Statistics prerequisite

[CAguyinMO]

Hey, gang. I'm a pre-nursing student here currently running through my prerequisites before starting an accelerated BSN program next January at Barnes-Jewish College in St. Louis. (I've already been accepted, pending completion of all the prereqs.)

The one that's making nervous is the elementary statistics class. I'm scheduled to take it this summer. What's got me slightly unsettled is it's been 20 years since I took and passed college algebra -- the prerequisite for this class. I did well enough in math in college, but I'm not exactly a math whiz. I emailed the professor who'll be teaching my stats class and asked him how important it is to have a strong background in algebra in order to succeed in stats. He said as long as I passed college alegbra, even if it was 20 years ago, I'd be fine. I also asked my cousin in Dallas, who's actually a stats major at a college there, how important an algebra foundation is to beginning stats, and he said he didn't think it was all that big a deal.

Question for the group is whether or not this jives with your experience....how much algebra, so to speak, do you use in stats? Any help or insight anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.... :nuke:

Donn

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

There will be math as you know it in Statistics...but the math part is easy. It's remembering what formulas to plug in and when to plug them in that's difficult. They ought to call it "Sadistics". It took me twice, but I got through it. There are many formulas to remember as I said. But once you know those, it's pretty easy.

[greygooseuria]

People make stats harder than it has to be. It's all plug and chug, and many professors will let you make a cheat sheet for the tests. Just know the formulas and it's fine.

[Bicster]

Stats is a completely different beast, though not really that difficult. Go buy a review book (doesnt matter which one) read it, read it again then go Ace the class when it starts.

[CAguyinMO]

Wow, guys. I post that message, go into the kitchen to grab a drink, come back and there are 3 replies! Thanks so much to those who took the time to write. You've put my mind at ease.

Cheers....Donn

[Serlait]

I was in the exact same boat....but took a chance and dove in. First few classes I thought i'd made a huge mistake, but then it got easier. The prof I had was great. We learned all the formulas on the ole calculator, he made sure we knew how to make it all as straightforward and no nonsense as possible. You can do it. Just keep on top of your assignments and ask questions if you don't understand....chances are most of the others don't either.

[hikernurse]

Math is definitely not my strong suit and I did fine in stats. It really doesn't have much math in it . I know they like to require algebra first, but I didn't take it and really, algebra had nothing to do with the class.

You'll do fine :).

[RNDreamer]

There will be math as you know it in Statistics...but the math part is easy. It's remembering what formulas to plug in and when to plug them in that's difficult.

:yeahthat:

I took Stats during the summer (6 week) session. We were lucky because there were only 6 or 7 of us, so we had the professor's undivided attention and he had time to explain things that we had trouble with.

[FriendlyGhostRN]

Hey there! I'm in St. Louis, Missouri as well, and I'm starting up the accelerated nursing program at UMSL this May! I am actually in Statistics right now at st. louis community college...it's not near as difficult as I first imagined it to be. However, it has its roadblocks, as does every other class! I've got a high B right now. Notice how I am posting this at 2:10 in the morning, well...I've been up for three hours completing the homework for Statistics (HA!) Anyways, besides using VERY basic math...like multiplying, the occasional "square roots" and other things, you do not even apply college algebra. I took college algebra last summer, so I remember vividly what we learned in there...and I have yet to apply that to Statistics. As long as you can do basic math, and know how to work a calculator, you will be absolutely FINE. I wish you the best of luck in finishing up your pre-requisites and starting nursing school! I'm also in a Nutrition class right now and there are a few people in there who are starting the Barnes-Jewish accelerated program in January of 2009 as well--they are all super nice! Keep in touch!

[3rdgenRN2B]

Good Luck with that. I attempted to take stats online this semester b/c I was going to transfer out to a non nursing major, but luckilly I've had a change of heart and decided to return too nursing. Stats is soooo not needed, at least for ADN. I think stats would have been a whole lots better if I was taking it in person (instead of online) and I wasn't trying to go back to school full time while working full time and being a new mom. I'm not wonder woman. But you'll be fine. Don't be afraid to ask for extra help if you need it.

[DreamyEyes]

Let me just tell you that I was always HORRIBLE in math. It just doesn't make sense to me at all, especially algebra. I could never get higher than a C during highschool.

But I LOVED statistics. I also had a great teacher, which helped, but there's not a ton of algebra. The hard part is just remembering the formulas, but the rest is fairly easy. Most of the time I found it pretty interesting stuff. I'm sure you'll do fine if I did okay!

[CAguyinMO]

Hey all: Thanks again for all the information and sharing. I can't tell how much much it means. I feel such a sense of support on this board. It's really powerful...and it makes me excited and proud to join the community of nurses.

Cheers!