Statistics

[thefreakedout]

<p>Hi. I'm currently a sophomore at Cal and I'm a prospective stats major..</p>

<p>I was taking some Econ classes and CS classes (CS61A, 61B) but I didn't like CS so I'm thinking of doing stats instead because well.. I have no other majors that I'm interested in.</p>

<p>The only stats-related class that I've taken so far is Stats 21 and UGBA 103.</p>

<p>Is it too late for me to start working towards a degree in Statistics? And what kind of job prospects do you think I'll be able to manage after getting a degree in Statistics from Cal? I'm thinking of working on the actuarial exams after taking Stats 133/134 but I don't know if that will help me get an idea of what kind of a career I want (actuary sounds nice but I think I might be too late in pursuing a job as an actuary..)</p>

<p>Can you guys help me out? </p>

<p>TL;DR >> 2 years left at Cal, want to get a degree in Statistics. Not sure if the right choice (on Econ track so far with 2 CS classes that I got Cs in). Panicking somehow. Dismal GPA (3.1)</p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p>What math courses have you taken? If you have completed 1A and 1B with at least a C grade in each, you are probably ok, if you are willing to take Statistics 133 and 134 and Math 53 and 54 next semester. You would then need Statistics 135, three more upper division statistics courses, and three math or other related courses (i.e. total of seven more courses) in your remaining three semesters (leaving about five slots for other courses like breadth or economics/finance for actuarial preparation).</p>

<p>For actuarial preparation, [General</a> Catalog - Statistics](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=STAT]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=STAT) says:</p>

<p>

@General Catalog

Preparation for an Actuarial Career. Students who are considering actuarial careers might consider taking Stat 151A, either 150 or 152, and 153 as their 150-level classes. The Society of Actuaries allows Stat 135 or Stat 200B, and either Stat 153 or Stat 248 to be counted towards the applied statistical methods "[Validation</a> by Educational Experience](<a href="http://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/edu-vee.aspx]Validation"&gt;http://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/edu-vee.aspx)" requirement. Suggested VEE-approved courses for the applied cluster are Econ 101A, Econ 101B, UGBA 103, and UGBA 131. Demog 110 and Demog C 175 would also be appropriate cluster courses for students interested in actuarial careers, although these courses are not currently approved for VEE.

</p>

<p>The career survey for statistics majors is here:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Statistics.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Statistics.stm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Actuarial careers are described more in [Be</a> an Actuary](<a href=“http://www.beanactuary.com%5DBe”>http://www.beanactuary.com) .</p>

[Emergent]

<p>You mention being too late to pursue a job as an actuary. . .</p>

<p>I became an actuarial analyst in my early 30’s, and became an actuary in my mid-30’s.</p>

<p>I don’t think you’re late to that party. . .</p>

[thefreakedout]

<p>@ucbalumnus</p>

<p>Took Math 53 & Math 54 already! I think I’ll pursue the actuarial career. I just don’t know if just taking the classes (with an internship or two by senior year) will be enough to land a semi-okay position by the end of my senior year.</p>

[GeneralWisdom]

<p>you are fine. I declared a stats major as a senior along with another major. It is just 6 stats classes. 133,134,135 and 3 15x classes. The cluster courses can be from any major.</p>