Ranger

Go to courseera.com and sign up (free) for machine learning, neural networks, data science related courses. There are a lot to choose from. Although the intent of these courses is not to train you for graduate level research, it would still serve as a good start. Look at Stanford opencourseware (OCW) as well. CMU CS dept's website has some courses up as well (these are MS-PhD grad level courses). Python may actually be good enough but learning more things can never be discouraged. (Yes it's all helpful! lol) Then pick up Elements of Statistical Learning (by hastie et al) and work your butt off. Knowing theoretical probability (measure theoretic) may or may not be required, but a course on convex optimization maybe useful. After all this you ready to do whatever you want to do (maybe)!

You may want to look into some MBA programs that have statistics concentration if you want to be a decision-maker! They usually require professional LORs. A compelling personal statement along with a high GRE score might be your best opportunity. Go to professors who gave you A's in upper division work and talk to them. Professors tend to remember more than students give them credit for

All my applications were Learning centric. At least that's my angle trying to get in to a PhD program. I like it and I can support why I like it, but no one's to say I won't find solace in developing theoretical foundations for Time Series analysis coupled with game theory lol. ( a bit of a stretch but WLOG) I guess what I am trying to say is once I do get in to a program, I will decide on what I want to do based on coursework, networking with the people in my past, potential advisors I would want to work with, (old and new) interests etc. Right now, just making sure I don't get anxious at all and roll with the punches. Plus the idea of rejection should not be demotivating. Remember the first B (or C or low grade according your standards) you got in elementary (or middle school or whatever appropriate point), yeah, well nobody gives a flying fudge about that anymore. No one is going to care CMU rejected me either, including CMU and me, in right about NOW.

Well I am not moving to Pittsburgh. CMU I'll see you when you call me to give a talk in the future.

You are just having the post application submission panic! Try to be less anxious because you can't do anything about it now. Also, for most admission committees, it is often enough to read that you have given thought to what you want to do. Nothing is set in stone. You aren't a tenured professor and you are not expected to be an expert. They want to make sure they don't waste their time and money on you. You are starting a grad program and have the right to change your mind if you want. Admission committees usually have understanding people on them. So, don't worry about it anymore. Wait for X to accept you.

The best way to find work is to network. The hardest thing for me after my MS in math was trying to find a work. It can be long and arduous. Try to find a meetup around your area. If you are in a large city, there should be tons of groups. This is a great way to get to know what's out there. It is pretty common to find employers for startups at these events. Socialize and talk to friends of friends (and then their friends and theirs also) and try to get your name out there. You'd be surprised how effective this method is in reality. It's a huge world out there with companies you've never heard of employing hundreds of people. Try to reach out to recruiters via linkedin (recruiters/headhunters make money finding YOU). Start thinking of big businesses with a new perspective. Example, target is not just a grocery/department store. Target has many career opportunities from finance to IT to math or strategy to planning. Almost any large company you can think of hire quants for many many many purposes. Explore everything you can (websites have career opportunities, career builder, indeed etc). You sound me a few years ago. I went and worked for 1.5 years at a tech firm (someone knew someone got me an interview) and then came back to a PhD program. I felt like I wasn't challenged enough at work and just couldn't relate to people. If and when you do get an interview, make yourself relatable. If they say well do you have any experience of leading a team. Talk about something that's remotely relevant like physics lab group leader or something. At the end of the day most employers are looking for people that seem well adjusted and would be easy to train on the job. MOST IMPORTANTLY: convince yourself that you aren't in a rut even if you do stay in school. Things are always better when you look at them from a far. For me, I got bored and annoyed working my job in 7 months, and couldn't wait to go back to school. Businesses are geared towards profits, in general, so you'll get thrown under the bus if it means more money. So, fight one battle at a time. Get a job/internship somewhere first and get your foot in the "door" (wherever the hell it's going). Hope this helps.

If you want to give it a last minute try then you should do it. In case you are still interested Michigan State accepts applications till Feb 1 (although you may have missed some fellowship opportunities). I believe Penn State will also accept applications late in the game (rolling admissions) but funding would still be an issue. It may not be a bad idea to call and ask them what opportunities are still available for you. Lastly, you have UCSB that is accepting applications till Feb 15. BUT, waiting another 10 months may not be a bad idea. You could take the Math subject GRE in the interim and apply to some top 5 school(s).

Congrats epimeleia_heautou!!