Statisticians

While in high school, ask math teachers to give some simple statistical problems, perhaps related to grades or student government. This will allow you to practice the kinds of techniques that statisticians use. To explore the profession further, visit a local insurance agency, the local office of the Internal Revenue Service, or a nearby college and talk to people who use statistical methods.

College students can frequently obtain jobs as student assistants in the offices of faculty members who are engaged in some kind of research. Although these jobs may seem to carry little responsibility, undergraduate students can gain some insight into and practice in research methods.

The American Statistical Association offers a wealth of resources and activities that allow young people to explore the world of statistics. For example, it has created ThisIsStatistics (https://thisisstatistics.org), which provides articles and videos that spotlight the wide variety of careers that are available in statistics. It also offers several competitions for students, including a Data Visualization Poster Competition for Grades K–12, Fall Data Challenge, Statistics Project Competition, and Virtual Science Fair.