James Christensen
Meet James Christensen, Business Analyst and Data Administrator at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Mr. Christensen received a Master of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Analytics (MET’18), was the May 2018 Excellence in Graduate Studies Award Recipient and completed his BA at Boston University.
“In his graduate studies, James concentrated on data analytics. This is one of the most challenging concentrations in the department. James proved himself to be a truly exceptional student, excelling in all the courses he took.”—Dr. Anatoly Temkin, Chair of Computer Science
Why did you choose MET for your graduate studies? What set MET apart from other programs you had considered?
I was working for BU at the time and had the chance to take a few computer science classes to see what the program was like. I really appreciated that it was geared toward working professionals, not just because I could attend part-time in the evenings, but also because the content seemed to be focused on skills and concepts that I could apply immediately.
Is there a particular faculty member who enhanced your experience at MET?
I took three classes with Professor Jae Young Lee and learned an enormous amount from him. He made complicated concepts easy to understand, and his assignments really added to my understanding of the material. These were three of the harder classes that I took, but also three of the best.
Are there any specific skills or competencies you acquired during your studies that qualified you for a promotion, professional designation, title change or other benefit?
I started out without much of a technical background and moved into a much more tech-focused job while I was in the program. The database and programming skills I learned were a major reason for that. My current role has also evolved as I have learned and applied new skills, particularly more advanced methods for data analysis.
How were you able to adapt to some of the challenges of balancing work, home-life, and school? Did you benefit from MET’s flexible class delivery options?
I learned to schedule time for homework and projects. It’s not always going to be fun to come home from work and launch into coursework, but learning new concepts and working on interesting projects kept me motivated. I also went through the program relatively slowly, which worked well for me because I was able to learn new skills, gain work experience, and still have some semblance of a life outside work and school.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is considering applying to this program?
The program can open up many opportunities, but it’s up to you to take advantage of them. If you are motivated to learn and apply what you’re learning, you can transform your career.