Q-Step student Holly talks about why she chose to study with the Q-Step Centre at Edinburgh.
| International Relations with Quantitative Methods
University of Edinburgh |
|---|
Why did you opt for a Q-Step programme?
I converted to a with QM degree because I was always interested in numbers, logic and evidence and it seemed like it would add another dimension to my degree. I was also attracted by the chance to learn more tangible skills with analysis software etc.
What did you expect from Q-Step and in what ways, if any, did it differ in reality?
Not sure what I expected, especially as we were the first cohort. I think I expected QM just to be a few extra classes, but it overlapped a lot with other work I was doing; some of the QM courses were the best I did during my degree.
Without Q-Step, I wouldn’t be qualified to be a statistician. Having the combination of social science and QM also gives me an advantage over a lot of colleagues who studied just maths or stats.”Holly Bathgate, Q-Step student
What two or three things did you gain most from Q-Step?
Where did you go on placement?
Audit Scotland.
What two or three things did you learn or gain from your placement?
How has/will your placement experience help you in future?
I currently work in government, so it provided a lot of relevant background for that sector and an overview of how my skills fit in (for example, good excel skills are needed!).
What is your current and/or planned position and in what ways, if any, does your Q-Step experience help with what you are doing now?
Statistician in the Civil Service Fast Stream. Without Q-Step, I wouldn’t be qualified to be a statistician. Having the combination of social science and QM also gives me an advantage over a lot of colleagues who studied just maths or stats as I have greater experience of ‘real’ data and the considerations that come with it.
What advice would you give a student considering Q-Step?
I didn’t particularly enjoy studying maths at school but, when applied, it really interests me. Q-Step teaching tapped into that interest and I’d definitely recommend learning more about Q-Step if it’s something that has caught your interest a little bit. These skills are often standard for Social Science students in other countries, so that understanding will help you in your main area of study, from reading journal articles to having a greater understanding of research methods. Even if a Q-Step degree isn’t for you, taking one or two quants classes will be really beneficial.
