Hoping for some advice here. I really like Statistics (got a 5 on AP exam), but I’m not sure if I have the capabilities to be a Stats major. I’m not naturally great at advanced math, and probably wouldn’t excel at calculus in college. How integral is calculus to a stats degree? Would I need to go through a lot of calc pre requisites to take statistics classes? Lastly, is stats generally as competitive as other mathematical majors like applied math or engineering?
Another major I was considering was business/econ, since I would still get to use statistics and play with numbers and graphs (which I enjoy). I’ve heard that both business and econ don’t don’t require very advanced math (at least compared to some other majors). How competitive is business/econ compared to other mathematical majors?
Thanks!
You will need single variable calculus, multivariable calculus, and linear algebra at the very least. In addition, many statistics majors take more advanced math courses like real analysis.
Business and economics typically require single variable calculus, but economics majors intending to go on to PhD study need to take more advanced math, similar to that described above.
Angela Duckworth, a prominent psychologist, spent most of her career investigating a set of related concepts. One of those is that students who believe that success is a result of hard work and perseverance (grit) were more successful in many areas than students who believe that success is as a result of innate talents.
Some people may have more of a natural aptitude for math, but math is a skill to be learned. Nobody is born knowing how to do multivariable calculus. If you like math and you like data, and you are willing to put in the time to learn the calculus even if you’re a bit slower than others in your class, then you should try a major in statistics.
Also, I’m not sure what you mean by your last question. Some departments/schools are competitive and some are not. It’s not necessarily a specific major that creates that - in some places the English major might be cutthroat and the math department is chill. Are you asking if statistics is as rigorous as math or engineering?