biostatdude

You answered your own question; since statistics is a graduate discipline, incoming students are NOT expected to have narrow research interests (unlike most other grad programs). Another reason incoming stat/biostat students are not expected to have narrow research interests is because students usually don't begin dissertation work until year 2 or 3 (if coming out of undergrad), so having narrow research interests before the program starts is not necessary.

You should read the fine print regarding the rewards/miles for that card before applying. Usually, 1 mile does not actually equal 1 flying mile (very misleading), but instead, 1 mile equals 1 cent in travel purchases. So 10,000 "miles" is usually worth $100 in travel (not a 10,000 mile flight). It may be different with the card you found, but this is the case for all the mile reward cards I have looked at.

For someone who advocates against rankings so much (for prospective PhD students at least) you sure do like to say that your department is highly ranked

I came across a faculty member in the stats department at NC State who got his PhD in biostats at Minnesota. I also know a professor in the math department at my school who got his PhD in biostats from a lower ranked program (outside top 10). I'm sure there are many others as well.

My "top three" statement wasn't based on the USNWR rankings, it was based on what I have heard from many (unbiased) professors in the field.

I can't answer your question, but I think you have JHU and UCLA in the wrong categories. JHU is a consensus top three biostats program (along with UW and Harvard), while UCLA is generally considered a "good but not top tier" program along with Emory and Wisconsin.

Congrats, I'm glad to hear you found a great fit. I think "fit" is very important in a PhD program - you don't want to spend the next 5 years (or more) of your life at a place where you're unhappy. And thanks for sharing the unfortunate news about UMich... I haven't hear back from them yet about funding and hope to hear soon either way. I too have found a great fit, but am (anxiously) waiting to receive all offers before making a final decision.

Noco7: Did Michigan tell you that you won't be offered funding, or did you ask? And in your situation (funded PhD at lower-ranked program vs unfunded MS at higher-ranked program), I would also choose the funded PhD.

Thank you for the info, Noco7. I too will be anxiously checking my mail the next few days... hope we both receive good news!

Thanks for the update. Do you (or anybody else) know how students transition from their MS/PhD program to their PhD program (do students need to re-apply or just pass the qualifying exam)?

Thanks! I received an email from the grad school notifying me that an admission decision was made and they directed me to the application webpage to view the decision, and then a few days later the Department of Biostatistics student services manager emailed me. And I submitted my application the first week of November.

I was also rejected from Washington but was admitted to UNC Chapel Hill, so I definitely wouldn't say that a rejection from Washington and Hopkins would mean a rejection from the other schools.