My name is Baizhong Hou, a graduate pathway student in Data Analytics Engineering. And now, I am applying for the full-time graduate student status at George Mason University.

When deciding to apply for a new graduate program in an American university, instead of my undergraduate major (Chemical) and going on my job in China, I was surrounded by these questions: “What’s wrong with you? Why give up years of effort? Is it worthwhile?” The questions lingered in my ears and brought me back to the past. During my childhood, I was curious about everything around me. Fortunately, I had a good mother who encouraged me to try new things and taught me how to choose. On the spur of the moment, I learned drawing, swimming, playing football and playing the GO. However, given time and energy limitation, I persisted in studying swimming with the support of my mother. After getting admitted to the university in China, I began to restudy the interests in my spare time and quickly familiarized myself with them. Just as Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Majoring in Chemistry during the 4 years’ systematic training of undergraduate study, I have a solid grounding in science, including linear algebra, multi-calculus and some other science courses, which will become an advantage when analyzing data. I also run my own company after graduation, which is related melting iron. This experience taught me a lot. I learned how to accomplish the whole process of melting iron, from choosing the gradient to finding persons and companies to sell my products. This experience seems little relationship with my major, however, it fostered my ability to think by myself, make strategies, make decisions and communicate with others, which is essential for all fields of walk.

I never got into any touch with computer programming before I got into Mason, however, in these almost two years, I learned to use R and Python to analyze the data and the complicated data can lead you to some useful and concise conclusion by several lines of codes, which is so amazing that I was deeply interested in. The way of so called ggplot of R programming really left me a deep impression. It is about the STAT 515 courses, at which time, I was confused of how to write the code to let the computer help to draw wonderful figures and I did not establish a systematic knowledge of programming by R that time. However, I studied the common function of ggplot package and used it to draw the first distribution map about the lecture content. I was so excited that time, since it means that I understood the function totally, and I can also use the function to change the range of x and y axis, the limit of the axis, add the titles and all small things to make the graph beautiful and reasonable. Computer programming is really an amazing tool to conduct the computer to help you analyze and visualize your data and the conclusion.

I think I fit the program of data analysis. First, I have a strong science background attained when I was an undergraduate student. I learned many mathematical courses during undergraduate study, which were very useful for computer programming and analyzing data. Second, I got nice grades on the STAT 515 courses and the other pathway courses, which were fundamental knowledge for data analysis and I am interested in the courses as well. As we all know, interest is the best teacher. I think I can go on deep learning of this field based on these foundations and backgrounds.

I want to be an awesome data analyst and work for a big analyzing company, participate in big cases of analyzing and predict data. I know the first step to accomplish this big goal is to be admitted to the George Mason University for further master’s degree and get good grades to graduate. Mason is a nice university, where I learned basic research methods, reading skills and did writing practice. The INYO 501 and INYO 502 courses taught me how to study and live well on campus; the STAT 515 courses taught me useful concepts, methods and conclusion of data analyze; the EAP 506 and EAP 507 courses taught me how to do research, write a paper and cite the citation; The OR 531 course provided me many useful analyzing tools. Professional professors and nice teaching assistants are always readying to help students solve study problems, which really helps me a lot. I believe, after graduation, equipped with theoretical knowledge and advanced skills, I can get a chance to work as a data analyst in America.