The number one love of any prospective statistics student should be math.
This program takes number crunching to a new level.
A degree in statistics can lead to job opportunities in medical research,
polling, environmental protection agencies, pharmaceutical companies, agriculture
or consumer marketing.
You may want to take a math or science degree with a statistics minor.
Generally, statisticians have an interest in an additional field of study,
and they apply statistics to that -- biostatistics combines biology and statistics,
for example.
The number one necessity is mathematics, though, so if you love numbers,
statistics could be right up your alley.
Many employers accept applicants with a community college diploma. Generally,
you'll start in a lower position, but you could work your way up. You may
eventually have to pursue more advanced degrees to get the job you want.
Most undergraduate programs take four or five years. For more advanced
jobs, you may need to take a master's, which usually takes another year
or two. Some schools require you to take a placement test to qualify for admission.
Michael Tarter, a statistics professor at the University of California
at Berkeley, says high school students should take all the math and computer
courses they can. Students need to know the language of mathematics, he
says.
"Forget about statistics and probability per se -- statistics has become
conceptual. You have computers that can figure out the numbers, but you need
to know what to do with those numbers," he says.
You need math and computer science, but being able to convey your ideas
is equally important, says statistician Janet McDougall.
"You have to be able to understand the area. It is equally important to
be able to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, because you are
a team member and you must be able to get your ideas understood," she says.
Tuition and books are the main costs in this program.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Mathematicians
and Statisticians
Mudd Math Fun Facts
Including the renowned ham sandwich theorem
This is Statistics
Blogs, quizzes, information, stats and more