Statistics is not always the first major that comes to mind when we think about our postsecondary careers as high school students. Many of us have big dreams when we enter university, with ambitions to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, business executives, teachers, professors, scientists, nurses, architects, or researchers. Perhaps we picture ourselves studying in leafy quads, having fun at the local pub, or simply enjoying the thrill of being on our own for the first time. You will find a very small minority of students that imagine themselves becoming a statistician or crunching numbers!
In some cases, students don’t even hear about statistics until they enter university. And yet, most dream professions are completely enriched and supported by a study of statistics. So why is it important to know about statistics?
If you are a math student and want to continue learning math into higher education, you probably know that you will need a practical application for your knowledge. Statistics is one great way to use your math knowledge in a ‘real-world’ applied context. Students that aren’t solely focused on learning math should also pay attention: statistics is one of the most interdisciplinary subjects, with connections to science, business, health, medicine and even sports.
Have we got your attention? Let’s take a closer look at what the study of statistics is and why you might consider majoring or minoring in the subject in university. But first, let’s take a closer look at why studying statistics in Windsor is so great.
Vancouver, Canada’s West Coast metropolis is a favourite place for students all over the world to study statistics.
Learning in Windsor
Windsor is a border city known for its connection to the auto and agricultural industries and perhaps even more for its proximity to Detroit. Located in the very tip of Southwestern Ontario, Windsor is a popular place for students because of its relatively low rents, availability of post secondary options, and access to all sorts of unexpected amenities. You can drive over to Detroit and enjoy great shopping, restaurants, and gothic architecture, head over to the beaches of Lake St. Cair and Lake Erie for a perfect summer day, or go wine tasting near Point Pelee in the quaint town of Kingsville.
All of these elements make Windsor an ideal place to live, learn and even settle down if you can find a career that works for you. The University of Windsor, perhaps the city’s most well-known school, is a large university with graduate programs in mathematics and statistics. You can pursue a bachelor of science in the subject, continue onto graduate school, or start your career in one of the many jobs available to students with a statistics background. Some of the courses in the statistics program include:
- Statistics for Sciences
- Introduction to Probability
- Actuarial Regression and Time
- Stochastic Processes
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Discrete Multivariate Analysis
- Statistical Consulting
All of these course titles may seem like a foreign language to many of us. So what is the study of statistics really all about?
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Statistics 101 for Windsor Students
Simply put, statistics is the study concerned with quantitative data: gathering, analyzing, interpreting and developing methods for understanding information better. Statistics is deeply connected to mathematics learning, as you will use a variety of mathematical methods and logic to do the work of a statistician.
If all of this is sounding new to you, you might feel better to know that you have probably been studying statistics your entire life. The Ontario curriculum teaches statistics to students at a very young age in the form of data management and probability. If you can recall surveying your friends and building bar graphs with chart paper and coloured pencils, you were already learning statistics. Most teens have the terms of mean, median and mode ingrained in their minds from years of learning data management in their younger years. And if you’ve ever played with dice or games in math class, the purpose was likely to introduce the concept of probability to you.
By university, we get to learn statistics at a whole new level and in relation to other disciplines.
Canada is a country that hits so many marks: friendly people, beautiful landscapes, vibrant cities, and world-class universities. Canadian students are choosing statistics majors every day: learn more about why so many students are making the switch.
Find great online course in statistics here on Superprof.
Why are Statisticians so Important?
Statistics are relevant to nearly every area of scientific research, where you must use different methods to draw logical inferences from sets of data to make conclusions about anything from the efficacy of different medicines to the incidence of disease. Perhaps the work of biostaticians became most relevant to most people during the coronavirus pandemic, where suddenly terms like RT factors and positivity rates became household words, and people spent more time comparing numbers to public health policies than ever before.
In business, statistics plays a role in calculating risk and understanding concepts like growth, revenue, and whether or not certain business decisions will be good ones to make. Statistics students can take the rigorous study of the Actuarial Sciences to become an actuary or an actuarial analyst, where you might work to determine the risk of insurance premiums for different people, or deal with the measurement and management of risk and uncertainty. If that sounds complex, it’s because it is - and you will be compensated well for your work.
If you have always wanted to work in government, statistics is critical to sharing information to Canadians about the country. Statistics Canada is a huge branch of government that encompasses everything from industry to national parks. Visit the Statistics Canada website and you will find no shortage of opportunities and careers for anyone with statistics backgrounds.
And if you love sports, the statistics and facts you get from the live commentator does not come off the top of their heads: in fact, it was likely a statistician that produced that information for viewers. Sports statisticians do so much more than comparing the footwork of tennis stars to the speed of a fastball in baseball. They may determine whether or not athletes are performing better, moving faster, or playing longer, identifying key information that might help us all live healthier lives.
Of course, these jobs and roles are just the tip of the iceberg for the work of a statistician. But the bottom line is that the study of statistics will give you plenty of options and is exciting and challenging.
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Where Can I Get Statistics Help in Windsor?
Should you already have made the great decision to study statistics in university and find yourself struggling in your classes, you are not alone. Keep in mind that statistics is a challenging subject that requires an immense amount of time of focus and study, just like any other university major.
Before looking into getting statistics help, you might want to look at your life holistically to identify what areas beyond school might support your academic performance. It's no secret that university is a time for change and stress. It may be the first time we are living on our own, and we need a part time job to make ends meet. We also navigate new distractions and relationships in university, experience mental health issues from the pressure to perform, or have other health issues that impact our learning.
The most important thing is to take care of yourself and your health first. When your body is healthy, you will find it much easier to build your academic knowledge and skills.
Finding help for statistics couldn’t be easier thanks to sites like Superprof.ca. Superprof is a site that lists statistics tutors from across Canada, and connects those tutors to students who need help understanding new learning or grasping a course. The site is streamlined, nice to look at, and easy to use for nearly everyone. You can read the detailed backgrounds of different stats and math tutors, compare their rates of pay, and even get their names to see what kinds of information you can find on them online. Many tutors are graduate students in math and statistics, or have a unique background that makes them perfect for advanced learners.
The site even has an option to pay tutors safely through the use of a credit card or PayPal account, taking the stress off financial transactions.
Statistics majors are in high demand because they have a unique skill set used in nearly every profession. Find out why so many students are learning statistics in Montreal.
Should I Hire a Math Tutor or a Statistics Tutor?
You may be debating whether or not a statistics specific or math specific tutor will be best for your needs. Start by considering which classes you need the most help with, and what skills you need to be successful. A statistics tutor will be more focused on the skills of the discipline, while a math tutor might be more helpful if you want guidance in applying mathematical methods like linear algebra or calculus.
The best thing to do is email a prospective tutor using Superprof’s easy messaging app. A good tutor will ask the right questions and assess your needs to determine if they can offer you the help you need.
Find great statistics refresher course here on Superprof.
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