peter_parker

In all honesty, at this point, after a bit of experience + skill development it's not terribly difficult to obtain a job it seems (provided your are currently employed). Ironic given that about a year ago it seemed near impossible for me as a fresh graduate. The graduate application process is fairly involved, and I already feel a bit bad telling my recommendation-writing professors that I had second thoughts and decided not to go. Not the paramount concern, but my point is that it would be pretty difficult for me to fire up the grad school application engine again. Still have a bit to think about. It seems most people going to grad school are pretty certain about the proposition and in love with their subject matter. I can't say I am at that point. At the same time, it'll only be 12 months! In-state tuition is $13,500 for the entire degree! Is that like the lowest commitment possible for a degree or what? At the same time, it might be easier for me to discover my true interests/ calling in a more fluid work environment.

Thanks for the advice guys. It's true that it's not exactly now or never. Still have a little bit of thinking to do but thanks for the ideas to look into. It might be better to explore interests more than making a big leap, but I'll mull it over a bit more.

Hello everyone! I don’t post here much so quick rundown. I have a BA in political science and psychology, class of 2010. Currently working in a random ‘in the meantime’ corporate job for the past 6 months. Anyway, I made the last minute decision in December to apply for Masters in Statistics. The results are back: Purdue and Iowa: denied. NIU, Loyola, Michigan State, Illinois-Urbana-Champaign(top choice – in state) – admitted! (without funding of course – it’s a masters). Anyway I’m fairly certain I can complete the master’s in 1 calendar year. (3 courses fall, 4 courses spring, 2 courses summer). However… all of the sudden I’m having doubts about attending. I’ve been taking a linear algebra class as part of my preparations – and although I’m doing very well, I find it painful/ very difficult to crack open the linear algebra textbook in most nights. It just doesn’t inspire or enthuse me a great deal. Now I’m thinking – is this a sign of things to come? I became greatly interested in stats due to my psychology and political science work and experiments – but at the same time, the ANOVA’s and regressions and logit/ probit models of undergrad social sciences are a far cry from Rao-Blackwell theorem or Edgeworth expansions. For starters they didn’t require ANY calculus, vectors, or linear algebra. I’m confident in my abilities in those, but I’m not so certain about my interest --- especially in theoretical math. I love applied statistical study more for the relevance and the insight – to be honest the discoveries in my linear algebra class about math were sort of interesting (particularly underdetermined vs overdetermined systems), but not as much as a psychology course. I’m just having doubts about my math interest all the sudden. And then there’s the career afterwards. I’m not what one would call “certain” about my career interests. Would a one year masters pigeon hole me into a math or data based career for life? Or would it open up opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise? Add to THAT, that recently a new job has come knocking on my door. Better salary, benefits, etc. It’s working with technology AND data analysis, including some statistics. The guy is willing to give me the job provided I don’t have graduate school plans in the fall, of course, which is sensible. This would be a great opportunity to see if data analysis is something I DO enjoy doing right now, plus I would learn more about business and further my technology/ programming skills. Wouldn’t that be better on doubling down on an unknown (grad school in applied stat?) --- or would 1 year, $13,500 total tuition grad school be so little an investment in time and money, that it would be fool-hearty NOT to do it? I’m just so confused right now. I’m a bit intimidated by grad school, and I’m not CERTAIN math and stats is the ultimate field for me. Or whether a year of calculus + vector based upper level math is going to be a masochistic experience. I also feel like grad school is a now-or-never proposition. Add to my career uncertainty, the social aspect. My social life is in shambles right now to an extent due to a period of unemployment after graduation (I’m still living at home, but would move out if taking the new job). And I think the allure of returning to a college environment (although grad school is MUCH different than undergrad socially I’ve heard) for social reasons might be clouding my judgment ---- like maybe I’m sort of enticed by visions of a great social life – even though just a one year grad program --- and not necessarily the rigorous study of upper-level statistics and stochastic processes. Finally – and not to downplay the stats folk here – but for most business purposes, are THAT complex of statistics really needed, outside of high finance or insurance? That would be my main goal of MS in Stats – to put myself in a better position to pursue a career I like. Aka, purely to get a job in industry. But do most jobs/ businesses/ fields --- other than finance, pharm, or insurance --- require thorough knowledge of Bayesian statistics or what not? I don’t know. I could always crack open a textbook on Categorical Analysis or Time Series myself, too, outside of school. I’m just having a quarter life crisis right now it seems. Do I go to grad school? Take the new job? Yes, the main problem is I’m unsure of my ultimate career interests. Anyone have similar feeling or know what to do? Advice especially welcome from people who went to grad school for stats, or other perspectives as well. Forgot to mention: I have to decide if I want the new job by Sunday! (two days) Freaking out!

Hello everyone! I don’t post here much so quick rundown. I have a BA in political science and psychology, class of 2010. Currently working in a random ‘in the meantime’ corporate job for the past 6 months. Anyway, I made the last minute decision in December to apply for Masters in Statistics, and finished apps by January. The results are back: Purdue and Iowa: denied. NIU, Loyola, Michigan State, Illinois-Urbana-Champaign(top choice – in state) – admitted! (without funding of course – it’s a masters). Anyway I’m fairly certain I can complete the master’s at Illinois in 1 calendar year. (3 courses fall, 4 courses spring, 2 courses summer). However… all of the sudden I’m having doubts about attending. I’ve been taking a linear algebra class as part of my preparations – and although I’m doing very well, I find it painful/ very difficult to crack open the linear algebra textbook in most nights. It just doesn’t inspire or enthuse me a great deal. Now I’m thinking – is this a sign of things to come? I became greatly interested in stats due to my psychology and political science work and experiments – but at the same time, the ANOVA’s and regressions and logit/ probit models of undergrad social sciences are a far cry from Rao-Blackwell theorem or Edgeworth expansions. For starters they didn’t require ANY calculus, vectors, or linear algebra. I’m confident in my abilities in those, but I’m not so certain about my interest --- especially in theoretical math. I love applied statistical study more for the relevance and the insight – to be honest the discoveries in my linear algebra class about math were sort of interesting (particularly underdetermined vs overdetermined systems), but not as much as a psychology course. I’m just having doubts about my math interest all the sudden. And then there’s the career afterwards. I’m not what one would call “certain” about my career interests. Would a one year masters pigeon hole me into a math or data based career for life? Or would it open up opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise? Add to THAT, that recently a new job has come knocking on my door. Better salary, benefits, etc. It’s working with technology AND data analysis, including some statistics. The guy is willing to give me the job provided I don’t have graduate school plans in the fall, of course, which is sensible. This would be a great opportunity to see if data analysis is something I DO enjoy doing right now, plus I would learn more about business and further my technology/ programming skills. Wouldn’t that be better on doubling down on an unknown (grad school in applied stat?) --- or would 1 year, $13,500 total tuition grad school be so little an investment in time and money, that it would be fool-hearty NOT to do it? I’m just so confused right now. I’m a bit intimidated by grad school, and I’m not CERTAIN math and stats is the ultimate field for me. Or whether a year of calculus + vector based upper level math is going to be a masochistic experience. I also feel like grad school is a now-or-never proposition. Add to my career uncertainty, the social aspect. My social life is in shambles right now to an extent due to a period of unemployment after graduation (I’m still living at home, but would move out if taking the new job). And I think the allure of returning to a college environment (although grad school is MUCH different than undergrad socially I’ve heard) for social reasons might be clouding my judgment ---- like maybe I’m sort of enticed by visions of a great social life – even though just a one year grad program --- and not necessarily the rigorous study of upper-level statistics and stochastic processes. Finally – and not to downplay the stats folk here – but for most business purposes, are THAT complex of statistics really needed, outside of high finance or insurance? That would be my main goal of MS in Stats – to put myself in a better position to pursue a career I like. Aka, purely to get a job in industry. But do most jobs/ businesses/ fields --- other than finance, pharm, or insurance --- require thorough knowledge of Bayesian statistics or what not? I don’t know. I could always crack open a textbook on Categorical Analysis or Time Series myself, too, outside of school. I’m just having a quarter life crisis right now it seems. Do I go to grad school? Take the new job? Yes, the main problem is I’m unsure of my ultimate career interests. Anyone have similar feeling or know what to do? Advice especially welcome from people who went to grad school for stats, or other perspectives as well.

Eh, I wouldn't worry too much about the distance thing. I went 1,000 miles away for undergrad and studied abroad about 9,000 miles away. Both times I didn't know a soul. You will make friends and have great times, assuredly. I'm an introvert and not the most social guy so if I can do it, pretty much anyone can. In fact after about 1.5 - 2 years in Michigan you might even dread 'returning home' to your small little state/ town. There's so much of the world out there to see, and having never done that yourself (have you even spent a month outside of Florida?) you don't have that perspective. Things I would consider: How long is the PhD program? Clinical psychology is 5-7 years usually, right? I'm not sure myself. Obviously graduate school can be a big step but if you know clinical psychology is the career you would love, then go for it. The long distance thing/ seriousness of the boyfriend is something you might have to consider. Hmm.. I'm no help at all am I hah. I'm still weighing whether or not I should go to graduate school myself. Family/ boyfriend/ roots is indeed a consideration, but I would also look at the pros at moving to a completely different location. This is much wisdom, adventure, and 'life' to be gleaned from living away from your home town in a different part of the country for some years. New opportunity, new awesome people ---- and a sort of new found freedom as well. Obviously no one here can give you an answer either way, it's a complicated decision of course that ultimately you have to make and truly know in your heart. I would just breathe, think it over for a while, and try to figure out what concerns are valid, etc. And when it's all said and done, really no one can predict 100% what choice will be better or what the future will bring, etc. That's just how life works. Good luck.

I'm still weighing the financial factors as well. But I think I can swing a 12 month master's at an in-state tution flagship and spend $13,500 in tuition all said and done. Cost of living in the cornfield - if I live like a pauper - will probably be $15,000 for the 12 months, if I consider health insurance, textbooks, extras, etc, although perhaps I'm being too conservative. I have no funding, of course. But I'm trying to save up $11,000 before I begin in the fall (currently working full time and living at home) and might find a way to work part time while at at school (maybe adding $5,000 for 12 months optimistically). Then the debt doesn't seem as bad, but still --- I dislike any debt.

Nova's GRE Math Prep Course for the New GRE I found was much, much more rigorous than Barron's or ETS' official guide, the other two I bought. It had like 10x more math content (Though it's strictly math). I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it. It is definitely overkill (i.e. you will be doing much tougher math in that book than on the test). In fact once you take the test you might even be pissed the harder stuff isn't on there (so you beat out the other test takers) but wouldn't you rather have overkill than underkill?

I bought that book. I did find it pretty easy, so meh.It wasn't much different from Barron's. Get Nova's GRE math prep course. The book is extremely rigorous and covers every single problem; in fact that book was much more difficult than anything on the test. I don't know how to plug the book without sounding like a salesman, but that book seriously prepared me. I got a 168 and am truly mystified how I got one wrong.

I'll help with some honest advice, because I like to help the humans every so often. I had a month to study for the math gre, and I hadn't taken a math course in 5 years. In a panic, I bought 3 books: Barron's revised GRE, the official guide to the revised General Test, and Nova's GRE math prep course. The first two books, although heartily endorsed by others, were trash. Any book that tries to teach you "tricks" when you can't answer a question is absurd. How about you learn how to answer the question? Most of the tricks came down to measuring angles with pencils or eyeballing angles or other nonsense. The third book: NOVA's GRE math prep course, was gold. It contains about 5X the content of the other two books. I will say this. In my experience, NOVA's book was overkill. It was like training for the Major Leagues and then going down and playing pee-wee sports when actually taking the test. That being said, I scored a 168 on the test (1 wrong, I believe). I was pissed because I wanted a 170, but even moreso, because all the test problems were so easy, I was shocked I got even one wrong. I didn't study for the verbal at all but got a 166; I guess luck may have played a role as I was familiar with a lot of the vocab words on the test. Even if you recognize 4 our of 5 vocab words, by process of elimination you pretty much know the right answer. Back to math: Nova's book covers any and everything that might possibly be on the test. It also breaks down question types in each chapter (the chapters are like algebra, exponents, coordinate geometry,etc.) to easy, medium, hard, and very hard. Their difficulty ratings aren't always accurate, but they are very useful. Some of the 'very hard' questions are really, damn hard. And you honestly won't find any on the test, but it helps you cover your bases if you want to knock the test out of the park. Like I said, it's overkill, but it's the only book you need. Honestly, you can probably finish the book and it's problem sets in ONE WEEKEND if you do nothing but live and breathe that book for two full days. But since you have so much time, you can probably space it out more. I wouldn't do it too far away from the test though, I think it's best to practice and train the month before the test leading into it, especially the few days before the test (as exercises).

Hello everybody-- I've lurked this forum for a while but finally joined. I'm applying to Masters in Applied Statistics programs, so I have later deadlines (February 1st mostly) --- but my FIRST deadline is Saturday, January 14th by noon! I need someone to look over my SOP and give any advice/ criticism at all! It's still needs a heck of a lot of polish and editing. I plan on working on it like mad over the next few days. I come from a social sciences background (maybe a bit unconventional), but I think anyone (English/ Math/ History) can weigh in on it and give advice. I really don't want my SOP up on this forum til the end of time so let me know in this thread or PM and I'll PM it to you! Thanks!