Excel Computer Programming Language?

Question

I'm looking at graduate masters programs in statistics, and most mention you should have knowledge of a computer programming lanuage.

Now I know this is to be able to do research for the degree, I have some knowledge in Visual Basic, but I want to know if Excel would count as a computer language?

I ask becasue I am very profecient in Excel, and if I should list that or not.

Answer 1

If you mean Microsoft Excel, the database program. Do not list it as a language, the program itself is already made and you just put in your own info which isnt programming at all.

Good luck to you on you degree man :) exciting stuff. Try possibly getting into HTML or something easy to add as a second programming language.

Answer 2

No. You can do some powerful things in Excel, but very few people would consider it a real programming language. Visual Basic is a programming language, but not a "serious" one. As long as you understand the basics (no pun intended), that's good enough to get started on learning other programming languages.

I wouldn't specifically list Visual Basic or Excel -- they're in relatively low regard in the programming/academic community. It'd be like saying, "I know how to take the standard deviation of a list of numbers" -- So what? Anyone can do that.

Now if you could say "I used the standard deviation to calculate this complex function" (or analogously, if you've done something non-trivial with VB that's stats-related), then maybe you could list it. Just VB on its own is not particularly impressive.

For statistics in particular, it'd be good to learn something like R or Matlab/Octave, since they're geared towards statistics.

Answer 3

Excel is not a programming language, instead it is an application
Microsoft Excel is an application, that has the ability to perform [programmed routines] using the Visual basic inbed with it
So Excel is an application that comes with programming language to simplify its procedures
Instead Visual Basic for Application (Which is the programming language that comes with Excel) is a programming language.

So, If you know Excel charts, tools, functions, then you are an Ecel user.
If you know VBA of Excel, then you know a programming language.

Enjoy my profile, I am the VBAXLMan

Answer 4

Excel is a tool, not a language. If you count it as a language on your CV, most employers will laugh all the way to the trashcan, where they will proceed to drop your CV... However, if you simply say you are proficient in Excel, that shouldn't be a problem.

Imagine I apply for a job as a musician in an orchestra. I say "I am a percussionist, especially on the violin" - they laugh me out of the door. If I say "I am a percussionist, and also I play violin" they might actually listen to me. Bending the truth on a CV is one thing, but doing it in a way that proves you don't know what you are talking about is just foolish.

Answer 5

The whole MS office package is based on Visual Basic. But this visual basic is customized for each application within the MSO Suite, hence VBA. So The objects and collections within each application may not be available in another application. Such as cell ,object within Excel application wouldn't be available in word and object of word such as paragraph wouldnt be available in excel.

Answer 6

You should not list "Excel" as a programming language, because it isn't. However, you could list "Visual Basic" as a programming language, if you have skills in it.

Answer 7

Ecel is not programming language but it is part of office and a critical component to becoming microsoft certified....but has nothing to do with actual programming...as far as whether to include it as part of your experience, yes...but as far as using it for reference to programming, no.

Answer 8

you can automate all office stuff using c-sharp and visual basics maybe more
.