Balancing Competitive Biking and Online M.S. in Data Science

Whether Abigail Snyder is racing down the side of a mountain or logging into class after work, there is one thing at the forefront of her mind: balance.    

Behind the handlebars, Abigail is an elite mountain bike athlete who travels the country competing. Behind the computer, she is an Online M.S. in Data Science student charting a new career path.  

Abigail came to the School of Data Science after ten years as a middle and high school English teacher.

She made the career pivot after realizing she could take an innovative approach to making a difference.  

“I thought that maybe if I come at it from a unique perspective and say like, ‘Hey, this is what the data says, here's how we can write a story that shows people what's happening, then maybe real change could happen.’”  

As a mountain biking coach, full-time employee, and athlete, Abigail’s schedule is full and requires balance. That is why she says initially she was nervous the program would be too strenuous. 

“I was very intimidated. I was not sure that I could handle the workload. I thought it just might be too much. But what I found is that it’s manageable. I love the fact that it’s part-time.” 

The Online M.S. in Data Science is a 20-month program across five terms that starts in the fall or spring. The asynchronous course content, with live evening sessions, allows working professionals (and athletes) to balance their lives inside and outside the classroom. For Abigail, that balance means studying at a coffee shop between races and finding Wi-Fi while traveling to complete homework.   

"As long as you're aware that your schedule is going to be busy, and if you're able to chunk out some time even if it's not the same every day, I think it's doable." 

Abigail says she feels supported by the faculty who are readily available to answer questions, “whether that be through the college forum or teams, office hours or email,” she said.    

As for what is next for Abigail, she is looking forward to more learning in her online program and international mountain biking competitions. Two parts of her life that she says take balance and mental discipline. 

"Being able to back away from the emotion and ask yourself how can I problem solve? That's something I've gotten to practice in cycling, and it applies to school and everything in life too.” 

For more information about the online MSDS program, visit uvadatascience.virginia.edu. To learn more about Abigail's athletic and data science journey, follow her at abigail_613.