Featured MIDS Alum

Chelsea Shu

5th Year MIDS
Project Lead — Data Science
PayFlex, a CVS Health Company

Chelsea Shu graduated from the School of Information with a Master of Information and Data Science in 2020. She currently works at PayFlex as a project lead on the data science team. Prior to the I School, Chelsea graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in cognitive science from UC Berkeley.

Why did you choose the 5th Year MIDS program?

Because it provided me the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in only one year! It was also important to me to be able to learn through a hands-on approach, and 5th Year MIDS addressed this by offering a collaborative environment with a project-focused curriculum that allowed me to build a diverse portfolio. 

“While I knew the program would attract brilliant minds, I was pleasantly surprised at how generous each person was with their time, knowledge, or advice.”

What was your favorite class and why? 

W201, Research Design and Applications for Data and Analysis with Mike Rivera. Typically in data science, people focus on the technical aspects. However, I believe that asking the right questions and presenting the results in a clear and engaging way are keys to success. W201’s emphasis on the non- technical aspects of data science was intriguing and has proven to be beneficial in my current job. 

What was the most surprising thing about the year?

I was nervous about the dynamic of a full-time online program. While I knew the program would attract brilliant minds, I was pleasantly surprised at how generous each person was with their time, knowledge, or advice. My peers made my experience worthwhile, and I am so grateful for the strong relationships that I developed.

Any advice you could share with future 5th Year students?

I’d encourage them not to be afraid to ask questions! Everyone in the 5th Year program is welcoming — your peers, the faculty — so take advantage of this time to learn, and ask away! 

Last updated:

September 22, 2020