StatsG0d

First, you shouldn't double post just because no one responded to your initial post. You could probably get into a couple good MS programs, but you have almost no shot at getting into a PhD program in the top-40 with your profile. For an international student, your math background is pretty deficient. I do not see multivariable calculus on your resume. While you may have covered it in another class, I don't think that will be enough. I think even with the masters, it will be difficult for you to get into a good PhD program.

Check out the mathematicsgre.com forum. This forum is sort of biased towards statistics / biostatistics.

Out of curiosity for @Stat Assistant Professor and @bayessays, what about business schools? Aren't they more teaching-oriented but also get tenure?

It would be helpful if you posted your whole profile (with grades, etc.), but yeah, this is definitely enough

1.) You don't really need to personalize your personal statement too much. See the post from cyberwulf. 2.) I think it depends. Many biostatistics programs have students who have never even taken real analysis, so I think for these programs getting a B will matter a lot less. For most statistics programs, I don't think it looks great, but I don't think it will necessarily auto-reject your application. 3.) I don't think it will matter much if you have just one more class. I'd probably take the writing class because you might need a break from all that math in one semester.

One strategy is to contact the grad coordinators at each program and email them about your research interests and see if they can put you in touch with anyone.

I have had personal success sending updated transcripts etc. to adcoms. The worst case scenario is that they ignore it, but I have found the vast majority are willing to take it under consideration.

Since you're domestic, I think you'd have a decent chance at UNC or Michigan as a couple of good reach schools.

You can look for research analyst / research assistant jobs at consulting firms, think tanks, international organizations, etc. that might at least give your application a small boost, while allowing you to make some money. Unfortunately, it's not really the best time to be looking for a job.

I would not do a gap year. Also, almost no one applying to stat / biostat PhD programs has done real, theoretical research. You have a very high GPA from an Ivy, I don't think you'll have too much of a problem getting into at least one of the top-15 stats programs or at least one of the top-7 biostat programs. I also wouldn't waste time taking the math GRE as it's only required by a few select schools.

IMO, computing speed / power aren't really that necessary. If you're going to do anything hardcore, you're going to use a cluster computing system. Thus, I'd say get a laptop that has a good battery life, is comfortable to carry around in a backpack, and won't break the bank. I have a Surface and several of my classmates do. It's portable, lightweight, and (usually) cheaper than Apple products. They also do education pricing.

I knew someone who majored in math at Ohio State, got a low score on the math GRE (159 I believe), but still got into A&M and other top state schools (although I imagine they are an exceptional case). @bayessays gave you the best advice. If you did what he suggested, I could see you getting into some schools like A&M, PSU, Michigan, UCLA, Purdue, etc. (the larger state school programs). If you're interested in biostatistics, you might have a decent shot at all programs outside of UW (Harvard and Hopkins are reaches, but I've known students to get into these programs with profiles similar to yours).

I'll echo the others and say you don't have a realistic chance of getting into any of those schools. I don't see calculus, linear algebra, nor real analysis on your profile. Even if you've covered calculus / linear algebra in your engineering mathematics classes, I think it would be difficult to convince adcoms you know these topics well enough (especially linear algebra). If you really want to have a good shot at those dream schools, I would argue a master's in pure math would be the way to go. A master's in statistics would help, but a master's in math would show adcoms that you definitely can do theoretical math research. Based on your background, are you sure that you would enjoy theoretical research in statistics? I would think you would be a good candidate for more applied programs. As an alternative to the schools you listed, you could consider biostatistics programs outside of UW, UNC, Harvard, and Hopkins (the more theoretical ones). You might still have a shot at UNC, which has faculty working in both theory and applications.

Check out the forum at www.mathematicsgre.com. This forum focuses more on statistics / biostatistics.

Curious that you put Columbia with Harvard and JHU as the former is on a much lower level than the latter two. I agree with @bayessays regarding analysis. I definitely think you should take real analysis and do really well. Make no mistake--taking real analysis at any of those three schools is going to be hard. You should aim for an A- I think to boost your application a lot. I will add that the C+ in linear algebra is going to kill your application at most of the best schools. The only way to remedy this is either to take PhD-level linear models (which I do NOT recommend as many programs will prefer that you take PhD core classes at their institution), OR to take abstract algebra. Again, this will likely be very hard at any of the institutions you mentioned that you are attending. I also agree that asking some of your professors what they think about your profile and how to boost it will help a lot as they generally will know which schools are looking for which types of students.

I agree that UW is unrealistic. JHU could be considered a "far reach". I think you could get into UNC / Michigan as a couple target / lower reach schools. Your profile is peculiar because while most people in these programs have better grades, you have a deeper math background than most applicants at those schools. Also, Northwestern is a prestigious school, so that helps. For that reason, I think you have a pretty good shot. On an unrelated note, LaCroix is awesome.

If you're interested in them, I could also see you getting into a top-3 biostatistics program.

I think that taking graduate level analysis would look better than the other options. You could also take a PhD-level theory class, but I think the graduate analysis class would look better.

I feel you have a reasonably strong application, but since funding for international students is limited (particularly for biostatistics programs), make sure you apply to a wide range of programs. As a back-up, you might consider applying to some statistics programs that admit a lot of international students and have some faculty working in biostatistics (e.g., Daniels at Florida comes to mind).

Although it's titled "Mathematics and Statistics," this forum tends to focus more on statistics than math. For the latter, I suggest you check out https://mathematicsgre.com/

I guess it can vary widely. I know someone who had only taken Calc I-III and linear algebra, had a similar GRE to the OP, applied to Pitt and got waitlisted for the PhD (ultimately decided to do a funded master's elsewhere). I think if the OP took real analysis and got an A- or better, they would greatly improve their chances at a top-10 biostats, especially the less theoretical programs (e.g., Pitt and Emory). IMO, a 163+ is sufficient to at least not get auto-rejected. Granted, a better score wouldn't hurt, but I doubt it would matter in the long run.

In addition to what @bayessays said, I think it would be good to have a standalone and proof-based linear algebra course. While you indicate you have studied linear algebra, I am not sure that adcoms will think that such a class is a substitute for a full linear algebra course. You could indicate on your PS which topics were covered in the course, but that requires the person reviewing your app to be a rather diligent reader.

I agree. I wouldn't bother with the math subject test unless you want to go to a program that requires it (which I think is only Stanford, but a few other programs like Washington Stats, Berkeley, and Chicago recommend it). Your profile is already strong enough for a top-10 stats / top-5 biostats as-is. I'd bet you could get into a top-5 stats or top-3 biostats.

I agree with @Stat Postdoc Soon Faculty. The only part of your profile I'm unsure about is that it appears you took most of these math courses online. I'm not sure how this will be viewed by admissions committees.

Upper-division courses do help out a lot, but Calc I-III and linear algebra (and for most programs real analysis) comprise the "core" classes of an application. Obviously, the more math you've taken the better. Straight B's in those courses do not make your application look great, but I still think you have a shot at some of those schools you listed provided you do much better on the GRE and get really good grades in advanced calculus and especially real analysis. The Bayesian statistics and stochastic processes courses will matter much less than the other two, so make sure you devote more time to advanced calculus and analysis. In general, math >> statistics courses for admissions.