Think You Want to Major in Statistics? START HERE
TLDRThe speaker shares their journey from a nursing major to discovering their passion for statistics and ultimately choosing a career path in applied statistics with a focus on information systems. They emphasize the importance of exploring various interests through college courses to find the right fit and highlight the value of statistical knowledge in today's data-driven world, encouraging others to consider how their interests can translate into a fulfilling career.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker initially pursued nursing but found it wasn't the right fit due to the challenges and stressful conditions of the profession.
- 🚶 The speaker then switched to information systems management, intrigued by the potential of working with technology and computers.
- 💡 Despite enjoying the MIS classes, the speaker felt there was more to explore and pursued math, discovering a newfound love for calculus.
- 📈 A shift to statistics occurred after realizing the potential of using statistical skills in various career paths, including actuarial science.
- 📚 The speaker found actuarial science classes boring and instead enjoyed the predictive modeling and analysis aspects of statistics more.
- 🔄 The speaker's major evolved from math to statistics with a focus on actuarial science, and finally settled on applied statistics with an information systems focus.
- 💻 Gaining practical skills such as R, Python, data analysis, data science, and machine learning was highlighted as valuable for the job market.
- 🚀 The speaker's journey led to an extended internship and a potential job offer, emphasizing the importance of choosing a major that aligns with career aspirations.
- 🌟 The speaker encourages students to explore various courses to find their passion and consider how the skills learned can be applied in the future.
- 💭 It's advised not to major solely in something you enjoy if it doesn't align with your career goals to prevent the loss of enjoyment in that activity.
- 🔗 The speaker invites those interested in statistics to join their Discord community for further discussion and support.
Q & A
What was the speaker's initial college major and why did they choose it?
-The speaker initially majored in nursing because it was a suggestion from their parents and they believed it could be lucrative, despite not having a strong personal interest in the field.
What challenges in nursing did the speaker learn about that led to a change in career path?
-The speaker learned about the long hours and stressful working conditions nurses face, which made them reconsider their choice of major.
How did the speaker's interest in information systems management arise?
-After realizing nursing wasn't the right fit, the speaker followed their gut feeling and chose information systems management because they found an MIS class interesting and enjoyed working with technology and computers.
What subject did the speaker discover a love for after taking a required course for their major?
-The speaker discovered a love for math after taking Calc 1 as a requirement for their information systems management major.
Why did the speaker switch from a math major to statistics with a focus on actuarial science?
-The speaker switched because there were limited classes geared towards becoming an actuary at their campus, and they found statistics more appealing as it allowed them to use their math skills in a different context.
What was the speaker's initial impression of their first actuarial science class?
-The speaker found their first actuarial science class to be the most boring class they had ever taken, which led them to reconsider their focus area.
What aspects of statistics did the speaker enjoy the most?
-The speaker enjoyed learning how to fit regression models, perform ANOVA tests, and predict the future based on past data, which they found exciting and likened to feeling like a wizard.
How did the speaker's major evolve to its final form?
-The speaker's major evolved from nursing to information systems management, then to math with a focus on actuarial science, and finally settled on applied statistics with a focus on information systems.
What advice does the speaker give to those who are unsure about their major?
-The speaker advises students to pursue a general interest, explore various courses, and take them seriously while considering their future applications. They also suggest not majoring in something just because it's enjoyable if it doesn't align with their career goals.
What valuable skills did the speaker acquire during their studies that are applicable to the job market?
-The speaker acquired skills in R, Python, data analysis, data science, machine learning, working with Excel, and Tableau, which are all highly valuable in the current job market.
How did the speaker's educational journey conclude in terms of career opportunities?
-The speaker's journey concluded positively with a great internship that was extended through their last semester of school, and there's a possibility of a job offer, demonstrating the practical application of their statistics degree.
Outlines
🎓 Journey to Becoming a Statistics Major
The speaker begins by sharing their personal journey of choosing a major in college. Initially a nursing major, they switched to information systems management after realizing nursing wasn't the right fit. Despite enjoying the tech aspect, they still felt something was missing. They discovered a love for math during a calculus class and decided to become a math major, with aspirations of becoming an actuary. However, due to limited actuarial classes, they chose statistics with a focus on actuarial science. The first actuarial class was disappointing, but they found joy in learning statistical methods and predicting future outcomes from data. This led to a final major switch to applied statistics with a focus on information systems, where they learned valuable skills like R, Python, data analysis, and machine learning, which they believe will be highly beneficial in their future career.
📊 Embracing Statistics and its Career Opportunities
The speaker discusses how their passion for statistics has opened up various career opportunities. They emphasize the importance of not solely focusing on statistics after work and school, using their YouTube channel as an example of how they continue to share their knowledge. The speaker highlights the value of learning new technologies and how skills like R, Python, data analysis, and machine learning are highly marketable. They explain the significance of data-driven decisions in companies and the role of data scientists and analysts behind these decisions. The speaker concludes with their positive experience of securing an internship and the potential of a job offer, encouraging others to seek advice and connect with them and other statistics enthusiasts through a provided Discord link.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Statistics major
💡Career exploration
💡Actuarial science
💡Information systems
💡Data analysis
💡Regression models
💡ANOVA tests
💡Predictive modeling
💡Data-driven decision-making
💡Job market
💡Applied statistics
Highlights
The speaker began college as a nursing major but found it wasn't the right fit due to the challenges and stressful conditions of the nursing profession.
After realizing nursing wasn't suitable, the speaker switched to information systems management, intrigued by the potential of working with technology.
Despite enjoying the information systems management courses, the speaker felt there was something more they were looking for in their career path.
The speaker discovered a love for math after taking Calc 1 as a requirement for the information systems major, which was a surprising revelation.
The decision to major in math with a focus on actuarial science was influenced by a high school math teacher's advice.
The lack of actuarial science classes at the speaker's campus led them to consider statistics as an alternative, with a focus on actuarial science.
The speaker's first actuarial class was extremely boring, leading them to question their choice of focus within statistics.
The speaker found that they enjoyed the statistical aspects of the coursework much more than the actuarial science focus.
The ability to predict the future based on past data through statistical analysis was particularly fascinating to the speaker.
The speaker switched their major to applied statistics, with a focus on information systems, to align with their newfound passion for working with data and technology.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of choosing a major based on a general interest and gaining a broad knowledge through various courses.
The speaker warns against majoring in something purely because of enjoyment if it doesn't align with one's career goals, as it could diminish the pleasure derived from the activity.
The speaker's experience with statistics has led to internships and job opportunities, showcasing the practical applications of the field.
Skills like R, Python, data analysis, data science, and machine learning, which the speaker acquired through their studies, are highly valuable in the job market.
The speaker's journey illustrates the importance of data-driven decision-making in companies and the role of statisticians and data analysts behind the scenes.
The speaker's story ends positively with a successful internship and the potential for a job offer, demonstrating the benefits of finding the right career path.
The speaker encourages others to reach out for advice and join their Discord community for support and guidance in their own educational and career paths.
Transcripts
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