Rachel Washington
When did you enroll in the MS-CS on Coursera program?
Fall 2023 Session
Were you in the non-credit version prior to enrolling in the for-credit version?
I previewed the courses (went through the course, but didn’t actually do the assignments)
What was your educational and work experience background before you enrolled in this program?
Laid off from previous position and looking for a degree. Software engineer (FDM Group) previously with Masters in Computational Chemistry
What attracted you to this program in the first place (e.g. faculty, curriculum, performance-based admission, Coursera platform)?
Starting right away with PBA; missing application deadlines for other programs
What are your thoughts about performance-based admission?
Went through 4 courses right away; wanted to gain admission quickly
How did you learn/hear about CU Boulder’s MS-CS on Coursera program?
US News and World Report, Google
Can you tell me how the MS-CS on Coursera program fits into your life?
Part-time and full-time (goal of finishing in December), Engaging in research project, Morrison Group (Research advisor)
I enjoy thinking outside the box and problem solving; emailed masters thesis and resume; looked through faculty bios and papers that was interesting and skill set fit well
Benefit to future career choices: gives me additional examples of critical thinking skills
What are some of the other key aspects of your life (work, family, etc). How do you balance it all?
Taking 3-4 courses/session; don’t like to enroll right way. Sign up for 1 course so you can see all Coursera courses and preview the rest of the courses for free
What are your favorite parts of the program (e.g. Favorite classes, projects, faculty members, etc.)?
Algorithms courses are phenomenal/solid
Software Architecture courses - projects that you build are beneficial for future employer
Machine learning - projects to use for a portfolio
What do you hope to do with your MS-CS degree?
Entry level software engineering positions; data science positions
Would you recommend this program to others? Why or why not?
Definitely recommend this to others; I’ve been talking through industry professionals (headhunter); don’t have to worry about application
What’s 1 tip you have for students who are starting?
What is it going to be like at the end of the tunnel/goals
Problem solving challenges in courses: Google first, go to Slack/Course Facilitators, most challenging courses: algorithms and Machine Learning