chrishacker

I am looking forward to some advice on whether I should apply for some math PhD programs this year. Type of undergrad: Foreign, BA in economics (how could I choose such a Fxxking ridiculous major...even if I want to do an econ PhD, a BA in math is far better, at least in my country). GPA: 3.4 Math Grades: Abstract Algebra A-, Integration Theory A- Cal I B+, Cal II A-, Linear Algebra A, Probability A. Type of Grad: MS in STAT, large research U. In US NEWS it's Top 20 in Math and Stats. GPA: 3.73 Math Grades: Measure-theory and Probability I, II (A, A), Topics in Probability (in progress), complex analysis (in progress) GRE SUB: I expect it to be 75%-85% GRE General: 93% Verbal, 92% Quantitative, 38% Analytic TOEFL: Believed to be waived in most schools. 29+30+23+25 (R, L, S, W) respectively if they need it. Research Experience: Econ Research? Does not count, I believe... Trying to do research on open problems in probability books. Unlikely to have results when applying. And I attend CPSS this year as well as some departmental probability seminars. Still have to learn more to understand these lectures better. Targets: If I can be enrolled in the current institution, I would be more than satisfied. RLs: Likely to be all profs that have taught me a math course. Should be reasonably strong. Also interested in: Washington, UCSD, Duke. I will definitely apply to some selected stat departments as well. Concerns: I feel that I am not prepared fully for this cycle, so I am considering applying for Math and Stat department in my school only (There is one probability prof in the stat department). If failed, I will extend for a semester, get a master in math and add some courses/research experiences/ better GRE scores to my resume. Unfortunately I ran out of $$ so I will have to get an RA. I don't think there is anything as such in math/stat department so I will probably looking for quantitative social science projects. Time budget is a problem if I do this, though.

No. This is for PhDs. Data for 2013 is here... http://www-stat.stanford.edu/admissions/profilephd.html

Admission statistics doesn't mean anything if you don't know who is in the pool If my memory didn't go wrong, in 2012 Stanford admitted 20 students out of 120, which is far more than 5%.

I am starting to register for courses (Doing stats MA, planning on applying for PhD if I consider I can handle it at that time). Could anyone here tell me about this: Is a course in integration theory and a self-exploration of Baby Rudin considered proper prerequisites of measure-based probability theory? (The course material is somewhat equivalent to Royden's real analysis Part I, but is taught easier. I read Chapter 1-6 of Rudin and finished nearly all the exercises. I also read C7 but found problems extremely difficult. Of course I know C11 due to the course I've taken but not familiar with the rest)

From their websites MS students should reapply...

Well, I am an econ major and I plan to transfer to stat MA. I wonder whether they will give my undergrad courses a less weight. I have a GPA less then 3.5 ( You know in some places outside US...) If it is still very important then .......

Well, I am admitted to these two programs and I am hesitating. I am planning to take a Stat/ Biostat PhD after the MA. Could anyone here provide some suggestions and infor on them? My major concerns are as follows: UMN Pros: Yes, it has an overall reputation of outstanding research universities, and besides a very good stat department, they are also strong in maths/biostat/econ...And I hear that profs are very helpful and friendly. An essay is needed to finish the MS, and there are two elective courses in supporting fields so I can find out what I really love. That's really good. And it's cheap as long as I don't have more than 14 credits a semester. I won't do this since 4 courses together with PhD students seem to have myself overloaded since I am not major in a quantitative field in undergrad. Cons: Some person tells me that UMN are experiencing a big change on their faculty members. Many well-known researchers have retired/ transferred/are going to retire soon, etc. And nobody knows whether the new hires are as good as the old ones. That's exactly what my undergrad school is experiencing, and I am not so satisfied with the education I have received there. I am a little scared that this would happen again if I go to UMN. And fewer of their PhD students go to academia (about 1 out of 4). In addition, in cold weathers I am not motivated to do sports...so I usually increase my weight... Rice Pros: The environment in the campus and the weather is more desirable for me. I am also attracted by its small size as well as a track that is designed for future PhD students. And I can complete it in 1.5 years instead of two. It is also known for close relationship between students and profs. Cons: I have to pay more either on living expenses and tuition, though Rice is among the cheapest private schools. And there is no requirement on research. I am not sure whether I can find a RA when I finish the master (I know that in some disciplines this is possible, but not sure for stats), so there is a possibility that I wouldn't have any research experience in stats when I apply to a PhD program. I will be very appreciated if someone here can provide more information on these two programs, and what kind of research the professors in these two programs are doing. Thanks in advance !

Good point. Thanks for your ideas.

Glad to hear something from a current student. I am a foreigner, and, hum, I look up the US maps. Things seems to be better than what I used to think since nearby are Illinois, Wisconcin and Iowa. A number of good universities in these places. I am still waiting to get formal notification, though. Thanks!

Today I received an unofficial notification of Minnesota, Department of Statistics that I have been admitted in their MS programs. I have a undergraduate degree of economics, and now I am considering transforming to Stats/ Applied maths (I apply to both Econ and STATs) So, is there anyone who knows well about the program? Especially, I want to continue my studying in a PhD program (though I haven't decided on the discipline), will the MA serve this purpose well? My main concern: I know that their reputations are good ( I've viewed the US news rankings), but it is the only top-school in this area, so I wonder whether they will be isolated from other scholars since not everyone want to visit such a cold place...And it might be inconvenient to go to other schools for a seminar or a course or so.