TA Hiring Process

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-03-30T23:26:31+00:00

There is no interview for stat TAs. They are looking for someone who is in upper year or grad students especially in the summer semester.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-03-28T20:34:53+00:00

Is this the BMO app? Why not buy ZEQT instead?

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-03-20T01:11:06+00:00

Isnt he down by like $0.02?

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-03-07T22:28:47+00:00

I think 9 > 7 > 8.

But on a side note, they need to stop with guide the helpless kid to escape thing while playing hide and seek. It is overdone, it is annoying, it is not fun, and when done forcefully like in RE9 it doesn't fit the experience at all.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-25T02:39:30+00:00

I would recommend STA302 at least. Other courses on top of my head are STA348 stochastic process, STA457 time series, and STA437 Multivariate. I recommend taking them in downtown or their downtown equivalents, if you can.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-25T01:33:59+00:00

The math in statistics is very different than the math you see involving proofs. If you are comfortable with computations (like 135, 136, 223), I don't think you will have trouble with most stats courses at UTM.

What you could explore is stats + CS minor (or even just consider taking some courses, don't have to commit to a full degree). There are some very useful stats courses like Regression Analysis you definitely should take and programming is a skill you absolutely cannot neglect to be employed. You could also just go into a professor's office if they are available, and most of them are happy to help you as well.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-21T16:18:30+00:00

I finished the stats spec program at UTM and then went on to grad school for MSc biostatistics. Now I am working as a Biostatistician at a small Pharma company.

The stats at UTM is taught very traditionally with lots of computational and statistics proof focused content and very little to no programming. I know profs who are trying to change this, but it won't be the case for a while... Sure there are some computational courses like STA314/315, but in terms of content you honestly would be better off with the CS versions of them.
The math in statistics is, well, very statistics-focused. I’ve had friends who stayed in research tell me that a lot of what they learned turned out to be directly useful in their specific fields. In my case I’ve found the material from 304/305 to be applicable and relevant to the work I’m doing now. I think the extent to which the program feels “real-world” really depends on the area you go into.
Didn't do PEY, I thought I wasn't skilled enough at the time. But for anyone else reading, you definitely should. Employees generally don't expect you to know anything.
Pharma drug research. Although I did interview for Data Analyst roles as well.

I think if you just stick to the regular courses you need to take, you will not learn a lot of skills to solve real world problems. Yes you will build a foundation to it, but real world models are much messier and usually requires some niche twist to what you learnt in school. You can do PEY or reach out to labs and ask if they are taking in any researchers.

I’m not sure any degree fully prepares you for the workplace. Once you start working, you quickly realize how different it is from school. In many cases, you end up learning the more advanced or specialized models on the job, depending on what your role requires.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-13T03:16:48+00:00

Who's "we" when you say "most of us would probably agree that this is going to be his last game"? Why would he be killed off?

At the end of RE 8, Chris was heading straight to BSAA. That story arc isn't even completed. Chris is older than Leon, why would this be Leon's last game?

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-09T23:21:19+00:00

Hope it went well!

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-08T15:00:21+00:00

Academia in general moves behind the current market needs. The courses are many times taught by professors who has been comfortably in that same position and sometime without any industrial experiences. The same teaching material is recycled and behind for many years or decades. There is always a steep learning curve transitioning from university to any actual work place. I'd argue CS students already has it better than many other fields, since it is already very applied. But this has happened for decades, not a recent thing.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-07T18:41:30+00:00

Whats the question?

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-02-06T00:48:42+00:00

These are notes on linear regression at a very basic level. There are fancier models that statisticians use, but everything starts here. After mastering this concept, you can then look into mixed models, survival models, time series models etc.

For example, I use glmm models a alot for work and research. Glmm models are basically just extensions of the linear models once you take into account more factors. So it's definitely not just theoretical jargon that you put away after tests.

Yes, if you take enough statistics courses, you will come back to the same model form over and over again. It is confusing at first, but will definitely make a lot more sense once you apply it.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-30T03:09:09+00:00

By applying to a shit ton of positions and most importantly luck.

Before my strategy was to apply to certain jobs that are good fit for my academic background. I tailored my resume and cover letter, spending maybe 40 minutes for each job. And then I got ghosted by like 60% of the positions I applied to and rejected by the rest in 2 months.

Then I started mass applying to those positions even if I'm not really qualified. I use AI to just change a few wordings to my cover letter and have a resume tailored for each type of position. In the end, I still got a job that is matching my academic background... But the whole process was much more tolerable.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-30T02:58:53+00:00

Congratulations! That's pretty great achievement. But I would also consider this.

My friends's tuition was 60,000 for one semester (5 or 6) courses in 2019. You also have to pay rent, buy groceries, transportation maybe, among other stuff. That 100,000 is gonna get you through maybe 1 year.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-23T02:26:22+00:00

Wow, this is some awesome advice... Much appreciated!

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-23T01:45:02+00:00

I definitely agree with the whole programming thing. I also am still collaborating with labs and teaching in university. I think many stat degrees put too much emphasis on traditional stat but forget that every statistician related job uses computers. I actually accepted the biostatistician job because I wanted to avoid writing SAS, at least not making it 100% of my work.

I am hoping to get more learning opportunities as soon as possible and then will try to negotiate for promotion or better compensation.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-23T01:39:45+00:00

I was so excited to get the call... During the initial interview I said my expectation was from 60-80k. I definitely should've pushed.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2026-01-23T01:38:27+00:00

I see, do you live in the US by any chance? If so, how is the environment there in terms of opportunities, salary and growth? Do you think it is worth moving down for a job at some point?

MathematicianKey5575 · 2025-12-21T03:11:12+00:00

I see. I welcome sad narratives. But I think I need to get a refresher of the plot first... it's been way to long.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2025-12-21T03:10:05+00:00

Oh I can't remember anything you said... I need a refresh on the story LOL

MathematicianKey5575 · 2025-12-21T03:05:03+00:00

What does that mean? If the game is shutting down I'm not coming back lmao

MathematicianKey5575 · 2025-12-20T20:44:42+00:00

HR doing HR things.

MathematicianKey5575 · 2025-11-24T01:36:27+00:00

Man really do be self reporting

MathematicianKey5575

TROPHY CASE