Student talk | Shruthi Manivannan

RWTH Business School: Why did you decide for the DDS program from RWTH Business School?

Shruthi: I graduated in the field of Electronics and Communication Engineering. After that, I worked for 2 and a half years in the field of Business Analytics as a Business Intelligence consultant. During my work experience in the field of BA majorly pertaining to supply chain management, I was aspiring to do my masters to get better in the analytics field.

A master’s degree in data science, without doubt came as the best option. As it is inevitable for a Data scientist to have managerial skills to put decisions into perspective and practice, I was looking for a course that included some level of management subjects as well.

The reason I chose the DDS program at RWTH Business School was that the program syllabus contained the right mix of technical Data Science subjects and Management subjects – both skills together make the perfect recipe for a powerful career! The DDS here in Aachen was the only program with such balanced syllabus instructions amongst many other alternative master programs.

Additionally, RWTH Aachen University has a very good reputation and pioneering faculties, which I came to get to know through my husband, who has been living in Aachen for a couple of years. He researched about the university locally and through his peers.

RWTH Business School: What do you like the most about the DDS program?

Shruthi: First of all, I like the way subjects are sequenced in the program since they were mostly coherent. That means, the knowledge gained in the previous course subject is carried over and applied in other subjects as well. For example, the concepts we studied in statistics, algorithms and data structures were applied and used during the other subjects in the first semester. The subjects are also well structured to give good weightage to theory, practices and real time applications.

Additionally I am very happy with how interactive and easily approachable professors and student coordinators are. In case of any doubt with regards to subjects or organizational issues, we are able to easily reach out to the faculty.

I also appreciate the alternate exam dates. All or most subjects have alternate exam dates, which means we can choose the date that suits us best to perform well. Afterwards you can have an exam review with the professor. So far, in the first semester for most subjects, the exam review was done patiently. This helped understanding our mistakes or some concepts better.

There are even more benefits that we get through being a student at RWTH Aachen: good student mensa (canteen) with subsidized prices for students, travel bus and train ticket, IT services, library etc. These merits make our student life pretty easy particularly for those who are new to the city/ country. As a bonus, there are free German language courses which are very useful in everyday life in Germany as well as for future career building. Additionally, there are active student associations (like Asta, Av, Incas, AISA etc.) and events – technical and cultural activities alike, for example the Innovative Tuesday which is organized by the RWTH Business School for students.

RWTH Business School: How is it like living in Aachen or in Germany in general?

Shruthi: My experience has been very pleasant so far. I have been lucky enough to have had only good experiences with the locals and neighbors. I find the city quite friendly and welcoming, which has been the case for many of my other peers as well. If I had to name a challenge it has only been my current lack of fluency in German, which I am actively trying to improve. In my case, I am married and I live here with my husband. So, I was lucky that I had a lot of support from my husband for all the initial processes and settling down here.

Germany is very organized. All processes and sectors seem pretty structured and in shape which also means that one has to be organized and fall in line with the processes. Nevertheless, they are straightforward, so there are not many complications. Aachen is a student-friendly place. The city is pretty lively with a lot of art, technology, literature or other events. In whole, Germany is very beautiful. Aachen sure is as well.

RWTH Business School: What did you learn (so far) during the DDS program, which is important to be professionally and personally successful?

Shruthi: First of all, I learned to organize my time more efficiently as well as to adjust to new environments. Furthermore, meeting talented people from a wide age range and from different backgrounds is one of the most profound experiences and broadened my horizon. The small study groups further intensify the learning process as we not only gain knowledge from the professors but from our peers, too which I highly valued. Of course the subjects themselves, which are interesting and last but not least learning German.

RWTH Business School: What has been your greatest challenge?

Shruthi:

1. I am from India, where it is pretty hot during most months of the year so the biggest challenge I faced was adjusting to German winter. Particularly during exam times.
2. Learning German has been a challenge as well.
3. The course fee is pretty expensive compared to many other programs. So, funding for that is another big challenge. It would be helpful if the University provides more scholarship aids or directs to organizations that provide scholarships. (Note from the editor: Check out our FAQ section regarding this subject here.)

RWTH Business School: What does the DDS program mean for you and your future?

Shruthi: I hope to become an efficient Data Scientist with good management skills, specializing in the field of Supply Chain Management.

RWTH Business School: What should future students know about the DDS program? / What is your advice to those interested in the DDS program?

Shruthi: I would totally recommend the program for those who want to start their foundation in the field of Data Science and Analytics. It is also great for aspiring managers, because the course strengthens your skills in decision optimization and also in soft skills.

RWTH Business School: Describe the DDS program in one word!

Shruthi: Career empowering.