Oncel Aldanmaz ’26
Economics and Computer Science Major
Data Science Sequence
A dual major in Economics and Computer Science with a Data Science sequence at Claremont McKenna College, Oncel Aldanmaz ’26 finds the intersection of those disciplines particularly exciting. “It allows me to not only analyze problems but also create tangible solutions,” he said.
Among his favorite classes, Econometrics with Rothacker Family Associate Professor of Economics and George R. Roberts Fellow Angela Vossmeyer. “The opportunity to model outcomes and the engaging final project, where we created our own model, analyzing results and implications, made the learning experience both challenging and enjoyable,” he said.
Aldanmaz chose CMC for its small size. With a little more than 1,300 undergraduates, the college offers the kind of accessibility to professors that bigger schools cannot match.
“The close-knit community fosters meaningful interactions with faculty, creating an environment where I can engage more deeply in my studies and seek guidance and advice anytime,” he said.
The sophomore also found late-night study sessions and working on projects in the library to be a highlight of his time so far at CMC. “These experiences not only strengthened my academic foundation but also allowed me to build meaningful connections with fellow students who share a passion for problem-solving and innovation.”
In his free time, Aldanmaz takes advantage of opportunities to connect with students across The Claremont Colleges consortium in clubs like Pomona Consulting Group, Vector Data Analytics, and Product Space. “The collaborative environment fosters creative thinking and allows me to learn from diverse perspectives.”
Last summer, Aldanmaz completed an internship at QNB Finansinvest in Istanbul, Turkey, about 400 miles from his hometown of Adana. His responsibilities included data preprocessing, exploratory data analysis, applying statistical and machine learning techniques, and creating visualizations to derive insights from complex datasets.
“Some of my most significant contributions were creating a k-means stock clustering algorithm with Python libraries like TensorFlow, scikit-learn, and Keras, automation of daily newsletters through local LLMs, and the implementation of specific features to a preexisting grid-trading bot to reduce manual trading efforts,” he said.
While strengthening his problem-solving and time-management skills, the internship also emphasized communication and collaboration, and facilitated networking. Moreover, it reinforced his passion for data analysis and research.
“This experience influenced my future career goals by enhancing my skills, guiding me toward
specialization, emphasizing ethical responsibility, fostering a mindset of continuous learning, and solidifying my commitment to a data-focused career,” he said.
Aldanmaz aspires to enter the tech, startup, and venture capital sector and feels CMC is preparing him well for success.
“CMC and Harvey Mudd offer valuable applied courses such as FinTech Practicum and Data Science Capstone, along with the Clinic Program, that provide hands-on experience and foster collaboration, providing valuable experiences regarding these industries.”