<p>I know you guys hate these kinds of questions since difficulty is subjective. But let's take averages here.</p>
<p>I want to major in stats, because it goes nicely with Econ major (gonna double major. also gonna emphasis in econ for my stats major). I'm not that good with math, but I know the school i'm going to doesn't required that many math classes because core classes are only like 30 units total. ive already knocked down calc 1 and 2. i just need one more semester of calc, linear algebra, proofs, SAS, and two classes of stats. This has to be easier than applied maths or pure math major, right? </p>
<p>Stats and engineering are so different in their outcomes and needs, its not a good comparison. Well done if you’re coping with the math requirements. It’s far more applied than other math majors so better for immediate employment. </p>
<p>Engineering majors are renowned for the heavy, challenging course load that is difficult for many math minded students. You’ve got to love the problem solving and physics to do well and not drop out.</p>
<p>Any major is difficult if you struggle with the subject. I’d not even get into a music, dance or math major. But someone else might struggle with the foreign language and essay writing i find comparatively easy. </p>
<p>I hesitate to ask this question, but here it goes anyway: why are you double majoring in statistics if you don’t feel like you’re strong in math?</p>
<p>Alright, now that that’s out of the way: disciplines are very hard to characterize as “easy” and "hard’. I mean, people are still getting PhDs in all of these areas, so in that sense, they are all incomplete, there is cutting edge work going on, and the smartest people who have ever lived didn’t figure it out… so they’re all pretty hard.</p>
<p>Aegrisomnia, I want to double major in stats and econ because they share a lot of classes at the uni i intend to transfer to (mediocre state school. CSU to be specific). Stats major at that school is more like “applied stats” major at an UC school. You have to choose a concentration, and Econ is one of them. Stats at that school only has 30 units for its core classes. So if i take Calc series (2 down, one to go!) (3 units each), linear algebra, and intro to comp programming at community college (arguably easier), I would only have to take SAS, stats 1 and 2 (for stat majors), and proofs to fulfill the core requirements of statistics major.</p>
<p>I also want to major in stats with econ because I am genuinely interested in the quantitative approaches to Economics, which is my passion. I love applicable math. Hate pure math. I also hate freaknomics stuff and other ******** theories with little math to back them up. I also believe that one could not fully understand Economics without a background in statistics. </p>
<p>Also, the fact that the stats major at my intended school has so few units means that I can take one rigorous math course per semester with other fluffy GE and econ courses. </p>
<p>Also, I’m hoping that a double major in something quantitative and often perceived as difficult would get me through HR filters, because Econ alone isn’t a very employable major. Statistics isn’t either, but hopefully potential employers would think I’m smart because of the quantitative skills required for that major. </p>
<p>And of course, I want to do it because well… bragging rights. Though I see in my future myself being a video game bum living off of minimum wage (my dream life, although i wouldn’t mind a higher income), maybe the fact that i double majored in stats and econ would convince my parents, future friends, and ex-high school peers at high school reunion that I’m not that big of a loser. ;D</p>
<p>Mathematical Statistics 1 and 2, also frequently known as Probability and Statistics 1 and 2 are two of the most difficult upper division classes at most math intensive schools. While it’s true that there are many Stats classes that aren’t truly “math intensive”, those two classes typically have enough math to cover 3 or 4 classes. You’re not going to get through those classes unless you are good at Multivariate Calculus (Calc 3). It’s all proofs bases on multivariate calc.</p>
<p>That is why you will see 1-semester courses like “Probability and Statistics For Engineers” because the “Mathematical Statistics 1 and 2” has just too much proofs and theory for the engineering students.</p>
<p>If you’re going to apply for CSU’s…you should apply to Cal Poly SLO or Cal Poly Pomona. The program is good. They’re STEM oriented. I’m not sure when math will be impacted but people tend to drop the major. Sometimes it just gets hard. </p>
<p>I don’t know why you would honestly do a double major just for bragging rights. Stats is nothing to brag about coming from a mediocre CSU. If you like stats you should look into the actuary profession because that field to me is absolutely mind-numbing. </p>
<p>If you wanted to come to Cal Poly Pomona, there is no stats major. There are only two tracks here: Applied Math & Statistics and Pure Mathematics. I’m under the Applied Math & Statistics category and you are free to choose your electives whether from applied math courses or statistics courses to tailor to your needs. However, everyone must take 2 quarters of Real Analysis, 2 quarters of Abstract Algebra, 1 quarter of Complex Analysis, etc. Applied Probability (Single V stats) and Applied Statistics (MVC stats) is also required of both majors. They’re OK. You can see a lot of the motivation from Real Analysis.</p>
<p>I have an emphasis in physics/engineering related courses, so I took DE’s, PDE’s, Operations Research 1/2, Graph Theory, Combinatorics…but people also go the numerical route by taking those computer programming heavy classes. Then they can also go the stats route and take stats classes. You can mix and match however you want. With an extra year it is relatively easy for obtain a second major. </p>
<p>There’s no way you can skate by without these proofs courses. There’s an intro to proofs class, but I would say it does not adequately prepare you for Real Analysis. It is at best an introduction to proofs but many good students in those classes are now doing very mediocre in Real Analysis or failing.</p>
<p>Upper-level statistics is very mathy and very hard, at least if you’re not mathy. Including at a CSU.</p>
<p>Double majors are a waste of time 99% of the time anyways. </p>
<p>If you want to do work where a stats degree is required no one will care about econ.</p>
<p>If you want to do work where an econ degree will be useful, a stats degree will be overkill.</p>
<p>If it’s just bragging rights, either one is plenty. And you’ll have enough on your plate adjusting as a transfer anyway without worrying about what idiots from your past think.</p>
<p>There is no win here. If you picked one you could likely maintain a better GPA, have more time for networking or internships (or gaming), and still have time to take electives in the other subject.</p>
<p>PhD study in economics requires a strong math and statistics background, including math courses like real analysis and the mathematical probability and statistics courses that statistics majors take.</p>
<p>Freakonomics is a popular book for people with no background in economics, math, or statistics, but you will find more math and statistics in the research papers and articles behind all of the topics covered therein.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up, Ominousrunner and Globaltraveler. <em>sigh</em> I’m so lost in what i’m going to do now.</p>
<p>I’ve decided a few days ago that double majoring is a bad idea. But Economics is too soft and Stats is too hardcore. Engineering has too many units, and i doubt i could pull over a 2.3 in engineering. I feel so hopeless and lost. :'(</p>
<p>Btw, the CSU i plan to go to is SF state. Do you think the upper div stats courses there would be easier? I know Cal poly is very hard to get into ( from high school, i got into UCD, UCSD, and UCI. I got into every school i applied to except Cal Poly SLO and UCB), but SF state has a different group of people to compete with, right?</p>
<p>I’m not sure anyone said that. I think the consensus was they’re both hard and both require some fairly sophisticated math.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to turn you off stats btw. GREAT FIELD OF STUDY. Just, maybe not the best choice as a <em>second</em> major. Wonderful for a sole major.</p>
<p>The math is somewhat demanding but it’s not like Lie algebra or complex analysis either. Normal humans can do it.</p>
<p>My son is taking the first of 2 statistics classes for his majors. He says ORIE 3500 is tought and his is a mathy kid.</p>
<p>ORIE 3500 Engineering Probability and Statistics II
Course description
A rigorous foundation in theory combined with the methods for modeling, analyzing, and controlling randomness in engineering problems. Probabilistic ideas are used to construct models for engineering problems, and statistical methods are used to test and estimate parameters for these models. Specific topics include random variables, probability distributions, density functions, expectation and variance, multidimensional random variables, and important distributions including normal, Poisson, exponential, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and point estimation using maximum likelihood and the method of moments.</p>
<p>Statistics is tough. I do not know what the equivalent probability and statistics class would be for an applied statistics major.</p>
<p>Caldud, how come you tell me about how the rigor of stats major is inevitable, yet you say it’s nothing to brag about from a mediocre CSU? Would an engineering degree from the same CSU be more brag-worthy, then? i’m no longer concerned about bragging rights, (thanks for knocking some sense into me, guys!), but if you say that stats is very challenging and still not worth bragging about if it’s from a mediocre CSU, then that means all degrees wouldn’t be brag-worthy if they are from mediocre CSUs, right? The problem, then, is not the degree, but the prestige of the school?</p>
<p>Engineering requires being pretty good across several disciplines… chemistry, physics and math. As a stats major you will not have to take those classes, your studies will be more narrowly focused. If you are good at math, stats might be the better route to take.</p>
Though I see in my future myself being a video game bum living off of minimum wage (my dream life, although i wouldn’t mind a higher income), maybe the fact that i double majored in stats and econ would convince my parents, future friends, and ex-high school peers at high school reunion that I’m not that big of a loser. ;D</p>