How hard does statistics get?

I've always been gifted in Math and I need to pick a major. I had never taken a statistics class until this past semester I took basic statistics and made an A and enjoyed the class. However, it was a lot of memorization and it got pretty tough. How much more difficult does statistics get? Should I major in it if I enjoy it and did well in basic statisics and have always been good in math?

How hard does statistics get?
When I was an undergrad I started school as a math major. I knew mathematics was my calling, I just didn't know what part of it. I took an intro probability and statistics class and earned a B. I blew off the course because I was to worried about some of my general ed courses. After another year or so I took a 400 level course in probability for no reason other than I needed a math elective course. Turns out this was the best thing I did as an undergrad. I found my niece. Once I started to pay attention and think activity about the material it came very quickly and easily. I took several other probability and statistic courses as an undergrad and then continued on to earn my Master's degree in Applied Statistics. If you enjoy the work go for it!





The topics do get much more complicated and difficult but if you are active in class you'll do well. I actually ended up teaching the intro course that I got a B in to the undergrads while I was in grad school... I just never told them I got a B in the course when I took it, figured the A's in grad school made up for that. :)





As for the memorization, yes there are a lot of things to remember but that can be said about any field. I have learned what I need to remember and what I don't. For example. Bayes' Rule is very useful but I did not memorize it. The reason is that you can derive Bayes' Rule in two steps from the definition of conditional probability. The definition of conditional probability is much more useful and applicable in more situations than Bayes' Rule. As such, I only need to remember one thing and it allows me to solve Bayes' problems without remembering his theorem explicitly- just conditional probability and the law of total probability. I have memorized the Bayes' rule by this point because of teaching but when I solve problems I always go right to conditional probability first.





The best thing I tell you to do is take another course and see what you think about the material and then change to a stats major. I have greatly enjoyed my studies and while I'm no longer in school I am still activity studying and working with the concepts. Just applied to a PhD program too... can't wait to go back and learn more!





Good luck in your studies.
Reply:sure, why not
Reply:enjoy, do your best
Reply:You are not gifted in math. You just don't know what real math is.





Anyway... Statistics can get as difficult as you wish. It only depends to what level you want to take it to. Some of the most elaborate theorems in mathematics can be found in stochastics, the real mathematical field on which statistics builds.





In school statistics will never get so tough that you won't be able to handle it if you enjoy it. School is there to teach you the absolute basic facts about things, not to reinforce the feeling that you are an idiot (I will do that on Yahoo Answers for you). It is designed to be manageable by the average student. So if you had an A so far, you will do OK or even fine in the future.
Reply:I don't see why you shouldn't major in it if you enjoy it :-)


It gets pretty involved and complicated as you get further and further into it. For me, the main issue I have with stats is that it doesn't seem as elegant as the purer side of things. At higher level pure mathematics, you derive things and prove things as you go along, whereas you have to study quite a lot of statistics before you can appreciate *why* you do the things you've been taught to do. Maths or stats, whichever you choose, will end up being very helpful career-wise, so it's a win-win situation really :-)





Hope you enjoy it, whatever you end up doing,


asv