NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 06:48 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 06:48
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

looking for some reassurance

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
User avatar
anonymousegmat
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 300
Own Kudos [?]: 29 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   14 Sep 2008, 16:16
I'm thinking about switching my MS from one in marketing to an MS in Statistics. There was some overlap between the two, and I just figure that taking the extra (tougher) courses in Stats and getting the MS in Stats is a better investment... I'd still do an independent study or two with a marketing professor to get some research done in the area I am interested in before I graduate.

I know this is the right decision, but I am nervous because the chance of me getting a 4.0 in Stat is much slimmer than in Marketing. I just need reassurance that adcoms would be more impressed with a student with a 3.7 in Stat vs. 4.0 in marketing.
avatar
Kumbaya
Manager
Manager
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 5 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   16 Sep 2008, 16:17
Just speaking as somebody inside looking back, I don't think a 3.7 v 4.0 will make or break your application. Your study with the marketing professor, and what you have to show for it via your SOP, will actually contribute more to your overall application package. Grades don't impress them (much), since they get straight-4.0s every other applicant. Somebody who shows logical thought and research potential is a much more attractive applicant.

That being said, having taken a few weeks of stats course, I can tell you a good foundation in statistics will be nice. Our class is a combination of OB, Marketing, and CIS types, and the prof took one week to "review" confidence intervals, after which everybody sort of walked out of class looking very much "THAT was just a review?!". If you're curious, the text we will be using is Applied Linear Statistical Models, by Kutner, Nachtsheim, Neter, & Li, supposedly a popular book amongst PhD stats courses. Of course, once again, each program differs, so what I'm saying may not apply to other programs.
User avatar
anonymousegmat
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 300
Own Kudos [?]: 29 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   28 Sep 2008, 11:24
Kutner is definitely not an easy read, and I feel the notation used is not precise. Capital letters are generally reserved for random variables, yet my whole understanding of OLS is that our regressors are under experimental control.

Also, where the book fails is when it uses calculus to find derivatives of what amounts to be functions of constants and not variables.
avatar
cabro57
Manager
Manager
Joined: 25 Apr 2005
Posts: 195
Own Kudos [?]: 51 [0]
Given Kudos: 2
Send PM
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   29 Sep 2008, 21:22
anonymousegmat wrote:
Kutner is definitely not an easy read, and I feel the notation used is not precise. Capital letters are generally reserved for random variables, yet my whole understanding of OLS is that our regressors are under experimental control.


That probably depends on how you learned that stuff. In linear algebra (which is what almost all of econometrics is derived from), capital letters represent matrices while lowercase letters are for vectors. Hence the regression Y = XB + E (B and E should be beta and epsilon greek letters here of course) refers to the 'true' model which presumably applies to the whole population. In other settings you may have the distinction you brought up, but all of my econometrics books (Greene, Woolridge, Hayashi, Goldberger, Kennedy) use this notation.
avatar
Kumbaya
Manager
Manager
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 5 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   30 Sep 2008, 19:04
What cabro57 is saying is how I learned it... then again, my college stats class was in the economics department.

Kutner isn't a bad book... it just tries to do too many things at once, resulting in 1) Sometimes not very detailed and 2) Weighing a metric ton... even our prof just decided to toss the book when some of us started showing up with rollaboards, lol.
User avatar
anonymousegmat
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 300
Own Kudos [?]: 29 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink] New post   11 Oct 2008, 15:53
cabro57 wrote:
anonymousegmat wrote:
Kutner is definitely not an easy read, and I feel the notation used is not precise. Capital letters are generally reserved for random variables, yet my whole understanding of OLS is that our regressors are under experimental control.


That probably depends on how you learned that stuff. In linear algebra (which is what almost all of econometrics is derived from), capital letters represent matrices while lowercase letters are for vectors. Hence the regression Y = XB + E (B and E should be beta and epsilon greek letters here of course) refers to the 'true' model which presumably applies to the whole population. In other settings you may have the distinction you brought up, but all of my econometrics books (Greene, Woolridge, Hayashi, Goldberger, Kennedy) use this notation.


When my text uses matrix methods it uses boldface notation... so I think the authors are just taking shortcuts and not being careful with notation vis-a-vis what is random and what is not. I guess it is just implied that you are supposed to know when gears shift between random and not, but I think it is bogus. Likewise, I think it is lame to see a supposedly revered text find the derivative of a function with respect to Beta1 in order to minimize squared errors, when Beta1 is a constant, so it doesn't make sense.... if they were precise they would introduce a variable, theta. But I guess they didn't want to waste ink and add any more bulk to the text... (sarcasm).
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: looking for some reassurance [#permalink]
11 Oct 2008, 15:53
Moderator:
carcass
Board of Directors
4384 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions