Student Interview | Xiuyuan Wang, Class 2020, Undergraduate Student，Data Science and Big Data Technology
Student Profile:
Major: Data Science and Big Data Technology
Research Areas: Optimisation, Game Theory, and Sampling Algorithms
Awards and Honours:
- Recipient of the Dean's List and Grade-A Academic Scholarship for three consecutive years
Learning Experience:
- Visiting student at Yale University in the spring of 2023
Post-graduation Destination:
- Ph.D. in Computer Science at Yale University
Q&A
A: I found my studies in Data Science and Big Data Technology to be incredibly liberating. This freedom was particularly evident in the choice of courses and learning methods. The programme allowed me to freely choose electives across various fields and had ample credits for elective courses. While trying to keep up with the lecturers, I also enjoyed reviewing PowerPoint slides after classes or doing intensive reviews before finals. SDS allowed me to learn at my own pace, giving me plenty of time to pursue my interests.
Q: Students are busy enough with their studies, and so it can be challenging to coordinate their studies and other aspects of life. How do you adapt and strike a balance?
A: The key to balancing study and life lies in finding a study method that suits you and planning ahead. This includes planning study tasks well before deadlines, breaking big tasks into smaller goals, evenly distributing stress, and ensuring enough rest between major deadlines. After stressful midterms or finals, I typically take a week or half a week to relax, maybe hiking, shopping, or staying in my dorm to watch movies and play games.
Q: What do you think will benefit you the most from CUHK-Shenzhen/SDS?
A: The liberal learning environment at CUHK-Shenzhen greatly facilitated my exploration and learning. As I mentioned earlier, this freedom provided ample time to explore personal interests. Additionally, I greatly appreciate the numerous SDS Colloquium Series lectures held by the School, which are hosted by renowned scholars and cover a wide range of topics, greatly broadening my research horizons.
Q: What habits do you think are worth developing and helpful for self-cultivation during your study at CHUK-Shenzhen/SDS?
A: Developing self-study habits is essential. Professors may not cover all topics in lectures, and self-studying helps bridge these gaps. This habit also aids in connecting and deepening understanding of the subject matter before exams, enhancing overall comprehension. For me, thorough revisions before exams are when I truly grasp the material.
On the other hand, using generative AI responsibly is crucial. “Responsible use” means adhering to university policies. In today’s AI-booming era, we should use AI as an aid, not be exploited by it. Yet, practising with various tasks using AI tools provides an excellent opportunity to harness these technologies effectively.
A: Finding one’s true interest might take some detours. For me, you know, initially, I was intrigued by operations research but realised after some time that it wasn’t quite right for me. During an exchange at Yale in my junior year, I shifted to exploring finance and economics. However, I soon found that this field also didn’t fully align with my interests. Fortunately, during a lecture at Yale, several data science professors discussed their research areas, one of which greatly interested me. I read related papers, found them fascinating, and tried contacting the professor to see if I could join his research team over the summer. Eventually, we decided to explore two theoretical issues in algorithmic game theory and continuous optimisation. After some time, I found immense pleasure in contemplating these issues, prompting me to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on this field.
Reflecting on my academic journey, I’ve learned that "it’s never too late to explore." At the start of each research stint, I couldn’t help but compare myself to peers who had already achieved much in the same field, sometimes causing so much anxiety that I couldn’t work. However, in hindsight, this anxiety was unnecessary. My exploration never truly started late, and everyone has their own opportunities and timelines.
Q: During the application season, you received offers from many prestigious universities. Can you share where these offers came from and your final choice? Why?
A: I received Ph.D. admission offers from Purdue University, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the University of Southern California, Yale University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of California San Diego, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. I ultimately accepted Yale University’s offer to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science because I was already very familiar with my advisor and greatly admired his research direction.
Q: What are your current major and why did you choose it? What are your plans for your future?
A: The research directions I have chosen include optimisation, game theory, and sampling algorithms. I hope to delve into machine learning from the perspective of algorithm analysis and become a researcher in this field in the future.
A: First of all, feeling uncertain is normal, not just for freshmen but even for myself sometimes. The four years of university are like running a stochastic gradient descent algorithm to find and excel in a direction you love. We should always be open and willing to try new things, such as different courses and seminars, and dare to take advanced courses without letting GPA concerns limit us—GPA isn’t that important. Don’t let the pursuit of a high GPA confine you into becoming someone who seems excellent but is timid and unwilling to step out of their comfort zone.
I also often feel troubled by peer pressure. I’ve realised that because of inevitable differences among individuals, such as interests, strengths, and weaknesses, everyone has their own best fit and pace. Therefore, it is unwise to compare oneself with others endlessly . We should strive to find what we truly want to do, discover our own pace, and stick with it.
