How difficult is upper level statistics??

<p>Anyone know? I am concentrating in stats instead of pure math, because I don't think I can hanlde just pure high level math. I need stats for economics, I've taken a stats class before, but didn't know how difficult 400-500 level at a large, decent state school was.</p>

<p>Upper level pure stats will be a lot like pure math in content and difficulty, whereas applied stats may give you real life stuations to anchor to. There is quite a bit of variation within the field of stats, and some of it is more pure than you might expect. Look on the past PHD exams for theoretical stats, not a question on how to interpret data or “real life” stuff, so be careful if you are fleeing from math for that reason.</p>

<p>Well I didn’t mean PHD level high, I meant undergrad level if I major in Math with a concentration in stats. I need it to combine with economics to go to grad school for economics, I need to apply math to something like economics though, but in undergrad they are separate majors and didn’t know how difficult upper level stats would be.</p>

<p>Well, it depends, for undergrad economics you don’t have to go too high (diff. eq maybe). The stats will probably still be more focused on application etc. It also depends on how quickly you progress through your courses, right now I am taking 3 math classes a semester, but you can graduate with a degree in math with only one class per semester if you have calc credit. Do you wan’t to take grad classes as an undergrad? if that is not so important, I wouldn’t worry so much about how much math you have to know, it would probably be an intro to abstract algebra class.</p>

<p>I need about 11 classes of math in 4 semesters, and most of which would be senior year. I would be almost done with the economics requirements by sr year, so I thought I would add a double in math with stats concentration. No grad courses, just a lot of math (stats) in 2 years.</p>

<p>There are theoretical and applied probability/stats courses at the undergrad level. The former emphasize proofs and lots of calculus and would probably look better in the eyes of econ adcoms. Are you going for a PhD or a masters?</p>

<p>Just a masters, more than likely a one-year program like finance. At least I will try for it.</p>

<p>To the best of my knowledge, most (all?) masters in econ and finance do not require probability and statistics theory. Additionally, the applied courses would probably be more applicable to your line of study.</p>

<p>I don’t know, most graduate schools I have looked at require some background in statistics, more for econ concentrations, but some for finance as well. I was looking to go to grad school for finance where I could have courses in economics too, since many programs offer a certain path with the mfin which is somewhat broad. I haven’t ruled out grad school for straight economics either if I can get into a good program, and most advisers and school sites have shown a connection to statistics.</p>

<p>Although it does seem like straight finance in grad school that is more quantitative has more than just stats for math, some quantitative/mathematical finance programs seem to be all math, which is why I want to avoid those and go for the broader mfin which most schools allow concentrations in economics, management, marketing, or engineering/comp sci.</p>