Pathway
Data & Statistics
Turning messy data into decisions, in business, science, sports, health, or government. Sits between math and programming, and it's in almost every industry now.
Majors
- Data Science
- Statistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Business Analytics
Jobs people do
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Actuary
- Machine learning engineer
- Quantitative analyst
- Operations research analyst
Watch out
The choices that quietly close a door here
Taking AP Statistics and skipping Calculus.
Stats feels like the relevant one, but data science degrees are calculus-based and often require linear algebra early.
Instead Both. Statistics junior year, Calculus senior year.
Learning tools without learning the statistics.
Producing a chart is easy; knowing whether it means anything is the job. This is where self-taught students most often stall.
Instead Take the statistics course seriously, especially sampling and inference.
Course ladder
Grade by grade
Course names differ at every school, and graduation requirements differ by state. Take this list to your counselor so the two of you are working from the same page.
Grade 8
- Algebra ILoad-bearing
The whole math sequence depends on this landing early.
Grade 9
- GeometryLoad-bearing
- Intro computer scienceWorth doing
- BiologyLoad-bearing
Grade 10
- Algebra IILoad-bearing
- AP Computer Science A or PrinciplesWorth doing
- ChemistryLoad-bearing
Grade 11
- PrecalculusLoad-bearing
- AP StatisticsLoad-bearing
The most directly relevant course available in high school.
- PhysicsWorth doing
Grade 12
- Calculus, BC if you can manage itLoad-bearing
Statistics and machine learning are built on calculus and linear algebra.
- Multivariable calculus or linear algebra (dual enrollment)If you have room
- Advanced CS or a data capstoneWorth doing
Outside class
Math team / competition math
AMC, ARML. Builds the problem-solving muscle this field runs on.
From grade 9
Kaggle competitions
Free, public, and you can start with the beginner ones. Real data, real leaderboard.
From grade 10
Be the stats person for a school team or club
Track something all season and present what you found. Sports analytics is a real on-ramp.
From grade 9
Learn Python and one data library properly
pandas, and then a plotting library. Free courses everywhere.
From grade 10
Things to build
Answer a question about your own school with real data
Attendance, scheduling, sports, the cafeteria. Collect it, analyze it, present it to someone who can act on it.
From grade 10
Write up one analysis properly
Question, data, method, result, limitations. The limitations section is what shows real understanding.
From grade 11
Is this actually a fit for you?
Ten minutes of questions, and Bearing turns this into a plan that starts from the grade you're in.
Take the survey