Biostats

[CT]

I was wondering, how helpful would biostats be for med school? I notice that it is something I would have to take at most schools and was trying to decide if it would be that helpful to already have some experience with it. Thanks.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Starflyr]

in a word...VERY!!!! We are learning biostats in our practice of medicine class and it is, to say the least, confusing as all getout. Im guessing it would make more sense if I had any clue what they were talking about - ARR, RRR, Power, the various tests (some of these I know, like the t test and Chi squared, others...not so much). 2x2 tables, types of studies, errors, biases....etc. If you have the time and want to, take a class. But dont take it over something else you want to take - you're only in college once!

Star

 

[Transposon]

My brother is a Biostatistics major. It seems like something that could be applied to public health very easily. If I were more of a mathematical person, I would definantly take it.

Most schools have biostatistics? How many have biostats majors, I was wondering...?

My opinion is that you should definantly take a statistics class if you are ever going to be reading over results sections of primary studies. A lack of statistics knowledge is a lack of a very important skill- it's a lot more handier than Calculus...

 

[Vasiley Zaitsev]

Originally posted by ligand:
•My brother is a Biostatistics major. It seems like something that could be applied to public health very easily. If I were more of a mathematical person, I would definantly take it.

Most schools have biostatistics? How many have biostats majors, I was wondering...?

My opinion is that you should definantly take a statistics class if you are ever going to be reading over results sections of primary studies. A lack of statistics knowledge is a lack of a very important skill- it's a lot more handier than Calculus...•••


@ my school, they require all biology majors to take biostats. It's not *that* bad. I'm not a stats person (I was more into the engineering maths), but I found it to be not so bad. You should take it if you have the chance. Now I'm taking a grad course in Epidemiology, and the fundamental understanding of biostats (senior level) is very very useful in this class.

owcc16

 

[giantDHrider]

biostats is a worthless class...at least at my school. just simple math, reading tables, and know the rules...

its not hard...everyone i've spoken to, both upperclassmen, residents, and physicians...say that in the whole scheme of things, its just not that important.

don't sweat it dude.

 

[Dr JPH]

Biostats is a requirement for a Biology degree at my school. I think the only other way to fulfill the requirement is by taking Analytical Chemistry. Needless to say, most people opt for the stats.

I have seen Biostats as part of a few medical school curricula. Jefferson comes to mind.


As far as medical school, it would probably be helpful. Then again, anything that can give you a small advantage by having seen the material before will make your life easier.

But in the giant scheme of medicine, as someone mentioned above, it probably won't be the most vital class you will take.

That, of course, is not the case if you plan on doing research, publishing a scientific paper, reading many scientific papers, or becoming a Quizzo champion.

 

[Dodge This]

I wish I would have taken a biostats course in undergrad. I got killed on the Preventative Medicine/Epidemiology portions of my last two exams.