Hardest courses in Statistics

Workload is described as manageable with straightforward exams, though success requires consistent effort and engagement with the material.[1, 2]

Historical reviews indicate varied workloads. John Davis reported short homework, whereas Cecile Ane assigned a heavy group project and required extra practice. Vivak Patel's course was noted as highly difficult.[1, 2, 3]

Homework is time-consuming, taking five to six hours per set, and exams are challenging with a time crunch. Students must spend significant time understanding homework to prepare for tests that may differ from practice problems.[1, 2, +2]

Reviewers consistently report that exams are extremely difficult, often unrelated to lectures or homework, with low averages and insufficient time for paper-based tests.[1, 2, +4]

The course is considered very difficult, with hard assignments that require significant study time, though group work is permitted. Exams are reported as easier than homework, although one student found the final exam unexpectedly difficult despite its stated format.[1, 2, +2]

Historical reviews of Benedek Valko, Erik Bates: Workload varies by instructor; one review cites an extremely challenging final, while another notes fair homework and adjusted exam weights to reward improvement.[1, 2]

The course is dense and challenging. Homework is feasible but requires reading the textbook, as lectures may not fully explain concepts. Exams often draw directly from the book and previous tests.[1, 2, +8]

Historical reviews of Amy Beyler, Derek Bean, Yaoguo Xie: Workload and difficulty vary significantly by instructor. Some report high-quality materials and fair tests, while others describe difficult exams and a need for extensive self-study to gain solid knowledge.[1, 2, 3]

Historical reviews of Panduan An: Reviewers describe the course as difficult, with homework questions being very hard and a high drop rate before the midterm. The lecture pace is often too fast to take notes, and prereqs do not adequately prepare students for the workload.[1, 2, +2]

Seppalainen assigns challenging homework that is harder than exams, while Valko uses a grading scheme based on multiple weighted components rather than heavy testing.[1, 2]

The course is described as difficult and intense, with long homeworks, high-stakes exams, and a significant gap between lecture content and test material.[1, 2, +6]

The workload includes ten homeworks, one midterm, and one final, with exams described as easy if students engage with the provided materials.[1, 2, 3]

Historical reviews of Chunming Zhang: Assignments and projects are generally inline with lectures and comprehensive, but students note a lack of practice materials and exams that may not reflect course content.[1, 2, +2]

Students report that exams are significantly harder than lectures and homework, with unclear instructions and arbitrary difficulty. Self-study is often necessary due to the disconnect between taught material and assessments.[1, 2, +5]

The workload is relentless, consisting of approximately 66% homework with four to six hours of work per week across multiple large assignments.[1, 2, 3]

Assignments are graded harshly, and the course is notoriously difficult, requiring significant preparation to keep up with the rigorous material.[1, 2]

One reviewer reports that homework and class content differ significantly from the test, requiring preparation for a difficult exam experience.[1]

Historical reviews of Hao Shen, Jun Yin: Jun Yin's materials were hard with a weird curve, while Hao Shen was very test-heavy and did not provide proper preparation for exams.[1, 2]

The course involves heavy and hard homework assignments with tight and strict deadlines, even for students with flexible accommodation needs.[1]

Workload involves writing R code for homework, while exams are often predictable and similar to practice problems, though self-study via the textbook is recommended.[1, 2]

Historical reviews of Wei-Yin Loh: Assignments and exams are described as too tricky, with a useless textbook even for open-book exams, potentially causing students to quit before mid-term.[1]

The course uses a flipped format with pre-lecture readings, a large group project, and exams. Some students find it easy to succeed with minimal effort, while others note the material requires deep engagement.[1, 2, 3]

Historical reviews of Bret Larget, Debraj Das: Exams can be difficult and heavily weighted, with one reviewer noting they covered unseen material, while another found them fair and focused on required knowledge.[1, 2]

Historical reviews of John Gillett, Sebastian Raschka: Workload is generally manageable with recorded lectures, though Gillett's exams can be difficult and require careful review, while one review cites unorganized materials and confusing group policies.[1, 2, +3]

Historical reviews of Vivak Patel: Reviewers describe a heavy workload with difficult projects and expect students to do significant independent work, noting that graduate-level rigor requires hard work.[1, 2, 3]

Weekly homework is described as long and unrelated to lectures, while the final project is considered very important and strictly graded. Students report dealing with shifting deadlines and vague test questions that rely on the professor's interpretation.[1, 2, +2]

Historical reviews of Yazhen Wang: Reviewers found homeworks difficult and exams tricky, noting that the lack of a textbook and study aids made preparation challenging.[1, 2]