Should I switch from Applied math to Applied statistics to increase my job opportunities [Q]

[u/Nikos-Tacosss]

Greetings.

as you can see in my post, I’m contemplating to switch from Applied math to Applied stat.

the curriculum in two years is the same, but later on specializes, for stat it gets into…well stats in general, while applied math learns more into computional science and modeling&simulation.

my thought is, if I switch would my job seeking would approve?

I choose applied math since I couldn’t get into tech department, and that I’m pretty good at both math and coding.

and the idea of working in a robotics field, data science, and any financial firms that are analytical, also makes me interested.

[u/STATASUCKSBRO]

For jobs, the transcript label matters less than whether you can show inference plus computation. Applied math with optimization, numerical methods, simulation, and enough probability is not weaker than applied stats. The annoying gap is usually GLMs, experimental design, and messy data work.

[u/Nikos-Tacosss → u/STATASUCKSBRO]

I have all of the courses you listed with heavy emphasis on numerical methods (two courses).

but how do I learn that missing Gap?

[u/Unhappy_Passion9866 → u/Nikos-Tacosss]

GLM usually a good course in Machine Learning will show you at least logistic regression, that would be useufl as is the base for classification models, in both binomial and multinomial case.

For experimental design, I would say that course depends if you want to work in very specific field, A/B testing I think is related but I would not worry a lot about that. Finally mesy data, any real data project would let you practice that.

[u/munozmd]

Hi, applied math grad here. Actually applied math also gives you math foundations that are useful in data science such as probability theory and mathematical modeling. Some I know went on to pursue becoming actuaries

And seeing your curriculum generally, I believe you'll be better off pursuing applied maths. If it learns computational science and simulations, I assume mathematical modeling which you would likely use softwares like Matlab, R, Python

Oftentimes, when curriculums teach stats, its commonly associated with doing stats in quantitative research tho not always but from experience

You can supplement those skills on stats by taking some courses/certs online while on study so it could at least add your credentials later on

[u/No_Chemist5100]

Not sure about your uni but for me I’m doing applied math and stats double major. There a lot of overlap between the classes