Frequently Asked Questions
What is the program cost?
There is no tuition fee to participate in the program.
Do you offer funding for Fellows?
If you are invited to participate in the in-person program, you will be eligible to apply for a need-based scholarship, which is intended to cover some of the costs of living, but not all of the costs. This scholarship could also fund relocation expenses and other essential day-to-day living needs.
Does everyone who completes the program receive a job offer?
As a result of completing the 7 week program, Fellows interview with mentor companies and are offered jobs. The amount of time it takes each Fellow to receive and accept an offer varies. After completing all the interviews, 5-8 weeks after the end of Insight, you should have one or more job offers from companies and be ready to start your career as a data scientist. The Insight team works with everyone very closely to determine the best fit for them to ensure they are successful and happy in the new role.
Do you plan to have programs in other locations in the future?
We are currently focused on our Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, Seattle, Toronto, and Remote program locations, but as a quickly growing company, there is possibility in the future to expand both our programs and our locations. Sign up for the Notification List to stay up-to-date on our program locations.
Can I continue working for my current employer, or can I actively participate in coursework, research, and/or teaching while participating in Insight?
We ask that any Fellow admitted to the program completely clear out their calendar for the duration of the program. This includes Remote program Fellows. Fellows who have tried to maintain other responsibilities have not gained the full benefits of the program, and this can delay full time job placement. If you are worried about prior commitments, please apply to a later session when you can reserve the full 7 weeks (and additional time after for interviewing) to dedicate full-time to the program.
What if I am accepted and have to miss a few days of the program?
Participating in the program is a full-time commitment, and you are required to be present every day. Missing a day could result in falling behind. With that said, we understand that sometimes life happens and if something comes up and you are unable to attend a day or two, we will work with you to catch you up on what was covered.
How long will I need to stay in the program location area once the program ends?
You must intend to get hired full-time in a data career after the program is finished and agree to interview with mentor companies immediately after the program. This process typically takes five to eight weeks following the completion of the 7 week program.
Can I talk to alumni of the program?
We are more than happy to connect you with Insight alumni once you have been invited to participate in the program.
Do you have any recommendations for how I can prepare myself to transition to data science?
If you have been researching Data Science careers, you already have many of the skills needed to be a data scientist. In addition to learning on your own and doing side-projects, we recommend taking some introductory computer science classes (first 2-3 courses in whatever the core CS curriculum is for undergraduates at your university). This will provide you with an extremely solid foundation that will serve you well in your research, as well as a foundation for doing data science and anything software related in the future. Additionally, we would also recommend an introductory statistics course and a machine learning course if it is available. For more tips, check out this blog post.
When will the next program be offered?
We have typically offered three sessions of Insight per year - January, May, and September, and expect to continue this pattern going forward. The sessions currently accepting applications are listed on the application page. The Insight Notification List is the best way to stay up to date on new sessions and application deadlines - we will send out a notification as we confirm future session dates and application deadlines.
Can I submit an application for more than one session?
If you are interested in more than one session, we ask that you please take the time to consider each location and submit your application to the location you are most interested in working in. Fellows in the Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, Seattle and Toronto sessions will be introduced to and interview for jobs based in their local cities and surrounding areas. In the Remote program, Fellows will interview with companies located outside of the cities of the in-person programs. We expect admission for all locations to be equally competitive. Your choice should be based on where you intend to live and work.
Can I edit my submitted application?
If the edits to your application are minimal, please email info@insightdatascience.com with the changes you would like us to implement. If your edits are more substantial, please submit a new application. If you would like to update your resume/CV, please email info@insightdatascience.com with a PDF file and a team member can update your application accordingly.
If I apply for a session and I am not accepted, can I re-apply for a future session without being penalized?
If you are not admitted, we would absolutely welcome you to reapply without penalty. When you reapply, we would encourage you to update your application with any new projects, tools or classes you have worked on since your last submission.
After submitting an application, when can I expect to hear back?
While we sometimes accept applications several months in advance, we typically do not begin reviewing applications until 2 months before the session is scheduled to begin, with most applications getting reviewed after the deadline. In the meantime, the Insight Notification List is the best way to stay up-to-date on new sessions and application deadlines.
How many applications do you receive/what is the acceptance rate?
Insight is a highly competitive program. Insight Data Science admissions is a two step process where we review applications and invite selected candidates for a Skype interview session. As a result, we currently have many more applications than we have spaces in the program, but we are always looking for ways to grow the number of people who we can help in their career transition.
What does the interview look like?
The interview consists of a 30 minute Zoom chat with a Program Director. You will be given specific information prior to the interview, with enough time to prepare.
Do you keep a wait list for future sessions of Insight?
Unfortunately, we do not keep a wait list and require applicants to reapply for each session of Insight they are interested in. We recommend that you sign up for the Insight Notification List to hear about future opportunities to participate in Insight.
What is early admissions?
Early admissions is intended to provide applicants with faster updates on their applications. The process consists of application review and interviews just like regular admissions, and all applicants will receive a notification regarding their application before the main admissions deadline. In some cases, applicants who are selected to interview during the early admissions cycle may be asked to reinterview during the main cycle of admissions.
There is no competitive advantage to applying early vs. at the main deadline. We typically finalize each cohort about a month before the start of session, so anyone who applies for our June 2018 session before the main March 26 deadline will receive equal consideration within the entire applicant pool.
Am I qualified to participate if I don’t have a PhD or MD?
Unfortunately, at this time our Data Science and Health Data Science programs only accept candidates who have completed or are approaching completion of a PhD. If you feel that you have significant experience that offsets this requirement you may apply and address this issue specifically in your application. You may be interested in our Insight Data Engineering Fellows Program or our Insight Artificial Intelligence Program, which do not have an education requirement. The Data Engineering program focuses more on data infrastructure and architecture rather than data analytics, and the Artificial Intelligence program focuses more on the application of machine learning and deep learning models.
Is there an age limit to participate in the program? Do I have to be a recent grad?
We do not have an age limit on program participation, and welcome you to apply (PhD/MD is required for our Data Science and Health Data Science programs).
What visa do I need to attend Insight programs based in the US? Do you accept applications from non-US citizens who are not currently based in the US?
While we do not require a specific form of US work authorization to be admitted to the program, we do require that all applicants be able to work full-time in the US immediately upon completion of the Program, without needing to go through the H1B lottery. Students on F1 and about to start OPT are welcome to apply. If you have any further visa-related queries please email info@insightdatascience.com
Am I eligible to participate in the Toronto, Canada program?
As with our programs in the US, we do not require a specific form of Canadian work authorization to be admitted to the program, but we do require that applicants be able to work full-time in Canada immediately upon completion of the Program. Students completing their graduate studies in Canada are typically eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) for up to three years. If you are currently located outside of Canada, please refer to the Canadian eligibility questionnaire to learn more about work authorization options. If you have any further visa-related queries please email info@insightdatascience.com
What is a "remote" session? Does that mean an online-only version?
Our remote program consists of using a live video conference system to interact with Fellows and the companies we work with, which is online only. This does not consist of watching videos, as this environment is completely live.
How does the remote program work in comparison to the local sessions?
The content of the remote program is identical to the in-person programs, with the only difference being that the companies in the remote program are located outside of NYC, Silicon Valley, Toronto, Boston, and Seattle. During the session, interactions are virtual and participants can reside anywhere in the US where they can secure a quiet place with stable internet. That being said, if you are more interested in working in Silicon Valley, NYC, Toronto, Boston, or Seattle, then you should apply for the in-person programs.
What would make me a better fit for the Remote program vs. an in-person session?
The decision to apply to the remote program should entirely be focused on where you plan to reside once you achieve full-time employment. The content and full-time level of engagement is identical to the in-person sessions. If you are location agnostic and would like to consider positions all over the country excluding Silicon Valley, New York, Toronto, Boston, and Seattle, the Remote program is the correct program for you.
If I apply for the remote program, does that mean I can also interview with Boston, Seattle, Toronto, NYC and Silicon Valley hiring companies? Or would I only be able to interview with companies outside of Boston/Seattle/Toronto/NYC/Silicon Valley?
If you would like to work in Boston, Seattle, Toronto, Silicon Valley or NYC, we would recommend for you to apply for those programs versus the remote program. If you participate in the remote program, you would only interview for companies outside of Boston, Seattle, Toronto, Silicon Valley and NYC.
Can the remote program be done from any location, or does the Fellow have to be based in the USA?
You may participate in the remote program from any location, but you must be eligible to work in the US upon completion of the program. Also, please note that as a participant in the program, you must be available generally from 9am-6pm Pacific Time for group activities plus times in the mornings and evenings for 1 on 1 meetings, which may make participation in the full-time program difficult from vastly different time zones.
Do you offer a part time or remote program for all of your programs?
At the moment, only our Data Science program is offered remotely.