How to choose a data science course for a career switch

Check the starting point

Good programmes say clearly what you need before day one: basic maths, Excel, maybe a little Python. If a course promises to take anyone from zero to data scientist in a few weeks, treat that as a warning, not a feature.

The checklist

• At least 3 to 5 real projects you can show an employer, not only quizzes.
• Live doubt-clearing or mentor time every week, with a named mentor.
• SQL, Python and statistics covered properly before machine learning.
• A capstone on a real or realistic dataset.
• Clear details of what career support includes and who is eligible.
• Recordings available if you miss a live class.

Ask about outcomes the right way

Instead of asking for a placement percentage, ask: of the people who started your last batch, how many finished, and how many of those got a data role within six months? The answer, or the lack of one, tells you a lot.