Regression and time based analysis are quite easy to do with the Excel Data Analysis pack (there are some if not a ton of materials on line with sample problems), here the idea is to do the analysis itself, write papers, etc, and plead for forgiveness for not using Matlab for everything. Matlab is also a high level tool set type software package, so finding a similar analysis in an on-line tutorial, and then putting in her unique data, may short circuit the problem. Find on-line basic tutorials and work from easy to harder, sticking as close to the actual use for this class as possible (you can self-teach yourself the rest of Matlab say over the summer).
Regression is a curve fit and time analysis might be as simple as a plot of Y vs. t or maybe be something more complex. Graphics could be difficult, but there are likely lots of tools that tell you how to scale and all that.
The actual data set does not actually matter, so a comparison of a friendly classmates code with her versions might work fine. I don’t think this is cheating, but the TAs might also give out sample code from already turned-in assignments (taking a zero does not solve the issue … at all).
And given that Matlab is a tool, assuming it is the baseline at that school, like many others, many people could offer help for regression and time plots, including people at the EC or people in the dorm. I think the inconvenient time thing may be overblown, all students have weird schedules and many would be up late at night or available at noon on Tuesday. You need to ask early (NOT the night before) and often (find many people who will have patience for say an hour to find a bug or tell you, no you need to name that file rock.dat, not rock.txt …). As freshman, likely everyone is friendly since they want friends and study mates and project mates, etc. Those contacts are next years study partners and if you can find ones that can help you in ways that work for you, and maybe who need help elsewhere, then this is a great result of this maybe not so fun experience.
Stop asking, the school thinks she can succeed (what percentage of the class is the actual programming part and is there some way to get credit elsewhere), and if she does not, the world will not end, she will not be asked to leave, etc. In a way, this is wasting time that could be spent doing a sample regression analysis from an on-line tutorial.
Also, 20 hours a week is not really drop dead shocking for an honors type course at a top school. Personally spent 40 hours a week on thermodynamics at a not-public-ivy state flagship … as long as you don’t have 3 or 4 of these, you just grin and bear it (and maybe ask around before picking a hard seminar class next time). College is hard, and some are even harder than average …
I mentioned in another thread that everyone will have a class where they stare at the board or the handouts and just realize, I have no idea what this is. The response is important, figure out how to figure out what you don’t know (I think google is best don’t leave your chair response), figure out who or what can help, etc.