Almost_grad1230

Thanks for all the advice everyone! If I were to decide instead to apply to Pure Stats programs, would my profile also be competitive at the top 15 schools?

Hello! I'm hoping to apply in the near future to Statistics / Biostatistics PhD programs though I don't know what my emphasis will be. I am however leaning strongly to Biostatistics. Here is my profile: * I rushed to finish this major and minor in my final two years, so unlike other potential applicants I haven't had much time to do anything research related / get the strongest letters of recommendation. Undergraduate: UCLA Major: Applied Mathematics Minor: Statistics Overall GPA: 3.89 Major + Minor GPA: 3.87 Upper-Division Coursework: 4.0 Relevant Coursework (Quarter system, so each grade was for a different quarter where multiple grades indicated a series taken): Mathematical Coursework: Single variable Calculus (AP, AP) Multivariable Calculus (B-, B+) Linear Algebra (B+, A) Discrete Structures (Pass) Differential Equations (A-) Analysis (A, A) Mathematical Modeling (A) Applied Numerical Methods (Numerical Analysis) (A, A) Probability Theory (A, A) Stochastic Processes (A) Statistics Coursework: Introductory Statistics (A) Introduction to Statistics with R (A) Introduction to Statistical Probability (Applied) (A) Linear Models (A) Data Analysis and Regression (A) Design of Experiment (A) Statistical Models and Data Minig (A) Computational Statistics with R (A) Computational and Optimization Statistics (A) Monte Carlo Methods (A) Test Scores: GRE Quant: 169 GRE Verbal: 169 Recommendations (I don't know how strong) = 2 math professors (tenured), 1 statistics professor (tenured) = generally describing my intellectual curiosity, performance in class, general mathematical success and potential ability to do research. Research: essentially none (didn't have the time since i loaded up on majority of these classes in my last 2 years). My main questions are: 1. What ranges of schools to apply to? I'm assuming a broad range in the top 40 based on my profile I hope? For both Statistics and Biostatistics departments. 2. Would there be a benefit for me to complete a Masters in Statistics / Biostatistics before I do a PhD program? Assuming that I don't have to take out much debt. I was also thinking of taking a gap year just to try to get some research experience before applying. Would this be worthwhile? Or would it be just marginally beneficial? 3. I had a terrible quarter at the end of my Sophomore year due to health reasons (hence the P in the Discrete Structures class + other unfortunate academic performance). Since my grades have definitely showed a positive trend after that quarter, is it even worth mentioning in my statement? Thanks!