yuwmic

I have to take statistics/probability. can i do well if i sucked at calculus?

stonecold23

depends on the school. generally statistics is incredibly easy, but any teacher can make an easy course hard and vice versa.

allena

I found the class to be rather easy. The only problem with my professor is we had for questions, each worth 25% of the exam. Each question would have several parts, so you'd have 1a, 1b, 1c and so on... Only problem is he did not believe that you should get partial credit. So on the final exam when I made a minor math error on the first part of one of the questions, my course grade went from A all the way down to B+.

beanieboo

i asked my academic advisor about this at orientation and he said it varies with everyone. i asked him that since ive always found math easy, will stat come naturally to me?

you can do awesome in calc, but not understand anything in stat at the same time. or of course calc could go right over your head, and you could kill stat later on. what i got from that is the two subjects are unrelated in content so it doesnt matter how good you are at one. i still think stat will be fairly easy or moderate for anyone whos good with numbers

ginnyvere

Yeah, intro stats can be done without any knowledge of calculus. So as long as you're decent at the more basic math, it shouldn't be too bad.

mikemac

there is a book called "the Statistics Problem Solver" for $4 (used) on amazon. Buy it! These problem-solver books are great for math & science classes. With thousands of solved problems and the steps for solving them shown, its like having a grad student tutor at your elbow.

You have to use the book correctly, though. The wrong way is to look at your homework problem, thumb thru the book until you see a similar one, then apply it blindly to your HW. A 5th grader could do that. Instead, use the book as a way to get practice until you understand the concepts. Go to the chapter matching your current classwork, cover up the answers and start working problems. If you get it wrong, read the correct steps, cover them up, do it again. Keep working problems until you get it. When you get midterms in class you'll almost be laughing because you know you can do them all.

Keep in mind that a standard expectation for a college class is 2-3 hours outside of the class for every hour in it. Your class will meet 3x a week for an hour, which means you ought to be putting in 6-9 hours outside of class for it. Do this, and use your time effectively, you'll do well in the class.

avcastner

Stats made sense to me. Unfortunately, the professor I had was so soft spoken and struggled to communicate clearly with a very thick accent, that the students would hover around the doors to the classroom while the previous class was in session and we would all race to the front. This room only held 30 people.

I think with the right instructor and a determined attituded, you will do just fine. Just do your homework and show up to every class--even if you are sick!