Pronouns: She/Her
Home Country: India
Field of Study: MS Statistical Practice
Vajinder Kaur, from India is expected to complete her master’s in Statistical Practice in August 2025. We sat down with Vajinder to take a deep dive into her journey and give her advice to fellow GRS students in this exclusive Q&A session.
Please briefly introduce yourself, what’s your background, where are you from, why are you studying at BU GRS?
I am from Talwara, a small town in the Gurdaspur District of Punjab, India. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, along with a Certificate in Vedic Mathematics, from Kanya Maha Vidyalya , Jalandhar. I am a first-generation undergraduate and graduate student in my family and the first in my extended family to study abroad.
Choosing MSSP wasn’t easy, as I had already decided on another school by the time I received my decision from BU. However, reading the Harvard Data Science Review (Winter 2021) on MSSP and speaking with Ronan Smith, Program Administrator, quickly changed my mind. The program stood out for its emphasis on R as the primary coding language and its industry partner projects. The Practicum, the core of the program, equips students with both technical and soft skills essential for entering the industry. The cohort itself feels like a small family.
Why did you choose to come to BU for your graduate degree?
To be honest, I had never thought I would get into BU. While I was waiting for an admission decision, I met Taha Ababou, who had already received his offer from MSSP and did his undergraduate from BU as well. Being from a pure mathematics background, I was weak at coding. I was starting to do Leetcode and Taha helped me with it along with telling me more about BU. But the game changer was talking with Ronan Smith from the MSSP Department, whom I reached out to after getting accepted to BU, Ronan cleared my hesitation and helped me connect with Haviland Wright, the Director of MSSP. They all contributed to me choosing to attend MSSP and, consequently, BU.
What are your favorite spots on the BU Campus?
As MSSP Director Haviland Wright said during the boot camp in August, “After joining MSSP, all of your time is ours for the next year.” It turned out to be true with all of us spending most of our time on the 4th Floor of the Computing and Data Science (CDS) building, which is almost like home now. Hence, it is one of my favorite spots on campus. Another spot I enjoy is the BU Beach which is like an escape for me sometimes when I feel like walking and stretching a bit.
What is your favorite part about attending BU and studying in the US?
The amount of support and opportunities available at BU is incredible, which is my favorite part of attending BU. As a first-generation student, I receive immense support from the Newbury Center. I truly realized the extent of these resources when I lost my wallet in January and faced financial challenges. This experience made me aware of the many ways BU helps students in need and makes them feel better about the situation at hand.
The BU Food Pantry provides crucial support for students struggling with food insecurity. I personally attend Marsh Chapel community dinners and Newbury Friday breakfasts, which are great resources for students.
The Data Science Mentoring Circles Program is another valuable resource, connecting BU students with industry leaders in Machine Learning, AI, Statistics, and Data Science. It helps with resume tailoring, mock interviews, negotiation skills, and offers one-on-one mentorship from professionals in the field.
Another great initiative is MSSP Consulting, which provides BU researchers with free statistical analysis for their work. Beyond just conducting analyses, the consulting team engages in detailed discussions with clients to help them understand potential challenges and future directions for their studies.
How is life in Boston?
My world has turned upside down since I came to Boston—in a good way. I have learned to enjoy myself and not work all the time despite the hectic schedule in MSSP. Back home, I never had any weekend fun or friend outings. But here, my people ( Melanie, Qiuyi, Taha, Paul) make sure to have this sorted. Many spots such as the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Charles River, and the Boston Public Garden have already won my heart. As some of my friends say, Boston life is really special for me.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
Currently, I am thinking about pursuing a PhD further at the intersection of Statistics, Machine Learning, Healthcare, and Finance. I am not really sure about particulars yet as I am exploring research opportunities at BU to do more research in different fields before deciding on one. In the long run, I would like to work for R&D teams at fintech or healthcare companies.
About The Author:
Doğa Sevgi
Marketing & Communication Assistant, GRS
Bachelor of Science, Psychology