored by an industry partner, which, in my case, was AWS. Specifically, I collaborated with the AWS S3 team to create synthetic data for testing their hardware, using generative algorithms.

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What is the cost of tuition and cost of living, and how are you planning to fund your studies?

The total cost of tuition and living expenses was around $70,000 for the entire 18-month program—tuition alone was about $50,000, and living and accommodation added up to roughly $20,000. 

At UW, I didn’t apply for a TA or RA position, which typically requires reaching out to professors or going through a formal application and interview process. TA and RA roles offer a tuition waiver and a stipend of $3,000–$6,000 per month, and friends found them financially beneficial. I chose not to pursue these roles to focus on coursework and job hunting. Looking back, it might have been useful.

For my living expenses, I managed to save on rent by securing a deal for $750 a month for my own bedroom, which is quite rare in Seattle. Generally, though, rent in Seattle can easily go up to $1,000 a month for a similar setup. Other monthly expenses like food and groceries varied based on my choices and activities, ranging from $300 to $500 a month. Overall, my monthly expenses were between $1,200 and $1,500, depending on the time of year and activities.

How was your experience with the visa process, finding accommodation and travel?

I didn’t need to go through a visa interview. Since I already had an existing B1 (Tourist) U.S. visa, I qualified for the Dropbox option, which was available shortly after COVID. All I had to do was drop off my visa documents at a center in Bangalore, and within a week, I got my passport back with the visa stamped.

For accommodation, I initially asked some seniors for recommendations, and they suggested typical sites like Apartments.com, Zillow, and Facebook. I checked a few listings but didn’t find anything that suited me. Then I came across a post on Facebook from my soon-to-be roommate. He was already in the same course as I was, and he and his roommate had started looking for a place early, around May or June. They found a good deal on a three-bedroom apartment, and I was able to join them as the third roommate.

What are the job opportunities after master’s?

During the Master’s program, internships typically take place in the summer between the first and second years. I applied to around 250-300 internships and used referrals wherever possible. Leveraging contacts helped get my resume noticed, which I’d recommend. Stipends can range widely, from around $4,000 to $12,000 a month, depending on experience and the company.

For the job search afterward, having an internship can make things easier since many students receive return offers. Typically, there’s a 75-80% conversion rate for return offers, though it was lower for my batch due to budget cuts and hiring freezes. I ended up staying with the same company where I interned, though on a different team. Still, I continued applying elsewhere as I wasn’t sure I’d secure the role, given the job market at the time. In total, I applied to around 150 positions from the start of my second year until I signed my offer letter.

For UW’s professional master’s program, job titles vary based on experience. Common roles include Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, and, for those with more experience, roles like Data Science Manager, Technical Consultant, and Product Manager. Salaries range depending on work experience, with total compensation packages from $100,000 up to $400,000-$500,000, including base pay, joining bonuses, and stock options.

Having prior work experience definitely helps. Based on what I’ve observed, two years of experience before starting a master’s is ideal. These candidates tend to have stronger applications, good negotiation leverage for pay and title, and generally attract more attention from recruiters.

Any final words of advice for anyone who aspires to be where you currently are?

I aimed mainly for ambitious schools, which ended up being pretty stressful. I started off with five rejections and didn’t even know if I’d get to go for my Master’s that year. It’s tough to wake up to rejection emails, one after another; it’s not a position you want to be in. So, I’d recommend having a balanced list—safe, ambitious, and moderate choices. 

As a general piece of advice, make sure you’re coming for the right reasons. Don’t come just because your friends are, or just for the money. I know a few people who came here for the wrong reasons, and they’re still struggling to find a job or aren’t happy with what they’re doing.

Throughout the process what were some helpful resources, tools and books you used?

For the GRE, I used Magoosh videos and the Manhattan 5 Pound book, along with Magoosh flashcards. For TOEFL, I relied on the official TOEFL website and recommend taking it shortly after the GRE to reinforce verbal skills. With an ICSE or CBSE background, TOEFL prep was easy, and sample tests from the official site were sufficient.

To select universities, I combined advice from seniors with resources like YouTube, especially the “YM Grad” channel, and referred to US News for rankings. I didn’t use a consultant, as they often prioritize safe admissions over ambitious choices, limiting your options.

For travel, I booked flights via Expedia or MakeMyTrip as usual.

Suggested by TheGradPost

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For air travel and temporary accommodations – MakeMyTrip

For help with a simpler transactions process – HDFC, SBI, ICICI Credit Cards

Connect

Linkedin – Ameya Bhamare

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