Online Master of Statistics Grad Says NC State’s Program Knocks it Out of the Ballpark

Life threw a curveball at Rocco Matarazzo in 2021 causing him to reevaluate his plans to enroll in an in-person master’s degree program in the fall of 2022. He landed an internship with the Tampa Bay Rays that continued through the fall semester — which led him to research online options. 

“I immediately began parsing through my accepted colleges to decipher whether online options were available,” Matarazzo said. “NC State’s program ranked far above the rest. The in-person curriculum was identical to the online curriculum. This was a huge consideration for me because with the other programs, I felt like I was getting ripped off or leaving meat on the bone in terms of offered classes. Moreover, a couple of key offered classes I wanted to take were available at NC State and not at other programs I applied to — such as Bayesian Analysis.”

Matarazzo enrolled in the NC State’s online Master of Statistics program and will graduate in December of 2024 — no extra innings required — thanks to the support from his instructors.

“Justin Post and Jason Osborne are two of the best in the business! Dr. Post got the ball rolling on transitioning my NC State acceptance from one that was in-person to the online option,” Matarazzo explained. “I worked closely with Dr. Post in an RA position and had two classes with him. Dr. Osborne was always accessible during office hours and made a complex course a bit easier to understand.”

While balancing the program with a full-time job took discipline, Matarazzo found a system that kept him on track.

“Some days were harder than others. Ultimately, I just stayed consistent with the schedule I developed to stay on track,” Matarazzo said. “I watched a lecture on Monday-Thursday mornings before work and did my homework in the evenings or weekend mornings.”

Master of Statistics Degree Had a Strong Impact Right Off the Bat

Matarazzo’s internship paid off and he now works as a Data Engineer for the Rays. He credits his NC State Online degree with preparing him for his current role and says that the knowledge he obtained in the program made him more confident in his abilities.

“This program has had a significant impact on my work already — enhancing my statistical understanding and ability to conduct analysis,” Matarazzo said. “I was able to quickly apply what I learned in the classroom to my work in the office. It will certainly help advance my career in the future. I feel so much more knowledgeable in the space of statistics than I ever have before.”

Because of his overwhelmingly positive experience, Matarazzo highly recommends this program to others who are working full time and want to pursue an advanced degree.

“Having a deeper understanding of the subject matter that is applicable to your job and higher qualifications benefits anyone’s career options,” Matarazzo said. “I would strongly encourage interested people to enroll in the NC State Online master’s program. The program is tailored perfectly to work with someone who works full-time like myself. It is virtually the same as the in-person program and is taught by supportive and engaging professors.”

He went on to say that the number one word he would use to describe the program is “flexible.” In addition, he was pleasantly surprised with the open communication he experienced with his classmates and the strong connections he developed with them as well as with his professors.

Matarazzo plans to attend the in-person commencement ceremony with his family.

“I am super proud to say I went to NC State! I learned so much from the program — it is truly hard to believe where I am now compared to where I was when I started two years ago. Everyone I’ve encountered at NC State cares for you as a student and wants you to succeed. Go Wolfpack!”

Are you interested in advancing your career with a degree from NC State Online? Visit the program page or online.ncsu.edu/programs for a full list of degree and certificate programs.

This post was originally published in Online and Distance Education News.