统计学专业解析
想要申请统计专业的同学们最好具有数学或者计算机相关的理工科专业背景。虽然多数院校并没有要求一定是统计专业的本科生才能申请统计学的硕士或者博士学位,但是会要求一定的数学基础课程和计算机课程,例如,北卡大学教堂山分校(University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)的Master of Science in Statistics要求申请者的背景:”Applicants to the M.S. program should have completed basic undergraduate coursework in statistics and mathematics. Statistics coursework should include an introductory, calculus based course in statistics (similar to STOR 155), an intermediate level course in inference and regression (similar to STOR 455), and a calculus based probability course (similar to STOR 435). Mathematical coursework should include single and multivariable calculus, as well as an intermediate level course in linear and matrix algebra.”[1]
因此建议申请统计专业硕士或者博士的同学们,最好学过以下课程:Probability, statistics, calculus, linear algebra, real analysis, advanced calculus, vector algebra, matrix theory等。
对于计算机方面的技能也是非常受到统计专业的喜爱的,如Columbia University就指明计算机能力优异会为申请者的增强竞争力。”The Admissions Committee looks for applicants with a compelling background and strong grades in quantitative and related fields such as statistics, mathematics and computer science. Applicants need a thorough knowledge of linear algebra and advanced calculus. Successful candidates have experience in theoretical or applied probability and statistics. Familiarity with computer programming is highly recommended.
Interested applicants lacking background in these areas should make up the deficiency before applying. We do not offer conditional acceptance into this program.[2]” 因此,申请者可以在计算机软件和统计软件方面进行有意识地掌握和提高。
因此建议申请统计学研究生的同学们可以培养自己在以下的计算机能力:Matlab, R语言,Python, Java,LaTe等。
在其他的课程方面,可以学习Operations Research (OR)和Stochastic。OR被应用的非常广泛,很多计算机科学的模型是基于OR的。而Stochastic不仅在统计学得到应用,还在金融和经济学中得到广泛的运用。
除此之外,相关的实习经历和研究经历也是非常重要的。尤其是计划毕业之进入商业或者工业领域的申请者,在相关行业中的实习涉及到数据处理和分析的经历,对于申请统计学硕士有很大的帮助。
如果本科不是统计或者数学专业的同学,或者缺乏数理背景,想要申请统计学的研究生可以通过MOOC或者Coursera修相关统计的课程。推荐的课程如下:
数学课:
Linear Regression and Modeling---Coursera
Statistical Inference---Coursera, MOOC
Introduction to Stochastic Processes---MIT
初学者课程:
Statistics with R Specialization---Coursera (大学Junior Level)
Basic Statistics--- Coursera (大学Junior Level)
Introduction to Probability and Data---Coursera
R Programming---Coursera
Introduction to Statistics: Descriptive Statistics---Edx
Introduction to Statistics: Inference--- Edx
Introduction to Statistics: probability---Edx
Probability and Statistics (Open+ Free) ---Mooc (Stanford University)
Inferential Statistics---MOOC (Duke Universty)
Statistical Reasoning---MOOC (Stanford University)
统计高阶课程:
Data Visualization---Coursera
Data Mining Specialization ---Coursera
3.) GPA与标准化成绩要求
根据USNews统计学的排名,可以将申请统计学(Statistics)硕士的GPA和标准化成绩单的范围做大致的划分和建议。 如果申请美国统计专业的排名Top 30的院校,建议GPA需要在3.6+/4.0, 托福100+/ 雅思7.0+, GRE 320+;Top 31-50的院校,建议GPA 3.5+/4.0, 托福95+/雅思 6.5+, GRE 315+;Top 50- 100的院校,建议GPA 3.2+/4.0, 托福 85+/ 雅思 6.5+, GRE 305+。该划分区间和范围可以作为选校的梯度参考,但是具体的分数要求还是要具体查询学校的要求,慎重做决定。
a.) 其他专业转申统计学专业:常见转专业申请统计学的本科专业有经济学,数学,物理,计算机科学等等。因为统计学要求的数理课程和计算机课程基本是大学本科的基础课程,所以只要修过一些数理课程,掌握基本的计算机技能,在实践中有处理过数据和分析等,都可以申请统计学专业。