After this, it's downhill
That's what I keep telling myself. "Just get through the next four weeks, and you've basically got this degree." I am taking the two hardest classes offered in the statistics department: Applied Probability and Mathematical Statistics II. Math Stats is just elementary statistics on steroids. We study data reduction, point estimates, hypothesis testing, asymptotic distributions, and now confidence intervals. A bachelor's degree in mathematics is pretty much a necessity. Concepts like supremum and infemum you can only learn in advanced calculus. Math stats is also HIHGLY THEORETICAL. Every once in a while, we get some nice solid data (actual numbers, which is nice), but usually we just have to find sufficient statistics and theoretical point estimates given some continuous or discrete distribution with unknown parameters. Basically, it's really difficult.
Just ten minutes ago, I agreed to my teaching assistantship for the fall. I'm really hoping I don't have to teach 8 A.M. classes. I think I have a reasonable excuse too: I live 23 miles away! At any rate, it doesn't matter much; I'll just be glad to not be so broke. Apparently, I'm getting ripped off though, my assistantship only pays $13000 a year, whereas at bigger (better) schools, the graduate students are making somewhere around $2000 a month. Oh well, a master's degree in statistics will be worth it.
The department is actually offering advanced experimental design in the fall. I'm really looking forward to taking that. I have two core courses left and then two semesters of consulting and my project, then it's time for Colorado!
Just ten minutes ago, I agreed to my teaching assistantship for the fall. I'm really hoping I don't have to teach 8 A.M. classes. I think I have a reasonable excuse too: I live 23 miles away! At any rate, it doesn't matter much; I'll just be glad to not be so broke. Apparently, I'm getting ripped off though, my assistantship only pays $13000 a year, whereas at bigger (better) schools, the graduate students are making somewhere around $2000 a month. Oh well, a master's degree in statistics will be worth it.
The department is actually offering advanced experimental design in the fall. I'm really looking forward to taking that. I have two core courses left and then two semesters of consulting and my project, then it's time for Colorado!