Going to university is an exciting and stressful time for people of all ages. Committing to a four year degree takes a lot of discipline, especially when the expectation is that the learning is guaranteed to be challenging and rigorous. Many university students will also have to deal with the fun and perils of having roommates for the first time, starting new and complex relationships, balancing a life of study with newfound social freedoms and perhaps even working to cover the costs of tuition and rent. There are students who will deal with a daily commute from home, mature learners who must balance the dream of a degree with work and family responsibility, and graduates who are pursuing professional programs or advanced degrees.
Let’s not forget one of the biggest challenges of all - choosing a university program that balances the benefits of one’s passions and interests with their capabilities and future goals. For some students, the program they choose will largely be determined by the goals they have established in secondary school. Students who wish to become an engineer, for example, are enrolled in a Faculty of Engineering and will have limited electives to choose from, as would a student in a Bachelor of Commerce program. Students typically enrolled in the large Faculty of Arts and Sciences will have seemingly endless choices for specialists, majors and minors.
What is a specialist, major or minor anyway? These words are used to describe the main areas of course focus a university student makes, and will appear on their degree. Most 4 year degrees will require a certain amount of courses: a specialist or major in a subject will mean that the student has taken a significant amount of courses in that specific area, fulfilling certain requirements established by that program (ex. A particular amount of 4th year or seminar courses, or the completion of certain course codes). A minor program is completed when a student has passed a lesser number of courses in a particular area.
Depending on the university, students can choose to take a combination of programs, such as a double major, a major and specialist, or a major and a minor. Students will usually submit their program of study to their faculty registrar after consulting with a counselor and professors. With so much selection to choose from, it's critical for students to make an informed choice about the program they choose, taking the time to learn about all their different options.
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Why Statistics?
Statistics is an area of learning that many students may be tempted to overlook during university when choosing a program of study. It’s not exactly hard to see why - the word statistics itself evokes ideas of number crunching, graphs, and endless data. Many may even think the subject is beyond their grasp, and is better studied by people who have mathematical genius. In truth, many students taking arts and sciences courses are well-suited to learning the subject.
Students should consider including Statistics in their studies because it is one of the most useful and rewarding disciplines. Nearly every area of learning in higher education involves scholarly research, which requires a level of understanding and expertise in how to best collect, interpret, understand and analyze data. This is particularly true in mathematics, life sciences, medicine, education, computer science, business, economics and social sciences. When we study statistics, we learn to understand our work as researchers much better.
It’s also important to know that statistics graduates are always in high demand for employers, as technology has enabled organizations to have scores of data to interpret. Stats skills are not commonplace, and it takes a certain kind of expertise in the area to be able to do the important work of leading research, understanding risk and uncertainty, and presenting data.
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What is the Subject of Statistics About?
In a nutshell, the study of statistics is a mathematical science that involves the application of quantitative principles to the gathering, analysis and presentation of numerical data. Statisticians describe data in ways that are meaningful for users so that conclusions can be drawn and informed decisions may be made. Statisticians decide which model is best for a given problem or research area, and determine what kinds of data should be collected and looked at. Statisticians might use mathematical methodologies or computer-based data analysis tools.
What Kinds of Statistical Problems are Out There?
Statistics have become even more top of mind lately, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken the world by storm. The work of statisticians was placed front and center of the public eye, with millions of people concerned with statistics such as the incidence of infection, the rate of spread, and the numbers of people diagnosed with the coronavirus in certain regions and communities. Public health policy was developed in accordance with the statistics provided by biostatisticians, impacting nearly every aspect of everyday life, especially for Canadians.
But what are some other problems a statistician might solve, and why should so many students across different fields want to study statistics? Let’s look at some examples of situations where a statistics background would come into play.
- Designing experiments to gauge the effectiveness of new drugs
- Data mining in marketing to understand and target population segments
- Polling before a major election
- Estimating the size of animal populations to develop rules for conservation
- Forecasting the weather
- Predicting stocks
- Assessing the risk of patients
In short, statisticians play an important role in societies, companies, organizations and government branches. They guide people to make realistic and reliable inferences from data, and prevent people from abusing or misusing data. In a world of misinformation, we certainly need more statisticians!
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Is Statistics Math Difficult?
Statistics courses will require students to have a solid base of mathematical skills, which can seem daunting for many. Differential and integral calculus, linear algebra, stochastic analysis, and probability theory are mathematical theories that underlie a lot of statistics, so make sure you are well prepared with your advanced math skills when you take any statistics course!
To enrol in a statistics program, students will be required to have successfully completed prerequisite courses in advanced math at the secondary level or have taken the appropriate upgrades in postsecondary school. As daunting as statistics math might sound, it’s important to note that Canadian students have been studying statistics already for much of their lives.
Children as young as the primary grades start learning statistics math in school, such as identifying patterns, playing games, and looking at simple pictographs. These are the numerical foundations of any study in statistics! As students get older, they may also start interpreting more complex charts in subjects like math, science and geography, which - as simple as it may sound - is statistics work.
If you went to grade school in Canada, you will probably recall math units in which you might have surveyed your friends to answer simple questions about their favourite food, colour, TV show, or movie. You probably then used a pie or bar graph to present the information, and coloured it in and included a legend to go with it. You may also remember playing with a lot of dice in school, calculating the odds of getting certain numbers or sums, or looking at spinners to determine the likelihood of landing on a certain colour. Again, this was the work of statistics!
Of course, the kind of data management and probability you learned in elementary school is just a light warm up to the kind of learning and math application that would happen in a statistics course in university. And while yes, statistics math can be difficult, it is important to know that there are plenty of places to find help when you need it. Many courses will offer a tutorial component where students can ask questions and discuss concepts about statistics learning with a teaching assistant and a small group of classmates. If you aren’t comfortable with statistics math and are taking a course, you could also consider hiring a math or stats tutor to help you one-on-one with your learning, which we will discuss in detail later.
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Can Children Learn Statistics?
On the topic of kids, families who want their kids to get interested in statistics can be assured that even children can learn statistics. As we have mentioned, many students are already learning statistics from a young age in their schools through Data Management and Probability units.
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Are there Any Fun Math Games that Help Kids Learn Basic Statistics?
Absolutely! A quick search through Google will enable families to find statistics math games online, where they can test their knowledge of mean, median and mode, or answer questions based on different graphs and visuals. Math games make learning extra fun, and more engaging for even the most reluctant learner.
Should I Get Math Help for my Child?
Getting math help for your child can be one of the best investments you make in their future. A math tutor can help your child keep up with math instruction in the classroom, providing valuable one-on-one time they simply cannot get from their school teacher. Of course, you will want to check out Superprof.ca for a great math tutor for your child!
Vancouver, Canada’s West Coast metropolis is a favourite place for students all over the world to study statistics.
Studying Statistics Across Canada
Have we convinced you that statistics is an important area of study that you should seriously consider when picking your university program? Let’s delve deeper into the topic by learning more about what it is like to learn statistics across Canada’s major cities.
Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, main economic hub, and cultural mecca of food, arts, and film. You will find people from all around the world in Toronto, making it one of the most welcoming places for international students. University students love Toronto for the city’s sheer size and scale, the amount of amenities available, the possibilities for graduate studies and research, and opportunities for careers and co-op placements.
Toronto is home to many degree granting universities and colleges where students might take a stats course or enrol in a program. The University of Toronto, one of the largest learning institutions in Canada, has three large campuses across the city in downtown Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough. Prospective students of statistics can apply to the school’s department of Statistical Sciences. In addition to the University of Toronto, students can also find a strong stats program at York University, located in the north end of the city.
Windsor
Windsor is a small city located in the southwestern tip of Ontario that packs a big punch for postsecondary students. Windsor has a quaint and historic downtown with cute cafes, pubs, and a riverfront walk that gives breathtaking skyline views of downtown Detroit across the Belle river. Detroit is literally minutes away if you are craving some big city fun, and there are plenty of clean lakeside beaches a short drive heading East. Cost of living is low compared to large Canadian cities, and students can find relatively inexpensive rents. The University of Windsor is the school of choice for students of statistics and the actuarial sciences.
Edmonton
Edmonton is Alberta’s capital city and one of the largest cities in the region. Students love the city for it’s fantastic food and drink scene, laid back vibe, and access to beautiful Alberta countryside. Perhaps most famously, you’ll find the West Edmonton Mall, one of the biggest in the world, with plenty to distract you and keep you warm on a cold Edmonton day, like an amusement park and waterpark.
Students in Edmonton have plenty of schools to choose from: Grant McEwan University, the University of Alberta, Concordia University of Edmonton, and the King’s Universities, not to mention a slew of other colleges like NorQuest and NAIT.
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Vancouver
Vancouver is a dream for university students that love nature and the outdoors. Located on Canada’s Pacific coastline, Vancouver is home to beautiful parks, beaches, and a relaxed west coast vibe. The city is filled with fantastic international restaurants and extensive bike trails that enable residents to easily cycle around the downtown core.
There are amazing postsecondary institutions in Vancouver, but statistics students will want to take note of the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University’s stats programs. There are statistics programs for both undergraduates and graduates at both universities.
Montreal
Beautiful Montreal is located in Quebec and is a favourite for students thanks to its historic, European architecture and lively nightlife. The city is famous for its multilingual population, and you will hear not only French but dozens of other languages from its international communities. Montreal has a relatively low cost of living for students, cozy eateries and pubs, and a beautiful city skyline.
You can easily find undergraduate and graduate degrees in statistics in schools like McGill, the University of Montreal, Concordia, and HEC Montreal.
Where can I Find a Statistics Course Online?
Online learning has become increasingly popular as it is convenient, safe, and more cost efficient than taking an in-person course. Learning statistics online couldn’t be easier thanks to massive open online courses, or MOOCs, offered by some of the largest universities in Canada and around the world. Through a MOOC, you can access world-class statistics curricula and lectures. Cost is free or extremely low, but you will need to be disciplined to make sure you keep up with your learning!
Can I Complete a Statistics Degree Online?
While most Canadian universities do not offer a fully online statistics degree, you will have no problem finding one from another school. EdX, Stanford Online, and the University of Colorado offer online statistics degrees you can easily do from the comfort of your own home.
Will a Statistics Tutor or Math Tutor Help Me in University?
Statistics and math tutors are incredibly helpful for anyone looking for help in statistics, math, or both subjects. The best place to find a math or stats tutor in Canada is Superprof.ca. Superprof is a site that connects hundreds of tutors with students of all ages. University students love Superprof because it is easy to use: you can browse through hundreds of tutors and their profiles with the click of a button, and compare their rates of pay. Messaging and paying for your tutors is easy on Superprof, as the platform is set up for users to communicate with each other quickly and to organize pay through the app or PayPal.
Who knows, maybe you will consider sharing your own talents and posting a profile of your own? University students should know that there are plenty of parents looking for tutoring profiles for their kids, and university students are well-positioned to provide kids with tutorial instruction. You could have a part time gig that enables you to work from home and make great money whenever you want it.
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