How to Prepare for a Career in Biostatistics

摘要

Considering a career in biostatistics? If you like math and biology and want to make a difference in the world, this is a good plan. Biostatistics is a rewarding career, with a lot of opportunity—and the compensation is good, too. How does one prepare for a career in biostatistics? There is no one "right path" to becoming a biostatistician, just as there is no one career path in biostatistics. Nonetheless, here are some general suggestions that should help someone considering a degree in biostatistics, whether starting such considerations in high school, college, or later on. High School: If you are thinking about biostatistics as a career and you are still in high school, excellent! Take as much math as you can and do your science homework. If you have the opportunity to take a technical writing class, go for it. Learn some programming along the way if you can. Check the web for undergraduate degrees in biostatistics to see if any of those programs appeal to you, and see what the requirements are. If biostatistics was not on your horizon in your teens, no worries—you have plenty of time.