erikiv

Also, at top Statistics PhD programs (say, Harvard) where the number of students is very small, what separates those who get in from those who don't? Does undergrad prestige matter? (at UVA I won't be around faculty members who have great contacts at top Stats PhD programs like someone would at, say, MIT undergrad)

I'm an incoming freshman at a fairly recognized school (University of Virginia) and want to study statistics and ultimately attend graduate school. I've heard that graduate school admissions place great emphasis on research experience, but I don't know of much statistical research at UVA as the Statistics department is very small. There isn't much math research in general going on at UVA since math is pretty weak over here. What are some things I should know now as a freshman? I'll be taking Calc III and a statistics elective this fall which I know is nothing compared to some of the students at better schools who take graduate classes their freshmen years. And since Statistics PhD programs are small, I'm wondering what I should be looking to do (in terms of research, coursework, etc.) in order to differentiate myself from other future applicants. Should I be taking as many higher level math/stats classes as possible? What are ways to get involved in statistics research? Things like that. Any advice would be appreciated =)