TheCommodore

At what point should I email the department and enquire about my status? A buddy of mine (in a different discipline) told me that lots of schools will think you're not interested if you don't follow up, but I'm usually not that kind of guy. Is this something I should start thinking about?

Anybody heard from UMinnesota for masters yet? I noticed a few PhD decisions up on the board, but I'm sweating bullets over here waiting to see if I get to go to grad school or if I need to start looking for any job that'll take me.

I think I remember Texas A&M having a pretty late deadline. Something like March. And they're ranked decently high.

You're making me sweat, pal. Minnesota is my first choice and I haven't heard back yet...

I've applied to some MS statistics programs and I'm curious as to what happens next. The only experience I have with graduate admissions are from friends who go to small state universities and were admitted without any question and other friends who entered competitive biology PhD programs and went through rigorous interviews and in-depth sessions of questioning. I figure these are opposite ends of the spectrum, but I have no clue what to be ready for. First of all, should I expect responses on the late end of the ranges, after the PhD letters go out? Are there usually rounds of interviews or other methods of testing your competence? How much do those matter compared to application stuff, cause I'm historically terrible at interviewing. And is there anything else I should know about/be prepared for? I'm really hoping to get into a program cause my alternative might not include cycling back around to re-apply next year, so I really appreciate any advice you can give me.

I don't have nearly enough experience in stats. My two theory classes only covered parametric so I feel like I have a big hole in my knowledge. Even then, they weren't proof based. The prof showed us proofs but they weren't very rigorous and we weren't required to know them. Plus my grades weren't as high in a couple key classes as I would have liked in them. Also, I don't have a second linear algebra course, no measure theory, and no stats research experience. And I go to a pretty weak school especially for math, so even our senior level classes are nowhere near as involved as they should be. I think I'd eventually like to do biostats, but I don't feel nearly comfortable enough with my theory background to jump into important applications, so I'm hoping to do MS in stats first so I can feel out whether I'm in a position to go any farther. When I read about requirements for getting in and out of PhD programs, it just seemed like I could be a "maybe accept" for 15+ ranked schools, but looking at the sample candidacy exams from several schools, I can't imagine I'll ever be prepared to take them. Its just terrifying, and my lack of confidence isn't going to make schools want to risk admitting me. Like I said, I'm not applying for PhD right now cause I just don't feel ready, even if I wanted to I wouldn't meet the deadlines.

I'm applying to a few MS programs in stats and I'm kind of curious as to how confident I should be about making it in anywhere. Undergrad: Midwestern state school, not really great academically or well known, so I have a lot to overcome right here with my app. Degree: Double majors in math and biology with a minor in chemistry GPA: Above 3.95/4 in math, bio, and total GRE: 167V, 166Q (don't know writing yet, but probably 3.5-4.5) Research Experience: 5 years of biology research in a respected lab (not well known to everyone, but definitely recognized in the field). I've been in charge of my own projects, written reports for drug companies, and generally been extremely involved in all aspects of research (especially data collection and analysis). Also experience with R, SPSS, SAS, S+, C++ Recommendations: Stat theory prof, biology prof whose lab I work in, and analysis prof. The first two should be glowing the third will be good but I didn't know him as well. Classes: Calc 1-3, differential equations, linear algebra, complex analysis, abstract algebra, stat theory 1 and 2, applied stats, stoichastic modeling, experimental design, intro real analysis, C++, plus a slew of advanced biology classes (pain mechanisms, diabetes pathology, immunology, cell). Big concerns here are B+ in stat theory 1, no linear algebra 2, and no measure theory. Applications: Top are Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I have a few more applications going out, but these are the main ones I'm interested in. Especially cause if I'm paying this much to get a degree I want to go somewhere I like. I'm pretty confident I wouldn't make it into anywhere for a PhD (I was going to apply, but reading this site and others made me discouraged/realistic, so I gave up on that), so I'm going to try to do a masters in stats first then do a PhD in stats, biostats, or biomath depending on how well I do. So, do I need to temper my expectations about going to grad school and focus on my backup plan? Or do I have a decent shot? I know I could widen my base of applications, but I really don't want to spend 80 grand to get a degree somewhere I'm not keen on living, even if it's a more reasonable that I'd get in there. Thanks for your input

Thanks for the comments. They've made me think more about my original plan, which was to test the waters with a masters (I didn't even realize till months ago that bachelors to PhD was a possibility) and re-evaluate later so I can gain a little momentum and confidence in myself. But, I've had a couple professors say that this isn't always the best, especially if you think you want a PhD eventually. I don't quite get what the harm would be, but I could understand arguing that it might make you look indecisive or unprepared for the big show. Any insight there? Also, would a lit theory prof's recommendation be too far outside what admissions look for in candidates?

I'm a late undergrad looking for guidance on where I should be aiming (if anywhere) for the future in stats, biostats, or biomath. Several questions here, so bear with me, I really appreciate it. School:I go to a less-than-stellar Midwest commuter school (rank less than #50 of regional midwest universities), and I'm extremely nervous that this instantly kills my applications. Reserach Experience:I have 5 years of great lab experience at a very respected (disproportionately to what you'd expect from the school) biomedical lab in its specialty areas. I've led a couple of projects, been highly involved in the nuts-and-bolts of research since day 1, and I'll have at least 1 first authorship paper when I'm done. Biology was my first love, but the farther I got, the more I realized that I needed (and wanted) a better background in stats to feel comfortable with the research I was doing. I'm better at biology, but I have more fun doing stats. GPA/Classes:My majors are cell/molecular bio (GPA > 3.9) and math (GPA >3.9) with a minor in chem, with classes in advanced biology (cell, immunology, pain mechanisms, diabetes pathology, neurological diseases), calc I-III, differential equations, linear algebra 1, stats theory I-II, applied stats, intro real analysis, abstract algebra, complex analysis, c++, and decent experience with R. My concerns here are a B+ in stat theory I (and maybe theory II which I'm taking right now) and intro to real analysis, at school as poor as mine I have a feeling this will be looked on like an F at an Ivy League institution. I also don't have the opportunity to take measure theory or another linear algebra class due to few teachers and a strange rotating schedule. GRE:Not yet taken, I was going to a month ago but I've been so convinced I'm not a good candidate, I haven't felt like putting down the money without some idea of whether I'm on the right track. Judging by the scores of friends with similar skills and background, I'm looking at ~760 quantitative, 550+ verbal (or whatever the equivalent is now). Letters of Rec:The professor in charge of the lab will write me a killer letter (although I'm a little worried he has more faith in my ability, especially in math, than I can actually demonstrate in grad school), and my stats professor will probably be helpful for the programs I'm interested in (I did ok (B+ to A) in his classes, but he's foreign and doesn't know me extremely well). For my third letter, I have a choice between a professor who knows me decently well from university math contests and events but I haven't had for classes, another math professor who I've had in class but I don't know extremely well, or a professor I had for critical literature who absolutely loved me (actually wanted to poach me for his program) and would write a glowing recommendation but might not carry weight in math programs. I'm leaning toward the english prof since it shows balance and sets me apart, but advice would be appreciated. Ambitions:I'm not sure if I should be applying to masters, PhD, or neither, but based on recommendations of my advisor and a couple other professors, I've been looking at applying to PhD programs in stats, biostats, and biomath, with a very quick list of Stats or Biostats-Minnesota, Washington, Duke, Michigan, Wisconsin Biomath--UCLA, NC State, Florida State Ideally, I'd like to go to Minnesota for a few good and a few not-so-good reasons, but I think its still a little ambitious for me. I know these lists are short, but I've done only a few weeks of research because I'm beginning to think they're all reaches. Any help you can give would go a long way, I've asked several professors their thoughts and they all say shoot for PhD, but the more I read posts here and on application sites, the more confident I am that I won't be competitive. Thanks for your time.