May 13, 2025
Hunter Guo, a first-year master’s student in Applied Data Science, studies communication. “The data scientist’s most important skill is not about building a fancy model,” he says, “but about establishing an executable tool that people can use and explaining the concept in a simple language that everyone can understand.” Born in Lanzhou, China, Hunter studied economics at The Ohio State University and then interned at Wells Fargo’s Risk Control team. We interviewed Hunter about his experiences at UChicago.
Why did you choose the University of Chicago?
The reputation—UChicago is globally renowned for its intellectual rigor, pioneering research, and world-class faculty, ranked 11th in the 2025 US News national universities list.
The location—UChicago is in the city of Chicago, the 6th financial hub in Global Financial Centres Index. With the University’s strong corporate connections to Fortune 500 firms, internships and full-time opportunities are readily available at my doorstep.
Please describe something you are proud of accomplishing at UChicago.
Winning the 2025 Duke Advanced Degree Case Competition. I led a team of four PhD students across the US to crack a nurse‐staff retention case, developing strategic recommendations in an intense week and presenting them to Bain and Oliver Wyman consultants.
What has been your most memorable class and why?
Capstone. Unlike a traditional lecture‐style course, where you simply listen and take notes, this class gives you full autonomy and flexibility. You must proactively seek out information, take responsibility for your solutions, and collaborate closely with teammates and clients amid ambiguity and uncertainty. While it’s the most challenging course in the program, it’s also the most rewarding one, because you are now a data scientist in the real world.
What is your favorite restaurant or food truck in Hyde Park? What is your favorite dish?
Saucy Porka—Ropa Vieja Beef Bowl
What is your favorite campus spot and why?
The University of Chicago Center for Identity + Inclusion. It is a house-style building that has everything you need for a quick meal or a midday nap between classes, including a microwave, hot water, a sofa, and study rooms. It’s like having a second home, just steps from your lecture halls.
What’s something you love to do outside of the classroom and lab?
Networking with diverse students from different programs at on-campus coffee shops.
What support have you received at UChicago that was particularly valuable to you?
The 1:1 chat with faculty and staff in the Master’s in Applied Data Science program. They either communicated with me via email or in person when I had a hard time adapting to the graduate school pace and the technical courses' difficulty level.
What advice or insights do you have for new or prospective Maroons?
Explore campus resources and job opportunities immediately after you accept the offer and set up the school email. Starting early is the key to success.
What are your plans post-UChicago?
Be a digital consultant in the management consulting industry.