Hi, so I’m going to start community college soon after withdrawing from UCSB due to personal
reasons. I want to complete the IGETC but I have to take a college math before I do that. I took my matriculation test and got placed in transferable math. I haven’t taken a math class in about a year (2014-2015 school year). I want to take statistics but I’m not sure if I should take an Intermediate Algebra course before just to refresh. Do I really need a lot of Algebra in Stats? I got As in both HS Algebra 2 and Precalc so I’m not sure if I’m worrying over nothing. Any input? Also, I studied and did a lot of practice tests for the matriculation test so I’m not sure if that gave me an unrealistic idea of my math knowledge.
You won’t be using algebra in statistics. In my experience with statistics, it’s all about learning how to use the graphing calculator.
I took statistics and did not do homework for an entire month. I ended up with a B in the course. Keep in mind I also got a B in Intermediate Algebra. As you can see, I’m far from proficient in mathematics.
You really have little to worry about. Just pay attention in class and make sure you’re keeping up-to-date on the application of your calculator.
Depends on the professor. Check ratemyprofessor.org - it’s best to have an easier professor for a course like statistics IMO, but it’s really not too difficult usually. You should be fine. My professor was pretty easy - I never did any homework (it was never collected, so I saw no point), but I got an A (with very high exam scores).
I didn’t take a math class in my senior year of high school, so I had a two year gap between math classes (essentially) when I took Intro to Stats. If I remember correctly, it pretty much solely requires basic math.
I didn’t use a graphing calculator, FWIW. But a graphing calculator will probably help a lot, if you know how to use it (I bought one, couldn’t figure it out, and returned it).
Anyway, it seems you’re worrying for no reason. You should be fine. It’s a very useful class - basic knowledge of statistics is extremely useful in things like calculating your grades, understanding curves, etc.
People say that statistics is easy.
It is true that most community colleges (and even some universities) really dumb the curriculum down. In fact, some of them do this pretty disgracefully; for instance, many instructors will often ask only the most tangential questions in regard to probability theory on exams, e.g. a coin is flipped three times…
I took statistics with a professor that is pretty well known on my campus for being difficult. Believe it or not, over thirty people dropped that class (there were only nine of us left at the end). I actually didn’t even need to take the final to get an A, but that’s because statistics is a strong interest of mine (I took the class as an elective).
I’d say the curriculum for statistics is set pretty low at most community colleges, as the class is essentially geared towards liberal arts majors that don’t like mathematics but need to fulfill the quantitative reasoning requirement.
To address your question more directly: statistics requires very minimal algebra skills. Other than plugging values into formulas, hardly any algebra is used. That doesn’t mean that it’s easier; it’s simply more analytical than procedural.