Community college student here; Statistics or calculus? Both?

[billymays]

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Hi,

I'm trying to transfer to either UCLA or Berkeley for a Bachelor's in psychology, and am also planning on doing graduate school of some type, because it seems like a good fit for me.

Anyway, I am required to take stats (behavioral science stats, specifically), and this is all I need to fulfill transfer requirements. However, I can also go the calculus route (in addition to stats). This route longer and more difficult and is typically for medical, business, or science majors.

Would this route be a waste of time? Could it come in handy?

Unfortunately, after prerequisites- trig and precalc, I would only have Calc 1 by the time I am to transfer. However, I will have picked up 10 transferable units which is really good.

I am only slightly considering medical school, but if I were to go that route, I would do a post-bacc, because I am committed to obtaining a psychology BA for now.

Anyone with tips/experience? thanks!

 

[mewtoo]

Just FYI on med school requirements. Many med schools prefer or accept stats. I've been told that med schools in my particular state are dropping calculus completely and are starting to just want stats. It may be of interest to you take a math stats (not psych) too. Psych likes stats and, like I said, med schools accept stats too.

 

[billymays]

Just FYI on med school requirements. Many med schools prefer or accept stats. I've been told that med schools in my particular state are dropping calculus completely and are starting to just want stats. It may be of interest to you take a math stats (not psych) too. Psych likes stats and, like I said, med schools accept stats too.

Ah, thank you. Glad to know that about med school.

Yes, I am definitely taking at least a couple stats classes while at CC. Would it, however, be a good or bad idea to take trig, precalc, and calc on the side?

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I could use the 10 units of credit for transfer, and I don't feel too intimidated by calculus. But would just I be wasting my time? I mean, I don't need them to transfer. Or would these skills actually come in handy down the road for psychology?

 

[paramour]

On the other hand, I've known some psych students who were *required* to take calculus for their degree. I took calculus on top of my requirements (i.e., only stats was required). One of my stats prof's was keen on referring to random calc equations during class "and if you know this, (works problem), then this will be a cinch (demonstrates similarity)." Half the class (who hadn't taken calc) were lost; the other half were on top of (the more complicated) things.

I enjoyed calculus, and I actually repeated it before going through the next available course in the series. (Not because I failed--I took calc from a local university during high school due to an agreement b/w the two. Due to a quirk, my paperwork was not submitted within a timely fashion to grant me the necessary fee waiver so that I could obtain college credit.) Ah, well. Practice makes perfect! And it was probably one of the few things that kept "math" fresh in my head for the GREs at the time.

 

[billymays]

On the other hand, I've known some psych students who were *required* to take calculus for their degree. I took calculus on top of my requirements (i.e., only stats was required). One of my stats prof's was keen on referring to random calc equations during class "and if you know this, (works problem), then this will be a cinch (demonstrates similarity)." Half the class (who hadn't taken calc) were lost; the other half were on top of (the more complicated) things.

I enjoyed calculus, and I actually repeated it before going through the next available course in the series. (Not because I failed--I took calc from a local university during high school due to an agreement b/w the two. Due to a quirk, my paperwork was not submitted within a timely fashion to grant me the necessary fee waiver so that I could obtain college credit.) Ah, well. Practice makes perfect! And it was probably one of the few things that kept "math" fresh in my head for the GREs at the time.

Oh nice, that's what I wanted to hear. I loved precalc in high school and always envisioned myself doing calculus in college. I'm just a little hesitant because it's not exactly required to have it for transfer (at least for psychology). Anyway, I guess it couldn't hurt- I mean, if anything UCLA and Berkeley will like to see it when I apply, even though it's just extra.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Some of calc can actually be useful in understanding some of the stats you might end up using when you go the grad school route, so having that could possibly make you stand out a bit down the line. Even if not, it could be beneficial for you overall, and if you'd already wanted to take it, I say go ahead.

 

[billymays]

Some of calc can actually be useful in understanding some of the stats you might end up using when you go the grad school route, so having that could possibly make you stand out a bit down the line. Even if not, it could be beneficial for you overall, and if you'd already wanted to take it, I say go ahead.

Thanks! Yeab, I think it would be good experience. After all, it's only commuity college, so there is lots of tutoring and extra credit opportunities. This is, however, going to be my first full time workload (16 units, at least), so I'm just a bit anxious. I'm confident though.

Thanks again

 

[MBellows]

Take math. Pursue an MD or PhD in math over the psych degree for best chances at a decent job in the future.

Get an undergraduate minor in Chinese Culture and Language while doing this.

 

[wigflip]

Get an undergraduate minor in Chinese Culture and Language while doing this.

Yeah, i think psychcyclepsi imploded over the Thanksgiving weekend. No more crazy advice from him/her.

 

[bjl12]

No more crazy.

Yes!!!