Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree Review

Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree Review
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Every business collects data, but may not know what to do with it. Data has the power to give businesses useful information though, it ususally comes in large data sets that are difficult to understand and may seem meaningless to the untrained eye. A data analyst acts as a translator, turning these numbers and sequences into visuals that can help explain what the numbers say. They are able to create easy to understand charts, graphs, and reports, using their knowledge of statistics and probability to give businesses solutions to their problems. These skills possessed by data analysts are the reason they are currently in demand. Many companies are collecting data in large amounts and from every customer, and have no idea what to do with it. And with so many of the industries leading companies making data their number one means of analysis, it’s the perfect time to start now.The growing job market is constantly increasing and there are endless opportunities to gain more knowledge and move up. But, if going back to college is just is not an option,there’s Udacity, an accredited academy with a nanodegree program that’s all the buzz in IT training online. Anyone at any age from anywhere in the world can start their learning journey, becoming a data analyst and joining the evolving job market in just a few months.

 

According to recent forecast calculated by the World Economic Forum, demands for data analysts are said to stay on the rise, predicting that there will be more than 700,000 new jobs added to the market in the year 2020.  Enrolling in a data analyst nanodegree program now, future data analysts can be a part of this movement either making a career change or going into the job market for your first time. Once employers are incorporated into a company and familiar with certain trends, they’ll be able to increase their knowledge easily, moving up the ladder sharpening their skill. Udacity’s data analyst nanodegree program has a lot to offer and we’ll take a more in-depth look letting you decide if it is the best in the course for you.

 

Why is the Data Analyst Course Popular?

 

Udacity is most famously known for offering learners of all budgets from all around the world access to quality and free education. What started out as an idea by two Stanford professors with an urge to provide people access to knowledge, flourished into a recognized certificate program with several IT degree focuses and a good reputation. The data analyst nanodegree program has seen a sharp increase in enrollment over the years due to the popularity of the career. In collaboration with several giants in the industry, learners can work with all the most up-to-date technology as they attempt to solve complex problems that businesses and corporations from all industries are facing today. All of this with in combination with the Udacity guarantee is perhaps the reason why this data analyst course is becoming more and more popular.

 

Why Choose this Course?

 

Join this course to become part of the growing field of data analysts that are helping companies make data-driven decisions in order to increase productivity and run more efficiently. A combination of programming languages and statistics will help learners see a different view of data, giving them the skills to turn data sets into useful reports. With successful completion of the course learners automatically become an asset to many companies with their ability to give insight to how businesses can flourish. Career wise, you can choose to join large companies in the industry or become an independent consultant, helping all types of companies reach their goals through analysis of numbers. Every industry needs data analysis, and the better analysts become at their job the better the pay and the bigger the companies. If this sounds like something you would like to participate in then, this course is the one for you.

 

What’s the Curriculum Like?

 

Prerequisites

This course is packed with mathematical structures, statistics, and data languages. This may sound intimidating but, potential learners can rest assured that this course is accessible to all levels. There is not a traditional set of prerequisites, although it is recommended to have some basic Python training or experience. Learners have witnessed the powers of working with data in Python will be a step ahead of others and will grasp the NumPy and Pandas training in no time. Do take into consideration that going into this course with zero programming knowledge will take more efforts and may take longer to complete. The projects will all be written and turned in using Python.

 

Introduction to Data Analysis

This course starts with an introduction to data analysis where learners will work in combination with methods used by industry experts today. This includes data wrangling, exploring, and analysis along with the knowledge of how to translate numbers into useful information. Learners will work with libraries like NumPy and receive Pandas training from the very beginning.There is also opportunities to complete projects like exploring weather trends and even investigating large data sets.

 

Practical Statistics

The next part is a little math heavy where learners will apply statistical concepts to real world scenarios created by companies in the business. Analyze with A/B tests, build supervised learning models, and learn the power of probability. Combine Python training and SQL training with statistical concepts to give companies the tools they need to run more efficient. Learners will also get a chance to analyze results of experiments for a hands-on experience just as if they were in the field.

 

Data Wrangling 

Work with one of the most useful and necessary parts of data analysis, in this data wrangling course section. This is a very powerful and necessary tool in the process of preparing data.  This is a widely used method by many companies today with analysts understanding how to gather and clean up data for proper analysis.  In this part of the course, combine the knowledge learned in the other two sections, using Python in order to Wrangle data. Work with real data sets along the way as knowledgeable instructors walk you through step by step.

 

Data Visualization with Python 

Last but not least,the course introduces learners to data visualization with Python. Each set of data tells a story, one that can be complicated to read by those without knowledge or training. Using the Python training that has strengthened throughout the entire data analyst course, learners will get a first-hand look at the importance of visualization and how important it is for companies to understand what their collected data means. From the most basic foundation of the company all the way to each and every branch, can be analyzed through the power of data analysis, even giving companies a look into the future. Learn how to create reports, present reports, and use technology to make predictions and forecasts for future business practices.

 

Instructors

All courses are led by knowledgeable Udacity instructors all of which have extensive Python training, SQL training, and years of experience actually working in the field. First you will meet Josh Bernhard, a data scientist at NerdWallet. Then, the founder and president of Udacity himself, Sebastian Thrun,will take you deeper into the world of data analysis and guide you through some of the more complex concepts. Derek steer, CEO at Mode Analytics, will introduce you to the importance of data analysis and Juno Lee, the curriculum lead at Udacity, will share her passion of teaching with comprehensive instruction that learners of all levels will be able to grasp

 

Get Hired

Job Assistance

Statistics show that 84% of graduates from Udacity’s nanodegree programs were added to the team of a company in the industry within six months of graduation. The attention to the success of every graduate is a feature that Udicity takes very seriously. Knowledgeable staff equipped with an understanding of what companies today are looking for will coach graduates on proper ways to interview, instructing them how to put their best foot forward and be the candidate that top companies will be fighting over. This included one-on-one coaching sessions where graduates can enjoy interview prep, getting ready to step foot into the big world of big data.

 

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the course, each graduate will be given a certificate with their name, the course name and of course that Udacity logo. This is given in pdf format, so it can easily be printed or sent to future employers. A certificate of completion from Udacity’s nanodegree programs continues to gain reputability, as more learners enroll and make their way out into large corporations as professionals in IT.   Plus, more and more companies are partnering with the academy, giving them more opportunity to develop their program and get graduates hired.

 

Udacity Extras 

Enrollment in a nanodegree program comes with a few perks which is perhaps the best part about the academy.

 

Real-World Problems

First of all are real world projects. These projects are inspired by or sometimes given by companies in the industry. This gives learners a chance to work with real world situations where they will get hands-on experience with the types of solutions they will need to be developing. These projects require use of all the skills and trainings they learned during their course, giving students a project to add to their portfolio. Each project and will be reviewed and critiqued by experienced instructors, where feedback will be provided to make for better future projects.

 

Motivator and Mentor

At one time, these mentors were learners themselves and understand that some of the concept in this data analyst course can be difficult. Their approach to guidance is far better received and more useful then perhaps other kinds. They are there to answer any questions that may arise throughout the course and are also there cheering you on throughout the its duration. They will help learners stay on track with the curriculum and be there every step of the learning process. From enrollment and all the way until learners have successfully become part of a growing team, mentors will be there.

 

Customizable Learning

One of the best things about Udacity is the flexibility learners are given to complete their course. Whereas the recommended time for learners to finish the course is estimated around one month per each section, more time can be added if needed. This is estimated with learners only spending 10 hours per week, making it an easy task for even the busiest people. Flexible options to do a more intensive course or take a little longer are part of you the academy’s flexible learning guarantee.

 

Pricing

This is the part that most potential learners and successful graduates’ comment on the most; the pricing. And honestly it is a bit higher than the average. Udacity prices their courses with a monthly fee of $399 making the sum add up the more time it takes to complete the course. There is however an option if learners choose to learn at the universities recommended pace.With this option, learners will have four months to complete the course for $1279, saving a bit for paying in full. Considering all that’s included and doing a quick comparison between other academies of its kind, Udacity is a bit higher than average but comes with a lot more perks. Learners who are serious about a career as a data analyst should enroll, as it will be worth the investment in the end.

 

What are Learners/Graduates Saying?

Overall, there are close to 2100 reviews of the course. Taking all into account the average is 4.6 out of 5 with overall positive feedback from learners and graduates. Of the Average, 72.5% are 5 star and 3.4% are 1 star. The positive comments seem to all surround the curriculum and instruction, whereas the difficulty and pricing were the most controversial. Those that gave the course a higher review wrote:

 

“A very practical approach to very current technology skills that are becoming increasingly essential in our world today. Systematic, time-bound projects enhance not only our expertise on the subject but also help inculcate the self-discipline required to achieve our goals.” – Akshatha I.

 

“Very good program! I learned new interesting stuff! learning by doing is definitely the best way!”  – Mehdi L.

“Folks, it’s hard to say enough good things about this degree program. The instruction is excellent and the topic curation is very solid. It’s modern, clean looking, with high quality sound and visuals. And the flexible structure is so appreciated – the problem sets and quizes are there for me as useful structure and interactivity. But I’m not shackled by them – I can choose to blast through a lesson’s lectures when I would rather apply the concepts on my own terms. It’s great to see the Udacity staff is actively improving the offering – after I started the degree, the staff switched out one of the clumsier modules for a shiny new Numpy/Pandas primer (P2) – don’t miss it. I’ve found that bringing in other sources (for me: Introduction to Statistical Learning, various books from O’Reilly) is required for truly learning this stuff. And if you’re like me, coming in with a minimal programming background, be prepared to debug code constantly with dozens of daily visits to Stack Overflow and python/R docs. If anything, nine months part time is an aggressive timeline, especially if you’re complementing each topic with other learning sources and trying to apply them in real time to your own field. Get ready to tap your inner love of learning, because you’ll need some serious persistence to tackle this Nanodegree decisively. Good luck!” – Nicholas C.

“So far, the program is going really well, beyond my expectations! 😀 I’m really learning a lot about Data Science, I feel a lot more confident about working with Python (Pandas/Numpy) and R, for instance. Besides that, many of the concepts related to the whole Data Science process – Data Wranglig, EDA, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Statistics – and the process itself started to make sense! The Nanodegree provided me knowledge I’m currently using in my job, and I could venture to say that if wasn’t for this course, I wouldn’t be able to be working in this position today. Furthermore, maybe that is not entirely related with the Nanodegree, but Udacity enabled me meeting a lot of interesting people that are here willing to share knowledge and give support. The mentorship program is awesome! Christian Burkhart (my mentor) really made a change to this experience! I’m learning a lot, and that is great! I’ve already stretched out a lot, but I would like to point out that this work that Udacity is doing of trying to bring its students closer to the market is amazing, I already improved in a way that I changed my behaviour and I took all of the advices related to professional growth and I feel that it is already causing a huge impact in my career path. Keep up with the hard work! #udacious ” – Bruno – A

 

 

A few of the lower reviewers said:

 

“I like the contents of the course, and the dynamic of the videos and the quizzes. But I didn’t like that the first part of the course was downgraded because some people complained that the course was too hard. I did it before the changes were disclosed so I don’t understand where the difficulty was and what these people expect of a course like this.”  – Pedro M.

 

“it’s extremely difficult despite me having done the prerequisites. the time estimate of required learning is extremely far off.”  – Yuan L.

 

Just like any other course of product online, you can’t satisfy everyone. On popular forums like Reddit and Quora the data analyst course has an overall positive reputation.

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Conclusion

 Overall, this academy and course are a great way to begin a career as a data analyst. However, we do not think that it’s made for learners of all levels and strongly support Udacity’s recommendations, of which include: having a bit of Python training and experience with libraries. All of the course content is up to date and is constantly changing in unison with the new innovations that are introduced into the world of technology every day. Also,

learners get the opportunity to receive classes from those that were once in their shoes, with the instructors make it their priority to teach in the best way they know.

 

Not only is the course structured well but we think the best thing about Udacity’s nanodegree programs are the extras that come along with them. More and more companies are partnering with the academy to bring learners more real-world examples and providing graduates with more opportunities to work right after graduation. Job assistance and career services are a big plus, we can honestly say that is our favorite part about this academy.

 

Among the least favorites, as most would agree, is the pricing; as it is a bit on the high side. Learners that are sure about a career as a data analyst will benefit from the initial investment, however it may not be accessible to all budgets.We do like that there are options for discounts when the course is paid in full but, the monthly amount can cost quite a bit depending on the of time it takes to complete the course.

Rather potential learners are already part of the IT world or are thinking about joining the constantly evolving world, should definitely give a nanodegree from Udacity a try. Python training, SQL training, and a comprehensive well-structured data analyst course make for a great combination. All the skills learned throughout the course will leave graduates prepared for the constantly changing technologies and methods used by industry leaders today.

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