Good news: Stats stands between me and a degree. Bad news: I'm freaking out about my complete lack of knowledge regarding this subject while needing to pass it within 3 weeks. If not, I face a $500 annual renewal fee from Excelsior because my anniversary date is approaching and I need to have all requirements (stats) completed within 3weeks to avoid paying for another year!!

I have read through every thread on the subject and I'm left with the following questions:

1) Do you need to memorize all of the formulas/symbols or just simply know how to solve the problems without knowing the formulas? In other words, will the exam ask you to solve a problem by simply showing you a formula or do they spell out what they want solved (if that makes sense)?

2) Also, I have no idea how to use or incorporate the TI36X calculator that I just purchased. All of the buttons look completely foreign and look nothing like the symbols used in the formulas (keep in mind that I have not read the calculator instructions yet...hopefully that will do the trick). Did you all go through all of the material before figuring out how to use your calculator to solve problems or as you went along?

3) I will be using IC and the Dummies workbook. I have pretty much used IC exclusively for all my other exams w/o any other supplemental materials and have scored great. I really dread the thought of going through that entire workbook, in addition to IC, considering the time cruch that I'm in

I no nothing about this subject and have no idea how to even approach it or the use of the calculator. I have tried for As on every exam that I have taken. I would be more then happy with a 48 (pass) on this hideous thing! Kind of obvious why I left this one for last isn't it?

bump. bump.

I'm really thinking about giving up and just accepting the BSL degree, which I have already earned from Excelsior (still need to finish INL). A BS in Psychology just sounds so much better to me. It is a shame that I have everything that I need for it (including 6 UL Psych exams and the GRE Psychology), yet it requires a rediculous stats exam, which I will never even begin to use in the real world In fact, nothing in this exam would ever even cross my mind again after test day. It doesn't really matter what I get a degree in for what I want to do. Why put myself through 3 weeks of agony just so my type of degree looks a little bit better on my resume. On the other hand, I'm so close to a Psych degree that I really deserve it and shouldn't fall short.

Hold up there tough guy, no need to pull the plug just yet. While studying for the Stats test can be overwhelming, it IS something you can overcome. I saw your post about the calculator a couple of days ago but didn't respond because I have no experience with that model. Judging from your last post, which is still going strong, I can see you have plenty of preparation for this exam. I can also see that you have completed thorough searches of this forum and asked for help in the areas needed. IF you have completed the IC cards AND studied the other recommended books, such as "The Idiots Guide to Statistics", then why not go for it? There are plenty of posts from people who stated they had less than a clue than you do, yet they passed. In fact, this exam probably gets more posts for scaring the "you know what" out of people", yet the failure rate is not that high; people usually are surprised they did as well as they did.

I won't pretend like it will be an easy test, but I know that we have ALL been in your shoes at one time or another. Just one month ago I was sweating Social Psych because I was going to be the first one to use the new IC study guide. It was also my last exam. Midway I thought about changing to a different test too (I quickly realized this left two disliked history tests ). Instead, I did what the majority of people do, I sucked it up, made a testing appointment, studied my butt off, and took the test. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!!

In whatever you decide to do, good luck, please let us know how it turned out. Feel free to PM me if you need anything. Take care, Lee

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Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior
MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University

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Brian R. Fey Sr. +
M.S. - Psychology
B.S. - Criminal Justice
A.S. - Administrative Management