Data Science, which is termed as the sexiest job of the 21st century has gained a lot of traction and eyeballs in the last few years. More and more people are trying to enter this field. And, to cope with the supply & demand, various institutes have started offering multiple programs related to Data Science, Machine Learning, or Artificial Intelligence. Two such premier institutes are IIT and ISI. These are known for their elite pedigree. But which one to prefer over the another? There are multiple deciding factors like location of the Institution, type of crowd, exposure, etc. We have focused on the curriculum/subjects, as it is the most important deciding factor.
Roughly speaking, we can divide the whole Data Science & Machine Learning work into two parts: Tech-focused and Statistics centric.
Tech-focused: This part of Data Science involves dealing with large sets of data, finding patterns in data using Machine Learning, AI models, and deploying the model in production. Coding or Programming is the key thing with an understanding of technology.
Examples include Advance Machine Learning, Deep Learning like Neutral Networks, etc.
Statistics Centric: This part of Data Science involves more of the explainable models, where most of the things depend on the parameters of the models. It involves the estimates of parameters which explain the complete model. Statistics & Maths are the key areas.
Examples include linear regression, statistical inference, time series forecasting, etc.
Disclaimer: Both ways are chosen individually or simultaneously for the given problem in different industries and different use cases.
Do you enjoy engineering more, or do you want theoretical studies more? That is the one question that should help you decide above anything else.
IITs are known to focus on engineering & technology whereas ISI has primarily a theme of Statistics.
If working in technology and coding appeals to you, then you can prefer IITs for Data Science. IITs are the best place to learn, work and implement technology with the brightest minds.
If you have an interest in numbers, and you love mathematics and its application in the real world, then ISI is for you. ISI is the best place to understand the Statistics & Maths behind Machine Learning. You get a chance to understand explainable ML, and analysis part of Data Science & how it can help the business.
ISI primarily focuses on traditional statistics & maths. Coding, deployment, and application are the added layers. The situation is the other way round in IITs.
It's not like IITians never learn mathematics or statistics and ISI students never do coding. It's about the curriculum, environment, and culture that differentiates.
Data Science is always a combination of Statistics, Programming, and Maths. Different institutes have different routes for this journey, giving priority to one section over another. At last, it boils down to your choice & preference.
Still, if you are confused now, the thing is you won't go wrong with either institute as both IITs and ISI are wonderful places to become Data scientists.
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