As you can see, both these courses are incredibly different, even if you just base it on their names.

Data science will need some knowledge of computer science but it does not completely entail computer science. It will also need you to know about machine learning, statistics, and mathematics.

Both these subjects are vastly different. With the increasing need for data scientists around the world, institutes have been compelled to provide this course be it online or offline.

My advice to you would be to do your research before you decide to enroll in either of these courses.

Here are some of the unique and lesser-known facts about IIT Madras.

• IIT Madras has one of the fastest supercomputers in India. TOP500, a global project ranked IBM Virgo Super Cluster of IIT Madras as the fasted supercomputer in the country. 
• The institute was established with the technological and financial support of the then Govt. of West Germany. 

There’s an unused railway track inside the campus. It is located behind the Machine Design section, towards the bordering wall of the institute. These are some of the unique bits about the campus.

IIT Madras has a research park that only a few Indian colleges have, it’s the reason why it is often called the Stanford University of India. IIT and IISc are the most deemed universities of India yet only IIT Madras has its own research park.

It is about 1.2 million square feet. Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, an electrical engineering professor, laid the foundation of a research park on the campus of IIT Madras.

• Startups like Ather Energy, the electric vehicle company, and ZOHO were both founded lead by the alumni of IIT Madras. These are technology-based startups.
• There are several e-commerce websites but building a company with Qualcomm, and many others.
• IIT Madras helps students to connect with the industry and build real-life projects. There are more than 1300+ patents filed with the research park at IIT Madras and more than 200 startups have been into the action and are financed by the companies like Intel, Crown special purpose, and specialty.

IIT Madras has two specialties. Among these two, one is the Research Park and the other is NPTEL. It is the largest firm that deals with all the engineering branches and courses and contains all the resources. It is equivalent to the Open Course Ware of MIT.

 While IIT Madras is a reputable technical institute, its humanities department is primarily a supporting department rather than a central focus. If you are considering pursuing humanities, it is important to keep in mind that not all institutions offer the same level of focus on this field of study. 

It may be worth considering institutions that have a greater emphasis on this field. This will give you the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the humanities.

Institutions that have a strong focus on the humanities may also have a different approach to teaching and learning compared to those with a more technical or science-based focus. This can be a valuable aspect of your educational experience, as it can expose you to different perspectives and ways of thinking.

Ultimately, the decision of where to pursue your studies is a personal one that should take into account your individual interests and goals. By researching and considering a range of institutions, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your educational and career aspirations.

IIM Madras, being a premium institute in science and engineering, does not need anything additional to attract most of the top 100 JEE Advanced rankers in the country. Being a student here I can at least give a brief overview of the rankers’ perspectives in choosing among IITs, along with some advantages of being in IIT Madras.

• Most of the top 100 rankers in JEE Advanced go for IIT Bombay. The main reason behind this choice is the city of Bombay, which adds to the brand name.
• Most students in this range of rank choose either Computer Science and Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
• On the other hand, IIT Madras has really good programs for CSE, Electrical, along with several other streams too.
• To be true, there is not much difference in quality and merit among the top 100 rankers and students with 100-500 ranks in JEE Advanced. So, it should be judged cumulatively.
• IIT Madras has its own culture inside the campus, with an amazing charm. Only students entering the campus get the real essence of it.

Therefore, all the top IITs have their own benefits and are excellent in all aspects like infrastructure, placement, facilities, etc. Top rankers can choose any of those, based on their preference in streams and city.