SciTech study tips: Statistics

Coming to university can be a scary experience, but there are some things you can do to prepare. If you’re coming to the University of Warwick to study Statistics, here’s a couple of tips to make the transition easier.

Read up on pure maths modules, especially differential equations, linear algebra and trigonometric functions, as these will be some of the first things you’re exposed to at university, and will form part of your diagnostic test (nothing to panic about, just a quick online exam so they can see if anyone needs extra maths help!). I’d also recommend looking at basic statistical concepts, such as probability – this is particularly important if you didn’t take any statistics modules at A Level, or didn’t take further maths.

Read up on pure maths modules, especially differential equations, linear algebra and trigonometric functions, as these will be some of the first things you’re exposed to at university, and will form part of your diagnostic test

Any necessary further maths content is re-taught (albeit rather speedily) in lectures so don’t worry too much if you didn’t do it, but all the content from maths A Level is assumed knowledge and won’t be gone over! Have a quick skim of the first-year pages in the course handbook online; don’t panic too much, but get a feel for the modules that you can choose, as on some degrees you get choices as early as week one. You can choose from so many areas – physics, economics, computer science and languages are the most popular ones – so do some research into these to get a feel for them.

Again, no prior knowledge is assumed, so don’t panic; this is just to get a feel for what you enjoy, to make your module choices easier. The Statistics Department also has a reading list, of which I’d recommend Lara Alcock’s How to Study for a Mathematics Degree. Finally, the Statistics Department has some really handy information under New Students on the website, and I’d definitely give that a read. But most importantly, just relax – you got into Warwick, so you’re already on the right track!