Hi GradCafe,
I am a recent graduate and finally decided to pursue a masters in statistics for two reasons that everyone else probably has: 1) To learn more,and 2) To get a job. The problem is that I don't even know how to begin researching this topic aside from awkwardly phrased Google searches. After searching for applied statistics program, I was completely overwhelmed by the different types of programs. Some are geared towards business, others are categorized as a vague "data analytic". I also noticed some programs that focuses solely on big data/machine learning. I am actually very interested in this topic because of a multivariate analysis class I have taken before(it covered a small part of machine learning only because we went beyond the curriculum). Yet, I feel that I am under-qualified due to not having a CS background aside from the statistical programs and 1 or 2 languages I learned from previous required classes. So I ask of you guys, so given my profile below what are some schools/programs I should look into? Since I could always just look up ranked schools, what would be some safety schools that you would suggest for me? What are some universities with a diverse statistics department, since I feel like I should explore a bit)
School: University of California, Davis 3.66/4.00
Major: Applied Statistics/ Psychology
(Note: Just took the GRE again, and so these are the projected scores I got at the end of the test...Hopefully not too much changes)
GRE: Q: 164 V: 157 W:???Maybe 4.0? I got a 4.0 last time?
(Note: I know my math is a bit lacking hence why I am looking into more practical rather than theoretical programs. Though, I did picked up some mathematical concepts along the way. )
Courses Taken:
Multivariate Data Analysis
Causual Model Correlation Data
SAS Programming
Introduction to Probability Theory
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics
Applied Time Series Analysis
Introduction To Programming and Problem Solving ( Where I learned C)
Analysis of Categorical Data
Linear Algebra
Analysis of Variance
Statistical Programming
Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data
Regression Analysis
Agent-Based Modeling(Where I learned Java)
Research: It's my weakest point... No published works. I do have experience in research for multiple fields, due to my psychology background. Nothing really statistically relevant except for side projects.
Letters of Recs: Again, none of these really relevant to statistics. BUT these people are definitely credible in their own fields. They were past professors I had worked with.
Much thanks for getting through this wall of text if you do. I am just really scared right now after taking the GRE and comparing my profile to the gradcafe's accepted candidates for Fall 2013. Everyone here seems to have like a way higher GPA and a way higher GRE score with published works.