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Can I be a data analyst if I am good in statistics and not math?

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Josh’s Answer

Yes, definitely!

Data Analytics casts a large net, and there are so many tools that you can use to assist with the "math" function of this field.

My career involves a lot of statistics, which I was not good at in college, but there is nothing better than having "hands on," "on the job experience," to help hone those skills.

Analytics involves identifying trends, explaining complicated data to stakeholders, and making "digestible" visuals/reports that add value to the business and help drive smart business decisions based on facts/data.

Stay positive and just continue to learn!

Get acquainted with different Business Intelligence software (e.g. SQL, Tableau, Google data studio, PowerBi)

Best of luck!
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Maureen’s Answer

Kelly you can be an excellent data analyst. The key to success is to integrate your enjoyment of statistics with an understanding of the business environment. This enables you to understand the current issues and provide insights that help a business achieve goals such as being more efficient or saving some costs. There are lots of free software packages available (Micro Strategy, Tableau and IBM Analytics). try out the free versions and see if you like them. Good luck.
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Jillian’s Answer

Yes! I would say that I'm not a math person. I did everything I could to avoid it in college. I graduated from undergrad with an English/Art degree & I had no plans to attend grad school, but 6 years later I went back to school. I got my Master's in Management Science, Business Analytics (MSMSBA). It provided me with general business knowledge as well as data analytics knowledge. What I found was that although I didn't like math, I actually was good at Statistics & that's what helped me succeed in the program & now in real life at my job as a Lean Six Sigma Process engineer.
Also, as someone else stated - being an analyst doesn't necessarily mean you just look at data all day long - a combination of skill sets may be required such as presentation skills, strategic thinking, communication skills, business acumen, etc. (varying by role). You would also likely be part of a team - where you might have some knowledge or skillset gaps, someone else will likely fill those with their strengths & vice versa.
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Thomas’s Answer

Yes! That's because statistics is the opposite of mathematics. Mathematics uses deductive logic, so once your math teacher sets the premises, it is useless to argue with them about the right solution to a math problem. Statistics uses inductive logic and incomplete data (random samples) to make inferences about a larger universe of items (the population) - and there is never a guarantee that statistical conclusions and predictions are correct. This is especially true for industrial processes whose behavior is dynamic because process inputs (raw materials, work methods, people, machines, measurement systems, and environmental factors) all change over chronological time periods. The ability to think statistically, collect data efficiently, analyze data correctly, and communicate a summary of results to decision makers is critically important to scientific investigations for any industry or field of study. So the central role of statistics is to assist the scientific method.
Thank you comment icon I think this is a great answer - I have always thought of them differently and this is helpful to have it explained so thoroughly. This the ability to "collect data efficiently, analyze data correctly, and communicate a summary of results to decision makers is critically important " - is true in every field/company today. Anna Zearley
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Alex’s Answer

Yes, especially since some schools will tend to treat statistics and math courses under separate programs. For example at a school like Georgia Tech there are healthcare statistics and business statistics courses that aren't part of the school's math department. That's because with analytics it can be more about learning how to use different platforms to prepare and analyze data and get insights out of a data set to make recommendations. That is the challenge most organizations face with the data they currently have, and while there can be math involved in analyzing the data, the statistical analysis portion is important.
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Richard’s Answer

Absolutely! Although mathematically intense derivations are common during training and classes, they constitute a very small portion of day to day work (source: my son did some research apprenticeship work in a data driven field). Being able to code well and having intuition about methodology can be much more useful than pure mathematical proofs. Check out
-Python for Data Analysis
-ESL/ISL
to learn more!
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Karoly’s Answer

Hi Kelly,

Yes, you sure can! You will learn and use so many skills as a data analyst. You will want to familiarize yourself with different technology skills and how they can assist you. Try reaching out to a mentor in the field you are interested in, so you can receive some one-on-one experience training to test the water first if you aren't sure.

Hope this helps!
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ABHIJIT’s Answer

Data Analyst syllabus contains Maths, statistics and various other skills. Yes, you can be a data analyst but there's lot more to learn apart from Maths and statistics. Check for data analyst detailed syllabus, it may help you.
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Siddharth’s Answer

Sure! Data analyst uses statistical properties of data to make inferences, find patterns, and make predictions. So, if you are good with statistics, you can most certainly become a good data analyst.
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Dhananjay’s Answer

To be successful as Data analysts is to use numbers and help make better business decision. You don't need to be experts in Maths. The logical thinking is important. When you have numbers such as year on year sales figures, product quality data, cost of operation, etc. A data analyst's job is to take that data and identify what are key parameters that should be looked into to arrive at right decision. To be successful in Data Analyst field you need to think out of the box and need to have better understanding of the field/business you are working for.
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Migdalys’s Answer

Hi Kelly,

You can definitely enter into a data analyst role with a statistics skill set. A entry level role will suit you best, as much of the skills you will acquire can be built through experience. A data analyst possess both analytical and business intelligence skills. In which can be acquired through experience. Believe in yourself and leverage your statistics skills to the best of your availability, along with great work ethic, and you will strive!

Best of luck!
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Priti’s Answer

Yes! Data analysts need a lot more skills than just math and statistics. There are many ways to learn and apply mathematical needs as a data analyst.
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Jabari’s Answer

Sure. Not only will you get additional math education in undergrad, so any deficits that you know have will be filled in. Plus, we all work on computers, so much of the straight "math" work will likely be done for you.
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