The Berkeley Experience as an International Transfer in Data Science
Data Peer Consultant, Mein Lee, shares her experience as an international transfer student at Cal studying Data Science.
A year ago, I applied to transfer to Cal. I remember saying: “ l don’t know why I applied to Berkeley. Feels like a waste of money to apply when I know that it’s so out of reach.”
A year later, here I am pursuing the best major ever (surprise: it’s Data Science!) and landing my new role as a Data Peer Consultant (also known as a “PC”).
As an international transfer student, being part of a community is very important to me. It is where I meet people of similar backgrounds and interests; it is where I grow and learn the most as an individual and student. I know that many great communities await me at Cal, and I am very fortunate to have found one in Data Peer Consulting.
My first impression of the data peers were: “Wow, this is a pretty tight knit community.” The PCs work very closely for a common goal: to make data science more accessible to the wider campus community. (How cool is that?!) In efforts to work towards this mission, we hold consulting office hours together, organize workshops, collaborate on research, and gather for socials to form a stronger bond with each other. There are also team leads and staff members that helped to assist me in this transition. Although I am new to Cal and Data Science, I feel supported and highly motivated in supporting data science education efforts and in my own academic journey. Also, most PCs have a great sense of humor, so meetings aren’t boring at all. (Thank god…)
We transfer students often find ourselves playing catch up in our limited time at Cal. Nevertheless, there are many great resources available — regardless of an in-person or virtual semester — and Data Peer Consulting is definitely one of them. Whether a student is interested in joining the team or receiving consultation, the Data Peer Consultants can surely help..
On a final note, I want to add that it does not matter how you got to Cal, but it matters that you are here, and what you make of your years here are crucial! (Sometimes it still blows my mind that I am a student at UC Berkeley.) Always be on the lookout for opportunities; always strive to be better — but never compare! If you happen to stumble upon anything remotely related to Data Science… remember that the PCs are here for you (during Office Hours on weekdays at 11am — 4pm and via appointments)!
Written by Mein Lee, Data Peer Consultant
