rachelllplx

Thanks to both of you for your advice. I guess the major reason I didn't want to apply to Biostat programs was, though I'm interested in that research, I didn't want to limit myself to only doing research in Biostat. cyberwulf said there is still theoretical training, but is it enough to use in applications other than biostat? .. I guess I will do more research on those programs

I'm kind of nervous to post here.. I have a feeling I may need to lower my expectations for the schools I can get into.. any input would be appreciated! So I just graduated with a B.S. in Statistics and am looking in PhD programs for Fall of 2015 - I am taking a gap year to do a service term with AmeriCorps (so a job unrelated to statistics), which is why I'm only applying to schools now. I wanted to see what you guys who know a bit about the admission process thought of my chances of getting into some top programs (not top 10 really, but maybe 10 - 20 according to US News rankings), as well as any advice you may have. The specific programs I am looking into are at UWashington and Duke (dreams), NCSU and UMichigan (hopefully more reasonable?), to name a few. My GPA in statistics was a 4.0 and my cumulative was a 3.97. I have not taken Real Analysis which I know is pretty important - the highest pure math classes I took were Calc III and Linear algebra, plus Mathematical Statistics (all of which I got A's). I also have pretty good handling of statistical computing in both SAS and R thanks to two classes (A's in both) and some self teaching. I was accepted and participated in two summer Statistics internships/training programs - one where I worked as a Research Assistant intern at the National Center for Education Statistics (which continued into the school year), and another which was more of a training program for undergrads (held at NCSU - one of the schools I'm applying to) to get some exposure to biostatistics where we presented a final research project at the end. From the latter program, I am able to secure a letter of recommendation from a professor that (from what I've been told) is a pretty big name in the statistics world (recent past president of the ASA?), plus the recommendations I will have from my statistics professors at school. My career goal is research, though not academia .. I'd really like to do collaborative research, perhaps with applications in social sciences, or in survey methodology or biostat which I have had exposure to from the summer programs. But I would prefer the theoretical foundation of a pure statistics grad program as opposed to a degree in Biostat.. My major concern was my Quant GRE score - I've heard at least 90th percentile is the target, and I got 83rd (a score of 162) - my verbal and writing score were 87th and 93rd percentile respectively so I'm not terribly worried about those. Just wondering how much my Quant GRE score will affect my chances at some of these top programs, and if you think I'll have any chance at those programs given my other qualifications? Will my GPA and experience be able to offset the GRE or will a score like that bar me from even being considered? Any input would be appreciated, and I can give more info (my SOP?) if necessary. Thanks so much!