<p>Hi, Which one is easier? Less math? Which professor(s) is easier?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, Stat 20 is more math-oriented while Stat 21 is more applications. Therefore, I would assume that Stat 21 is “easier,” especially if you are looking for the class with “less math.” I’ll be taking Stat 20 over the summer so hopefully it is doable.</p>
<p>Average grade in Stat 20 is a B.
Average grade in Stat 21 is a B-.</p>
<p>Stat 20 is for scientists and engineers.
Stat 21 is for business.
Odd… My guess is that engineers and scientists tend to do well in math classes, which explains the higher average.</p>
<p>Oh, and the professor for Stat 20 in the fall has very bad reviews.
The professor for Stat 21 has bad reviews as well, but not as bad.</p>
<p>Actually, Statistics 20 is not specifically for scientists and engineers; it is for students generally (who have a semester of calculus), while Statistics 21 is specifically for business and economics majors. There used to be a Statistics 25 which was for engineers and listed a year of calculus as a prerequisite, but the engineering major that required it replaced it with its own course (Civil and Environmental Engineering 93).</p>
<p>[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)</p>
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<p>thanks everyone.</p>
<p>UCBALUMNUS, thank you for the analysis, but are you leaning towards one or another as the easier one? So Stats 21 does not have a pre-req unlike Stats 20? thanks</p>
<p>Both have a prerequisite of “one semester of calculus”. Both use Freedman’s Statistics, 4th (2007) edition as the textbook (which may be available at lower prices at retailers other than the campus book store or Ned’s – check the ISBN if in doubt as to whether you are looking at the same book). So you may want to just choose the better instructor.</p>
<p>Concepts and what you learn are typically the same, however, Stats 21 is made and labeled for intended business majors. Having high grades in these Haas prerequisites is a priority for many students in this class, so your competition is most likely going to be harder. </p>
<p>But it’s interesting, because Stats 20 satisfies the statistics prerequisite for Haas also, and many intended Haas kids take this class thinking its going to be easier.</p>
<p>That said, from my experience, Stats 20 has a mix of intended business majors, science types, and kids who want to take it to get that statistics under their belt (thus more ‘general’). The majority of kids taking Stats 21 are business majors who need the prerequisite for Haas. </p>
<p>With that said, kids in Stats 20 are willing to P/NP the class (helping your curve); while a good majority of Stats 21 have to take it for a letter grade (thus they will try harder, hurting your curve). It all comes down to what you think is going to be easier in terms of competition; since in the end, there is usually a cap on the number of A’s a lower div stats class can give.</p>
<p>Personally, I say the competition is easier in Stats 20 just due to the fact that it has more kids from different majors. I personally took Stats 20, and felt the class was easy (perhaps a little too easy, I had a first time instructor).</p>
<p>Can anybody comment on how difficult these courses would be to somebody like me, given that I never took calculus in high school? Calculus is listed as a prerequisite for both of these classes. I took AP stats in high school, though, and did pretty well.</p>
<p>Originally, Stats 20 and 21 were intended for different groups of students, but because both courses generally fulfill the same major/minor requirements, they are essentially interchangeable. Assuming you’ve confirmed that either course will fulfill the necessary requirement in your case, I’d choose the course based on professor, time of day, available seating, and other similar considerations.</p>