FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is STAT110?
Stat 110, taught by Joe Blitzstein, builds a foundation which is important for almost all upper level statistics courses, and in applied math, economics, finance, genetics, algorithms, machine learning, data science, and many other fields.
See https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/75580
What math background is needed for 110?
Math 1b or above. Calculus is needed extensively, and matrices are needed occasionally. But the emphasis is on statistical tools and concepts, not on technical calculus derivations. Stat 110 is a mathematically challenging course mainly because it requires logical thinking and problem-solving, understanding (rather than memorizing) theorems, and going back and forth between abstract concepts and concrete examples. No prior knowledge of statistics is assumed.
Is it better to take 110 now or wait until (hopefully) it is in person again next year?
We welcome Harvard students from across the world to take the course, and will provide abundant resources and support in various forms. We have TFs who live in Australia, Azerbaijan, China, Romania, and other countries, in addition to having many TFs located across the US. Unless otherwise specified, times listed below and on the course webpage are Eastern Time. Note that Daylight Saving Time ends on November 1 in most of the US, and clocks in Massachusetts will move back one hour then.
Being said, the decision to take this class this year versus the next depends on what you hope to get out of the class. Please reach out to me (justinzhu@college.harvard.edu) or any of the course staff to talk about this more on a case-by-case basis.
When is your section and office hours?
My normal sections are Saturdays 8:00pm-9:15pm ET in https://harvard.zoom.us/j/97005966548.
If there's enough interest for a more rigorous introduction to probability and statistics, I will be holding an advanced section right after my normal section to be Saturdays 9:15-10pm ET.
My office hours are Sundays 7pm-10pm ET in https://harvard.zoom.us/j/97005966548.
What will your section experience be like?
This year, I am designing my section such that I will incorporate some more advanced topics from STAT210 for those excited for a challenge. I still plan on having a regular section covering all the STAT110 materials from lecture, but will make an effort to give a gentle introduction to STAT210 with additional time.
Should I take STAT110 or STAT210?
Stat210 is the graduate-level version of STAT110. It covers measure theory and other topics that assumes STAT110 knowledge.
I would recommend taking STAT110 since it's better to know the fundamentals really well and build your understanding from there.
What advice do you have for doing well in the course?
Be proactive! Ed is for help with and discussion of Stat 110 content and materials, while Slack is for Stat 110 organization and community.
How can I have a great online college experience?
This is a tough question but if there's anything I can help with this, please let me know! This will be a unique year of learning for everyone!
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