<p>I'm going into college as a Biochemistry major with hopes of med school. I know med school is extremely difficult to get in and a Biochemistry degree itself isn't very employable. So I was looking into statistics as a major but still aiming for med school. How employable is a degree in statistics (non-grad school)?</p>
<p>It’s about as useful as pure mathematics. Technically it has a lot of breadth, but it’s got a lot of more esoteric stuff as well (compare for example to the amount of statistics that most engineers study, only a few courses).</p>
<p>What’s sure is that you need to get familiar with computers / minor in CS, because that’s what really opens the breadth of applications of statistics (there are loads of things in CS as well as computational science that apply statistics, e.g. Big Data, AI, computer vision and machine learning are all about statistics).</p>
<p>Ditto…</p>
<p>I don’t know if it was TomServo or another forum member but there is a saying that should be a “sticky” on this Math/CS thread:</p>
<p>No Math, Stats or Physics major should leave their campus without AT LEAST a minor in Computer Science.</p>
<p>how much exactly would one’s opportunities go up for a physics major that would minor in CS, and one who would not?</p>
<p>CS is good “plan B” if the pure Physics career does not pan out. Also, quantum computing is a nice niche field to be a part of.</p>
<p>So it seems like it’s not that employable. Would applied statistics or computational statistics attract more job opportunities?</p>
<p>With everyone doing Big Data, data mining, data analytics, (or whatever buzz word you prefer) these days, I would think that a an applied statistics degree is very employable.</p>
<p>How employable is applied mathematics?</p>
<p>Finance and actuarial jobs are typical target jobs for statistics majors (and are also common for applied math majors). Of course, specific course selections (in and out of major) would be helpful for such aims (see [Be</a> an Actuary](<a href=“http://www.beanactuary.com%5DBe”>http://www.beanactuary.com) for actuarial job information and preparation).</p>
<p>So would more jobs be available if I major in applied math, as opposed to actuarial science?</p>
<p>I’m thinking majoring in the latter may restrict me to only a job as an actuary.</p>
<p>My opinion will be biased (B.S. in Computational Math), but Applied Mathematics (coupled with a “super” minor/dual-major with CS) is the best major in the world with a bunch of opportunities.</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>I’m stuck between computer science or applied math w/ focus on computer science.</p>
<p>Can anyone enlighten me?</p>
<p>What subject do you like more?</p>
<p>Computer science is typically a bit better in coverage for the generally useful topics in industry software jobs, while applied math with some CS could be more aimed at such things as theory, cryptography, and numerical computing. But the actual required and optional courses at your school for each option matter in terms of which would be the best choice for you.</p>
<p>Of course, if you have a strong interest in both and can fit many courses in both into your schedule, you could major in one and take a second major in the other, or just a lot of courses of interest in the other.</p>
<p>Sounds like computer science is a better fit for me. Thanks</p>
<p>Math + CS is theoretically a lot more flexible than just CS, because all advanced CS topics are also advanced in math. But because the CS curriculum often focuses considerably on some applied computing topics and math that’s relevant to that, rather than abstract theory, which may not have “direct” computing applications, the CS curriculum is more “real world” off the bat.</p>
<p>I think it boils down to:</p>
<p>-Do you have an interest in some complex, heavily mathematical CS topics (simulations/numerical computing, computer vision algorithms, data analysis etc.) and CS research?
-> Do math AND compsci, using either as the major while taking extra courses from the other or trying a double major.</p>
<p>-Do you have an interest in real world applied computing and software development
-> Do the CS (or SE or IT) curriculum</p>
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<p>I’m more interested in CS. However, I have no experience at all. My school doesn’t offer any courses related to this (closest being ap calc?, I got an A and 5)</p>
<p>How will this affect me, if at all?</p>
<p>"I’m more interested in CS. However, I have no experience at all. My school doesn’t offer any courses related to this (closest being ap calc?, I got an A and 5)</p>
<p>How will this affect me, if at all?"</p>
<p>It just means that you’ll need to work a bit harder in the intro courses, than those that have been exposed to some of the basics of programming and computing earlier.</p>
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<p>IT is usually a business-oriented major more focused on managing computers and their software, rather than designing them.</p>
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<p>You can go through this classic introductory CS book (full text free on the web) and do the examples and exercises on your computer (the language interpreter is free) to gauge your interest in the possibly of majoring in CS:</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the SICP Web Site](<a href=“http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/]Welcome”>http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/)</p>
<p>Here are the course materials for a general overview CS course intended for non-majors, but which sometimes entices students to become CS majors:</p>
<p>[CS10</a> Fa13 : BJC (The Beauty and Joy of Computing) | UC Berkeley EECS | Fall 2013](<a href=“http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs10/fa13/]CS10”>CS10 : BJC (The Beauty and Joy of Computing) | UC Berkeley EECS | Fall 2013)</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I’ll definitely look into them.</p>
<p>To become an IT, would I still take cs? I want to be a software developer/programmer but am keeping my options open</p>
<p>“To become an IT, would I still take cs? I want to be a software developer/programmer but am keeping my options open”</p>
<p>If you want to study what software (or computing) is and what kind of software (or computing) there can be, then yes.</p>