Has Anyone Taken Statistics

prettydoll123 · Jan 2, 2014

Hey, I took statistics this fall with 4 other classes + a lab. It wasn't too bad. I ended up making an A in it. I had a REALLY good professor and I think that helped my case a lot. You need to ask a question when you don't understand because like most other math, the concepts build on each other. So if you get lost in the beginning and you don't get it clarified, you might have a few issues. I also didn't spend a lot of time studying for it because we only had tests and homework and my professor gave out study guides for his tests and the homework was all online. Apart from the homework, I didn't really need to study. I know some of my friends who had harder classes/different professors used Khan Academy. That might help.

Mandy0728 · Jan 2, 2014

I took stats in the fall with 4 other classes plus a lab. The thing is, I love math...mostly algebra, but statistics and I didn't mesh well. I remember taking it in high school and getting an A but college is a bit harder. Being able to use a formula cheat sheet on all of our exams saved me. I ended up with a B+.

GoodnessFlows · Jan 2, 2014

I just finished stats this past fall session. Surprisingly, stats was my most favorite math course, hands down! To me, stats was math, reading comprehension, and English combined. There are several very important theories you will be introduced over the semester, and while several doesn't sound like much, the theories can be somewhat difficult to digest within a 1 or 2 hour classroom setting. Often times, when my professor introduced a new theory, he'd remind us over and over that we need to study the theories for several hours outside of class if we want them to truly make sense. I took his advice to heart and spent hours studying outside of class. The best site hands down for learning stats is youtube. I simply typed in whatever we were learning in class, and found excellent videos, often times with professors that would answer questions.

The good news with stats is, if you take the time early on, towards the front end of your semester, to TRULY grasp the theories, the remaining portion of the class is, dare I say, simple. Well, maybe not simple, however once you understand, you know what you are looking for within the context of the problem, and from there you simply plug your numbers into your calculator.

I received an A, and while I put in many hours outside of class studying, I didn't lock myself up the entire semester. :) I have two kids in middle school, and was able to manage their stuff, along with 3 other classes.

Just remember, youtube, study the theories early on (like someone else said, they do build on each other), and you should be fine.

Best of luck!

Lexicon · Jan 2, 2014

Statistics was really easy, in my opinion. I took it with 6 other classes at 16 credits and I got an A in the class. I was also fortunate enough to have a really good professor (he wrote the textbook and wanted you to do well). Regardless, I think you'll be fine. :)

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2014

Statistics is only easy if you have a professor that knows how to teach it. That or if you know how to teach yourself math. If you have a bad teacher, it's an easy class to fail.

GoodnessFlows · Jan 2, 2014

I agree StephenAndrews! I had an awesome instructor and excelled. My friend had a bad instructor (same semester), and dropped the class.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Jan 2, 2014

For me, stats was one of the worst classes I ever took. I had shingles throughout the entire course. Unlike many of the posts above, I am NOT good at math!!!!!

CommuterChick22 · Jan 2, 2014

I took statistics as a five-week summer course, and I worked about 25-30 hours a week. Honestly, I think it just depends on how strong you are in math and who your professor is. Just allot yourself plenty of time to study (especially if you have to end up teaching yourself like I did). You can do it!

SaraStevenson · Jan 4, 2014

I took it last year and it wasn't too bad. I have never been very good at math. In fact throughout high school I always had a tutor for my math classes and I got through it with an A. My advice to you is to take good notes during class and do not skip class. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It helps to show up to class a little early and talk to your class mates about things you don't understand and also to form a study group. Sometimes when you don't understand something someone else can explain it in a way that makes sense to you.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do your homework. Right after a lesson I did my homework and then made notes on things I wasn't sure about to ask during the next class. I did all my homework twice. Soon after class so I could review what I had just learned and to prepare myself for the next class and right before an exam to make I was confident in my knowledge. Doing it twice really helped. Every once in a while there would be a concept I didn't understand so I searched on youtube and found videos that were very helpful. The hardest thing I learned in statistics was proportions. At my school I have to be full time for financial aid so I took other classes while taking statistics. As long as you take the time to do your homework, reteach yourself the material and ask questions you will do fine.

LaceElaine · Jan 4, 2014

In any subject, or in life for that matter, you get back what you put in. If you study as much as you need and do all the class work, it's not hard. So many people ask if a certain class is "hard". Everything is learnable. It just depends on each person's determination and time available.

Stats isn't difficult. It's just a lot of information packed into a short semester. Like everyone else said, it really helps to have a good teacher. I'm taking it this quarter and so far I'd say it's a bit easier than college algebra. I'm sure it's different for everyone though.

dee789 · Jan 4, 2014

I took it over the summer in a five-week course, and got an A. This was quite an accomplishment for me as I have always considered myself horrible at math .. but it wasn't like algebra, I loved my prof, and I did practice problems every day. I think practicing the types of problems that will be on your exams every day is key, if you can do that you should be fine. It definitely was the best math class I have ever taken!