5. What are the main advantages and downsides of this course?

Pros:

• Developed by Stanford—a reputable and trusted source.
• Beginner-friendly and self-paced; you can learn at your comfort level.
• Covers a comprehensive range of statistical topics, with real-world applications.
• Free to audit, with option to pay for a certificate.
• Gives a solid theoretical framework to support analytics careers or further studies.

Cons:

• Doesn’t dive into advanced modeling or software implementation—limited hands-on coding.
• Because it’s online and self-paced, you’ll need to maintain your own motivation and schedule.
• Lacks interactive live instruction or personalized feedback from instructors.