<p>Is majoring in statistics relatively easy compared to the other areas of math?</p>
<p>Is it one of the easier majors in college in general?</p>
<p>math is generally considered a difficult major. Statistics is one branch of math. Some people are really good at calc but horrible at stats and visa versa; it depends on each person.</p>
<p>yeah, but i’m sure that some maths are harder than in general…
like at my high school, stats as a <em>course</em> is much much easier than calculus AB or BC.</p>
<p>idk… i always thought diff equations required more brain power than doing stats</p>
<p>so… what’s the verdict?</p>
<p>stats isn’t just about the stuff they teach you in high school. in college it includes probability theory, stochastic, forecasting, time series, advanced regression techniques etc.</p>
<p>Statisticians are generally people who love numbers. Any level of math comes easily for them. Their brains are just wired that way. If you have to ask, then I doubt it will be easy for you.</p>
<p>Hmm… you’re pertaining to theoretical statistics, right? I thought even business majors were required to complete many courses in applied stats…</p>
<p>As a stat major from many years ago, I found this an interesting question. I’d been a math major and switched because of difficulties with the more theoretical parts of math, and also because I was more interested in areas where statistics could bring me. So, at an undergrad level, I would say that statistics was “easier” for me! However, my current college daughter has taken stat courses, and I observe two big differences between now and then. One, because statistical software is so available, it’s become even “easier” because computations, which can be extensive, are now instantaneous (it used to take me all afternoon to invert a matrix, and if there was an error, all night to fix it). On the other hand, it’s not at all clear to me that this leads to the same level of understanding. I was a mathematical statistician for many years, and conclude that many stat courses, especially introductory courses and those in applied departments (business, social sciences, for instance), are very tractable. However, advanced courses, which rely heavily on advanced math, can be as or more difficult. In terms of probability, that’s almost in a class by itself…I find that, beyond simple concepts, people either get it or they don’t.</p>
<p>Most business programs require 1-2 stats courses from what I’ve seen. Definitely nothing close to “many.”</p>
<p>sorry to like hijack this…but can someone explain how stats can become interesting, fun, or important? </p>
<p>i know i must sound like an idiot, but i swear everytime i force myself to read about stats (because it sounds important) it just doesn’t resonate. </p>
<p>i always had a “thing” for numbers b/c i played sports and always kept track of my marks, points, and times. but that didn’t translate into a knack for stats, at least not yet.</p>
<p>personally, math at least has that “aha!” factor and it “makes sense.” stats, OTOH, seems more like something you have to “buy into.” </p>
<p>I guess the key is just having a good understanding of how data in certain fields like business or something can be very meaningful. actually, i think that could be my problem. i haven’t taken a class in economics yet, perhaps after that I will have a better feel or motivation for statistics?</p>
<p>well, that said, i think stats could be an easier major than math because you can practice it through other fun social sciences like psych, econ, etc. also, i think a stats major is a little more “too the point” in terms of grooming skills for getting jobs. incidentally, someone mentioned that biostats is an “untapped” area because there’s high demand for biostatisticians jobs-wise and it’s a little cooler than strictly stats because you mix in the natural sciences (if you’re into that sort of thing).</p>