BlueRobin

I just stumbled upon the fact that Columbia offers a MS in Applied Statistics from its Teachers College. I had only known about its MA in Statistics from GSAS previously. The MS seems like a hidden gem. It's about $10,000 cheaper than the MA, and only takes a year instead of a year and a half. I'm also guessing admissions is easier since I can't find anything about it online, which indicates to me that not many people have heard of it. So, here's my question: For someone who wants to go into industry, will employers know (and care) about the difference between the MA in Statistics and the MS in Applied Statistics? Or will they just see Columbia Statistics on my resume and not delve into the matter further? I'm also guessing that the MA is more rigorous than the MS, but does anyone know of any other differences between them? Thanks in advance.

Another factor to take into account is where you'd like to work after finishing your MS. For example, if you'd prefer to work in California, it will probably be easier to find a job there if you are in UCLA.

Thank you DMX! I agree, I think I have a better chance at acceptance into a top-ranked MS program than into a top-ranked PhD program. Thank you for confirming what I was thinking! I'd just prefer not drop so much money on an MS.... I do have lower-ranked "safety" schools on my list as well, but since I am confident that I will be accepted to those, I didn't bother to list them. I am more interested in finding out which top-ranked programs I should put on my "reach" list and which ones I should put onto my "impossible to get into so don't even bother to apply" list. In reference to the MS programs, you said "competitive at most places." Does this mean that I should apply to all the schools I listed and let the chips fall where they will, or do you think that there are a couple of schools that I should put onto my "impossible to get into so don't even bother to apply" list? If so, which ones? And there aren't any PhD programs in Data Science yet that I am aware of, but I think that there will be by the time I actually apply to graduate school. A lot of universities just opened up new Data Science programs. And while I personally prefer a degree in statistics over a degree in data science, the two are so closely related that it will likely come down to where I get accepted. Thank you for all of your help!

What are my chances for acceptance into a top-ranked MS or PhD program in statistics or data science? I'd like to stay in the Northeast, so here are the schools I am considering: John Hopkins, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Columbia, Cornell, Yale, NYU, and Rutgers. Here is my profile: DWF at small private college. Math major, finance minor. 3.95 GPA. haven't taken the GRE yet (only applying next year). president of my university's math club. relevant industry experience (summer internships). some research experience (senior thesis). I have taken (or will take) the following math classes: Calculus x 3 (through multi-variable calculus), Probability x 2, Linear algebra, Econometrics, Operations research, Differential equations, Biostatistics, Financial mathematics, Finite mathematics, Life contingencies x 2, and a senior thesis. I'm primarily worried about three things: 1-almost no one has heard of my college 2-the math major at my college is quite small and offers a limited selection of classes which does not include real analysis 3-not much research experience (all I'll have is my senior thesis which is ~25 pages long) So how would you rate my chances at getting accepted into a statistics/data science MS/PhD program at John Hopkins, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Columbia, Cornell, Yale, NYU, and Rutgers? Do you think I have a shot at a top program or should I lower my expectations? If I have a shot for a MS program, but not for a PhD, that information is valuable to me as well, so please rate my chances for both the PhD and the MS programs separately (where applicable). Thank you in advance!

It's not a farce. Thanks for the compliment... I guess? I'm assuming you picked up that I know next to nothing about graduate school... If I'm completely off the wall with the schools I'm applying to please let me know! I'd rather find out now than be rejected from everywhere next year. What other information do you need to evaluate my chances? I provided everything I could think of. This is solid advice. I will definitely take this into account. Thank you! So putting aside the issue of attending a PhD program when all I want is a MS (I have no qualms about this but I don't plan on debating it here), how would you rate my chances for acceptance into a top MS/PhD program in statistics/data science? (You can leave out the DWF factor this time. I personally think that it will give me a leg up in certain schools, although not in all, but I should hear about my chances in general, and perhaps more people will answer this way.) I think I'll start a new thread with a more appropriate title as well for my revised question. Thank you!

Thoughts on this? Is it true that women need lower GPAs/GREs than men need in order to be admitted to top schools because women are underrepresented in the STEM fields?

Quoted from another website: How true is this? I'm in this exact situation. White female, high GPA, mediocre school. I'd like to attend graduate school in either statistics or data science. I don't actually want a PhD; I want an MS. However, I don't want to drop $50,000 on an MS when I can go to a PhD program for free and drop out after getting an MS. That being said, I want a degree from a top-ranked program, and I'm worried about my chances of getting into a top-ranked PhD program, but confident about my chances of getting into a top-ranked MS program. Since I want a top-program more than I want the free tuition, I'll spend the $50,000 if need be. So basically I'd like to know how much of an extra edge being a white female gives me. Will it really help me be accepted into a top-ranked statistics or data science PhD program? I'd like to stay in the Northeast, so these are the schools I am considering: John Hopkins, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Columbia, Cornell, Yale, NYU, and Rutgers. How would you rate my chances at getting accepted into each of these schools, keeping in mind that I am a white female? Please rate my chances for both the PhD and the MS programs (where applicable). I am providing additional information below for referencing. Thank you. My strengths: high GPA, expected high GRE scores, president of my university's math club, relevant industry experience (summer internships), good writing skills which should translate into a strong personal statement My causes for concern: 1-The math major at my school isn't that rigorous: real analysis, complex analysis, topology, etc. aren't offered. (To provide a frame of reference, these are my (expected) math courses: Calculus x 3 (through multi-variable calculus), Probability x 2, Linear algebra, Econometrics, Operations research, Differential equations, Biostatistics, Financial mathematics, Finite mathematics, Life contingencies x 2, and a Senior thesis.) 2-I have no serious research experience. I will be doing a senior thesis next year, but it doesn't involve heavy-duty research. 3-My school is very small, and the math department even smaller. To be quite honest, I will probably be the first student to apply to a math related PhD program in a long time. I am unsure how this will play out in my recommendation letters. I have strong relationships with my professors, and they know me well, but I am worried that they won't write me strong recommendation letters because they are asked to do so very infrequently. To repeat my question, how would you rate my chances at getting accepted into a statistics/data science MS/PhD program at John Hopkins, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Columbia, Cornell, Yale, NYU, and Rutgers? Keep in mind that I am a white female.