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Narrowing down stats options - Mamasaphire - 02-20-2016
I know stats options have been talked about a lot, but I am reading as many older posts about stats as I can and need some advice based on what I've learned here.
This is my dilemma: I am 2 courses from graduating with an AA Lib Studies @ my local CC -- a Stats course and their 1 credit Capstone. I'd really like to graduate from the CC as a) I have put so much time into taking courses there as an Honors student, and b) there is a ton of local support for the school (which doesn't mean a lot right now as a SAHM homeschooler, but may be helpful in the future), c) my current Pell Grant covers the courses/fees and sometimes books so Capstone would probably be covered. However, I have a serious math anxiety issue, so I don't want to take the stats at the CC (I know stats isn't really math, but one of my children took it last semester at the CC and her homework used LOTS of algebra).
My other option would be to get an AA Gen Studies @ TESU with no further courses needed. My algebra course from 20+ yrs ago met the Quantitative Analysis requirement for BA Social Sciences @ TESU. So theoretically I don't *need* stats for TESU... but will if I go on eventually for a Masters in Community Health.
So *if* I can take an ACE approved stats-for-dummies course (that I would then try to get accepted by current CC based on the fact that my end University accepts it) I would like to.
The options I have seen that I think I'd rather try before trying the DSST include those listed in this thread, basically: Intro Stats @ statistics.com ($419 with coupon code), SL Business Stats (around $100 with promo, plus textbook), or SOPHIA Intro Stats ($329). I saw Jennifer Cook DeRosa's suggestions of videos etc, and I plan to utilize those as well. Of these options, which would be best and most likely to be passed during the allotted time period (ie SL = basically 1 mth) for a math anxious person?
Or, should I just be glad that TESU isn't making me take it right now, get both the AA & BA there without stats credits and wait until possible grad school to worry about the need for stats?
Narrowing down stats options - dfrecore - 02-20-2016
I won't weigh in on the choices, but would like to point out that you could decided to go with the CC option; you could take Stats through ALEKS for $20/mo, and use KhanAcademy (for free) as a supplement. If your school won't accept ALEKS, I would still think about using it as a resource, to be able to pass the DSST exam if need be. Also, if you want to take it at your CC, you could still learn it first through KhanAcademy and ALEKS (for the ACE credit) and THEN take it with a lot of confidence at the CC. And if you need additional confidence before taking it at the CC, you could also do ALEKS Intermediate and College Algebra, or go through KhanAcademy and take Algebra Basics, Algebra I and Algebra II (roughly equivalent to College Algebra).
Narrowing down stats options - Mamasaphire - 02-20-2016
dfrecore Wrote:I won't weigh in on the choices, but would like to point out that you could decided to go with the CC option; you could take Stats through ALEKS for $20/mo, and use KhanAcademy (for free) as a supplement. ... And if you need additional confidence before taking it at the CC, you could also do ALEKS Intermediate and College Algebra, or go through KhanAcademy and take Algebra Basics, Algebra I and Algebra II (roughly equivalent to College Algebra).
Thanks for your thoughts -- much appreciate you taking the time to comment! I think I'd rather avoid worrying about a graded course, so probably wouldn't do the CC even if I was offered money to do so :leaving:
Narrowing down stats options - Mamasaphire - 02-20-2016
I haven't seen many forum reviews on the statistics.com option. As far as formats, I liked the Intro Sociology SOPHIA course, and I liked all the SL courses I've taken, but this type of course may be a different animal?
Narrowing down stats options - rebel100 - 02-20-2016
In your situation I would probably bite the bullet and take it at the CC. Hit rate my professor and/or talk to folks at school and figure out who will be the best teacher to provide you with success. Get tutoring early and often. Finish what you started... It's only words with numbers.
Narrowing down stats options - Mamasaphire - 02-20-2016
rebel100 Wrote:In your situation I would probably bite the bullet and take it at the CC. Hit rate my professor and/or talk to folks at school and figure out who will be the best teacher to provide you with success. Get tutoring early and often. Finish what you started... It's only words with numbers.
:eek: Really? <sigh>
I am fine with going to tutoring -- and I would definitely need to. The good news is that I can go to tutoring even if I am taking it online on my own. They're great about that, besides the fact that the tutors are more than 20 yrs younger than me and not very patient in my experience, but I can work with it.
I guess I should ask around again about names. I know at least two that I definitely wouldn't take it from. One scary thing about taking it at this particular CC is they very commonly switch out profs at the last minute (as in you email back & forth with whomever is scheduled to teach the course and when you show up for the 1st day of class it's someone else), so even if I would sign up for someone who is supposed to be good --AND double check with the dean's office etc, I still might have an unpleasant surprise.
The other reservation I have about taking it at a CC (vs an online course like SL) is the many many hours of busywork in a 16 wk CC semester. If that's my best option for learning I can do it, but I'd rather not spend 3 months of my life that way if I can help it.
Narrowing down stats options - dfrecore - 02-20-2016
I would still consider doing it on KhanAcademy and ALEKS first, no matter what you decide to do. No tutors, no anxiety, just go through, take your time to learn what you need. Both formats are good, I am using both to learn Stats myself. I did the ALEKS Intermediate & College Algebra courses, and now working through Stats there. When I need a break from the written explanations, I go back to KA to watch videos. Doing it both ways helps the learning process.
I am definitely not math-phobic, and homeschool my kids (one is pre-algebra and one is almost done with algebra I) with no problems on my end, but it has been 28 years since I graduated HS, so I'm just rusty. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken College Algebra in summer school after I finished Algebra II (at the local cc) and Stats my first year in college...sigh...at least I know what to do for my kids when they finish Algebra II, so lesson learned and applied.
Anyway, I feel your pain, but you can totally do this!
Narrowing down stats options - rebel100 - 02-20-2016
I hear you, and more or less agree.... Except you only have two classes left.
Full disclosure: I had over 100 credits and finished my Paramedic Cert at the local CC. They required a math and something else to earn the additional AS degree. CC next town over only wanted Psych and the same other class...no math. I choce college number 2 to avoid the math. I'm as phobic as you. But looking at it today I see one totally manageable class....I would at least try. But like I said, that guy 10 years ago ducked out and it didn't make much difference in the end.
Try it and fail or withdraw there are still all these other options on the table.
Narrowing down stats options - Mamasaphire - 02-20-2016
dfrecore Wrote:If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken College Algebra in summer school after I finished Algebra II (at the local cc) and Stats my first year in college...sigh...at least I know what to do for my kids when they finish Algebra II, so lesson learned and applied.
Anyway, I feel your pain, but you can totally do this!
rebel100 Wrote:I hear you, and more or less agree.... Except you only have two classes left.
I'm as phobic as you. But looking at it today I see one totally manageable class....I would at least try. But like I said, that guy 10 years ago ducked out and it didn't make much difference in the end.
Try it and fail or withdraw there are still all these other options on the table.
Thank you both for the encouragement and sharing your stories. It definitely helps that you understand where I'm coming from!
I might go in and talk to the Dean of LA since I know him & he is the one who is encouraging me to go on to Community Health.
Narrowing down stats options - bluebooger - 02-20-2016
I've taken 3 ACE courses at statistics.com
SQL, Python, Intermediate R
I thought they were all pretty great
and Excelsior gave me credit for all 3
but I'd really be surprised if your CC gave you credit for an ACE course
and if you do statistics at statistics.com you have to do BOTH parts to get credit --- statistics 1 and statistics 2
I'd also be surprised if your CC gave you credit for ALEKS or StraighterLine
I'd also suggest just doing it at the CC and using Khan https://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability and https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/index.html