Profile evaluation for PhD in Biostatistics :)

[ElementY]

My intention is to apply to a PhD program in biostatistics and (hopefully) I'll get in. However, my academic record stands a bit in my way. I had a rough time my first two years, dealing with a whole bunch of emotional turmoil as well as a major that I didn't like at all. I decided at the end of my second year in college to switch, and had a huge improvement in grades (as in from Cs to As). Since then, my interest in statistics has exponentially grown. Currently, I'm interested in biostatistics, and a little bit of machine learning. I haven't taken a course in it quite yet, but that's the plan for next semester.
 

Overall GPA: 3.2

Statistics major GPA: 3.86

School: Top 25 university (a public one)

Major: BA in Statistics, Spanish
 

GRE: 162V, 161Q (My question...if I'm looking at schools that are not necessarily top tier, how important is it to raise my quant score?)
 

Classes:

Multivariable calculus: A

Probability: A-

Linear algebra: A-

Linear models: A

Intro to math stat: A

 

Currently in: time series, a Python course, an R course, and a SAS course (anticipate As in all courses)

 
Experience: Almost no research experience, but have discussed extensively with my advisor about possible independent study options

LoR: Decent recommendation from the department head; decent recommendation from a relatively young professor; excellent rec from former internship boss (a sociology professor specializing in survey research); and possibly a decent recommendation from another relatively young professor

 

My current list of schools that I'm interested in: NC State, Ohio State, Penn State (reach, maybe?), Texas A&M, Virginia Tech (the faculty seem really qualified), and (if I'm really reaching) Johns Hopkins. How impossible (or possible) would it be for me to be accepted to these schools? Any other schools I should be looking at?

 

Also, considering my situation, would it be better to apply for Master's programs first even though PhD is my end goal, and then see about PhD programs? Understandably, my application would not be the strongest.

 

Thank you much!

[bayessays]

I think with the exception of Virginia Tech, most those schools are reaches.  If you are interested in biostatistics, you would probably be a great candidate for biostatistics schools ranked outside of the top 5 (and maybe even outside the top 3?).  They are more forgiving of a lighter math background.

[cyberwulf]

If you're interested in biostat, why are you applying to a bunch of places that don't have biostat departments (NCSU, Penn State, VaTech)?  That being said, NC State is so big that there are plenty of biostat-oriented folks there.

 

It's a little hard to "chance" you in biostat since dramatic academic turnarounds such as yours are pretty unusual. I would guess you're still reaching for the top 8-10 biostat departments; median overall GPAs at these places are usually in the 3.8+ range, so admitting a 3.2, even one who has been much better recently, could be viewed as an unnecessary gamble. You might have more success in the low teens (Florida, Pitt, Boston U, Iowa, Ohio State, etc.)

[ElementY]

@bayessays: why do you think Virginia Tech is unreachable? Is their program particularly selective?

 

@cyberwulf: The reason I included schools that didn't necessarily have biostat departments is mainly due to the fact that I'm not sure of my chances of getting into a PhD program given my academic background. Maybe I should have been a bit clearer, some of the schools mentioned (NC State, Penn State), I was trying to get a feel if I would be competitive for perhaps a Master's, and then apply to biostat PhD programs from there.

 

So, my rather unremarkable quant GRE score wouldn't really be a hindrance to my application? I'm doing my best to raise my overall GPA as much as I can.

 

Thank you both so much!

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

I'm a second year biostats PhD student, that had a similar background. I had a big turn around, in that, my GPA my freshman year was 2.9 and I had raised it to over a 3.6 overall by the time I graduated (last 80 hours or so of courses, I had a GPA of 3.85ish). I was a biology major and on the lighter side for a math background too, having had a few stats classes, programming class, and calculus through multivariate (but no real analysis). I made A's in my calculus, linear algebra, stats, and programming classes. 

 

My GRE scores were similar too. My quant (which I honestly can't even remember the exact score of) was either 162 or 163 and my verbal was right around 158-160.... With that said, your quant score shouldn't hinder you too much. Really anything over 160 is pretty solid, but given your background, if you could pull out a 164+ on a re-take, it could be beneficial

 

Cyberwulf has been giving great advice on here for years, literally, and in my experience it's been pretty accurate. 

 

With all that said, you could probably land in a decent (ranks 3-10) MS Biostat program, but it's extremely unlikely you'll have any funding. I'd say the "best" school you have a MS shot at would be Michigan, which accepts a large number of students, but that's far from a sure thing.

 

PhD is trickier, a spot in the top 10 is a long shot. Maybe throw apps at 1 or 2 top 10's, but I wouldn't waste any more money than that. I'd skip sending PhD apps to Harvard, Hopkins, U Washington, Minnesota, or Michigan... to be brutally honest, you'll be wasting money. Schools outside the top 10 would be more likely, but I wouldn't say you're a sure thing at any of them. 

 

Just to give you an idea, here are the list of ranked schools with Biostats programs outside the top 10 (pulled from another thread):

 

Yale, Emory, Brown, Iowa, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Boston University, Medical College of Wisconsin, UIllinois-Chicago, UTexas-Houston, Case Western, Medical College of South Carolina, SUNY Albany, Alabama, SUNY Buffalo, South Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth

 

This is not all inclusive, there are plenty of schools with Biostat programs not even in the rankings. With the exception of Yale, Emory and Brown, the difference between them academically is probably much smaller than comparisons made between programs withing the top 10. The education you'll get at one of these schools won't necessarily be bad, but the number of "high quality" faculty is limited relative to the top 10. If you're given a choice between the lower ranked schools, the choice should be much more heavily based on specific faculty members who you'd like to be your advised by, rather than general academic perception. Your mentor/advisor is the most important aspect of your grad school experience, and a fantastic, well-respected, advisor from a smaller school is arguably better than a poor advisor at a highly ranked school..... With that said, it would be very important for you to talk the departments and faculty beforehand to make sure the person you want to work with will actually be available to take you as a student. 

 

With regards to comparing schools specifically, I won't get into that publicly for the sake of remaining unbiased/neutral... but I'll be happy to give more detailed information in a PM if you'd like. 

Edited September 23, 2014 by Noco7