Student Spotlight | A Candid Interview with First Quarter MSAI Student, Blaine Rothrock
We caught up with one of the newest members of our 2019 cohort to learn his motivations for applying to and joining Northwestern’s Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program after gaining admission. Like many MSAI students, Blaine Rothrock was drawn to the idea of looking beyond his computer screen to see a world filled with real problems that require real solutions surrounding the integration and development of new intelligent systems.
Why did you choose the MSAI program?
Since starting my career in software development, a graduate program was always in the back of my mind. It took me a while to find a specific program that stood out. I started looking into Artificial Intelligence because it is a field that I have been interested in for a long time and one that has exploded in popularity since starting my career. When I was an undergraduate student, I was fascinated with bio-inspired computing and complex systems research. The opportunity to pursue a meaningful project never presented itself even though the interest stuck with me throughout my career. As part of the work I do, I have seen the benefits of machine learning. Not only how powerful it is, but also the demand for people with the expertise of training and deploying models in an efficient way.
I chose the MS in Artificial Intelligence program because I sought a way to challenge myself. I was juggling with the idea of focusing on a self-taught program and working on my own projects, or going back to school. After much deliberation, I decided I really wanted to continue my formal education. I wanted a program that would provide me with the skills, knowledge, and a network that I could build upon the rest of my career and I believe the MSAI program will provide just that.
What are the strengths of the program that attracted you?
The MSAI program resonated with me because of the breadth of knowledge covered in the AI field. It wasn’t my goal to learn only about what is popular in the industry today, I wanted a strong foundational understanding of the field that I could take and use to build a lasting career. The MS in Artificial Intelligence program offers an impressive curriculum of fundamental coursework and allows students the ability to choose electives to customize their learning during their time at Northwestern. Students also gain insights into interesting work within the industry as part of the MSAI Partner Program. When I decided to apply, the strong technical curriculum was an impressive element, but what eventually sold me was the emphasis on practicality. Professor Kris Hammond, our program’s director, really drives the point of not just being a product of the technology you use, but having a purpose and a real-world problem to solve; I was looking for guidance in a field I am truly passionate about. I have the personal belief that the MSAI program will help me grow my career to where I am solving the problems I care about most and not just meaninglessly using my technical skills.
What do you wish you knew about the program before you enrolled?
In terms of preparation, I wish I could have seen a summary of what to expect out of some of the first quarter classes. Specifically, the type of programming. I have been programming for a long time and had used Python before so a general class did not apply to me. I wasn’t sure if we would be using common libraries or building algorithms from scratch, so I really didn’t spend much time on coding in preparation for my first quarter. In hindsight, I would have spent time with data science tools in Python. I feel the same about the math. During my undergraduate studies, I did not have a heavy math foundation. If I had known what to expect, I would have used the summer to brush up on Linear Algebra before classes starting classes in the fall.
What is your most important advice for those considering applying to the MSAI program?
First, don’t feel the need to know exactly what you want to do with your career before starting in the program. This was where I felt pressure because the assumption was that others already had a specific career focus in mind. To help students learn about the various possibilities that are available to them, the program caters to the exploration of different industries to help provide an idea of what’s available in the field.
Second, do not let any one aspect of the program be a deterrent. Personally, this is how I felt about my lack of a strong mathematics background. Although having a knowledge of mathematical principles helps with the understanding of machine learning and deep learning, math is not the sole focus. The program accepts a wide range of backgrounds and many are at a different level. This is where the cohort model is helpful; students work together as a team and learn from one another. I was surprised with how quickly common knowledge spread throughout our student community as a result. It really is one of the best aspects about this program.
Lastly, as one might expect, the program gets into the weeds and moves quickly. Given the pace of the program's 10-week quarter system, not a lot of time is spent on marginal topics. This makes moving through core courses exciting because you learn a wide range of skills very quickly. My advice would be try and capture a general understanding of the AI field from a popular science perspective before starting class. Read books or listen to podcasts that outline the current state of Artificial Intelligence and its history. Then spend some time diving deeper to learn what the buzzwords we often hear really mean so you have an understanding of what they actually are. This helped me to have a starting point and provided the ability to ask questions and hold interesting conversations on popular subjects.
What has surprised you about life as an MSAI student so far?
The sheer speed and pace of the curriculum. It’s pedal to the metal from day one. That may seem intimidating, but once you are acclimated to the pace, you realize how much you are learning and its value. Fifteen months is a relatively short amount of time and this program utilizes every second of it. If you are considering applying to this program, be prepared to focus all of your time for the duration of the program. There is limited time for much else.
How are you planning to use what you learn in the program toward your personal or professional goals?
I am still trying to figure out where I might like to focus in the field of AI, but I am starting to see a path of where I want my career to go. I entered the MSAI program already having the interest, so at this point I am actively seeking projects for my spring practicum and summer internship that may help me fully decide. After graduation, my hope is to land a position where I am leading AI projects that solves challenging problems that I am passionate about.
