tugboat

Hi all, I asked this in Decisions board but didn't get a reply. So I've come down to UMich and Brown masters biostat. Brown has offered me a 25% tuition scholarship (tuition is $5,576/course with usual courseload of 3 per semester) with possibility of TA/RA position known later while UM gave me no funding and probably no possibility of TA/RA-ship. It really boils down to which school is the financially wiser option in the long run. Obviously, both options are really expensive with fees and other expenses. UM is more regarded than Brown in biostat, but is taking the gamble of entering without any financial support worth it? thanks for the advice!

Hi all, I was accepted into University of Michigan and Brown's biostatistics masters programs. I was originally learning towards Brown because they offered me a 25% tuition scholarship and it's a nice small department doing interesting work. However, after doing some comparing, I am back at square one. Brown Pros: 25% tuition scholarship, graduate coordinate says that department usually finds RA/TA positions for incoming students, but these positions are being researched now and won't know till later, small department of few students so possibly more individual attention, Providence is a nice, beautiful historic city close to Boston and NYC. Cons: cost of attendence will be around $68,000 (where tuition is $5,576/course with usual courseload of 3 per semester minus 25% of that) which includes tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, etc. UMich Pros: top 5 program, internal PhD applicants have priority regarding admissions decisions, looks like tuition and fees will be cheaper even without funding ($19,799/sem for full-time out of state) but I am not sure if that includes everything. Cons: no funding and not sure if it is possible to take on TA/RA positions since these are part of the funding packages that were offered to those who were lucky enough to get funding Which program do you think will be better in the long-run in terms of cost? I have no problems with either programs as both as very good in biostat, but I am concerned about the cost. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Thanks for your inputs, I feel less nervous about getting the SOP done. I have most aspects of my apps done: letters sent in, transcripts and test scores, etc.

Hi, I am a senior hoping to apply for the fall 2013 term. My educational background is: Major: BS mathematics, BA phystics and astronomy overall GPA: 3.71/4.00 Relevent math courses: Calculus I (A), Cal II (A-), Linear algebra (A-), Multivariable calculus (A), Real analysis (A), Topology (A-), Abstract algebra (B+), Fourier Series and applied boundary problems (A) I'm currently a TA in the linear algebra course, and also currently taking introductory probability and numerical analysis, and expecting to earn an A in both as I've been keeping up the material well so far. I have also signed up to take an introductory biostatistics and an intro to math modeling in life sciences classes for next semester. My research past, however, pertains to astrophysical research and computational astrophysics. My interest in biostats came only recently this summer. I like the mathy nature of the subject and I've always been interested in biomedical research (cancer, drug efficacy, probability of test accuracy, etc but I've never actually pursued it, more of a pastime reading thing), but I'm not sure how to express this into a good SOP. Another low point is my mediocre GRE scores: 154 V, 161 Q, 3.0 AW..... So far, I'm looking at the following for sure: University of Washington Boston U Brown University of Michigan UNC-Chapel Hill and the following as possibilies: Vanderbilt and University of Florida Any suggestions on how i can effectively write a good SOP and my chances? Especially UW since the program is so top-notched. Thanks!