2016biostat

Hello, I hope everything went well for those who applied to graduate programs this past application cycle. I was considering -- given this forum's unique position as the (possibly) largest source of biostat grad admissions information on the internet, starting a communal calendar of sorts. It could include a compilation of application deadlines, required materials, prerequisite courses, etc., for different programs. I think it would be easy enough to start a shared google calendar. Let me know if any of you all are interested.

I'm interested if anyone reading has information on these two biostat PhD programs for Fall 2016: Vanderbilt: I'm currently waitlisted -- anyone know if they will be declining their offer to attend? Emory: No correspondence since submitting my app. I'm assuming I've been silently waitlisted or rejected. It's interesting that no PhD acceptances have been posted on the survey.

Off topic, but I noticed you're an entomologist -- are you familiar with this instance of an Australian insect thought to be extinct for nearly a hundred years, only to be found on a tiny relic of a volcanic island, 13 miles isolated from its last known location? I read about it today and thought it was cool.

Congrats!

Ha, after asking on this thread yesterday, I just got my first invite today to MUSC!

Yeah, it's somewhat difficult to extrapolate (for me, at least) to this year because there isn't a lot on data relative to bigger programs on the survey. From earlier years (2012-13), it seems like the invites got sent out about a month before the earliest interview date, which this year is January 21st.

Cool, I've been keeping an eye on the survey, but any news? I'm a bit perplexed by this statement on their website re: invites: "correspondence is handled via telephone and mail" -- which seems odd because all instances on the survey list invites via email.

Any of you all apply to the Medical University of South Carolina?

I don't think you mentioned multivariate calculus (calc. III) in your post -- that's a course which seems to be a near ubiquitous requirement for biostat. programs.

Thanks for the speedy responses! I ordered the Ross: "Introduction to Probability Models" book to start off. That Coursera program looks interesting, too.

Hello, I just finished taking Linear Algebra this summer (after finishing my undergrad. degree), and now have a fairly large amount of time before possibly starting in a graduate program in biostats (if i'm so fortunate). With that in mind, would anyone be able to recommend a calculus-based probability book for self-study? From what i've read, this topic seems like it would be a worthwhile to investigate -- even if i'm not able to take a formal class in it prior to grad school. I'm not really sure what variety is available re: rigor, but I would prefer something relatively palatable (if that's an option), as my math background only covers calc I-III, linear algebra, and introductory stats. Thanks

Edit: I see you're graduating with a MS, too.

Hello, I am also preparing biostat applications for Fall 2016. I'm nearly certain all biostat graduate programs list their prerequisite courses as: calculus through multi-variable calculus, and linear algebra. I'm not familiar with the advance mathematics course you mentioned, so it may be an exception, but my impression is that these prereqs are assumed to be fulfilled in traditional, stand-alone courses (e.g., MATH 141, 142, 241, 544).

Thanks for your thoughts; I hadn't thought of it that way. That actually mirrors my ultimate approach to undergrad -- where I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to study, but luckily attended a large school with a lot of options as far as courses to take and majors to select. I'm not dead-set on picking either industry or academia, though the research experience which I am currently getting has been a positive one, and it's possible I may like it even more as I get more research experience. What exactly would make a program like MUSC not as well suited for pursuing a research profession (being a professor) over another program?

Hello, I'm looking to apply to biostatistics programs for the Fall of 2016. I'm specifically considering applying to Vanderbilt, MUSC, Brown, Duke, and UNC-CH for both MS and PhD programs -- with the last three of those schools possibly being 'reaches', just based on my perception of their reputation for selective admittance. Considering the possibility that I could be accepted to one or more of these schools, what's the best way to approach selecting a program? From what i've read online, grad school -- especially PhD programs, are best evaluated by the research the faculty at a school regularly produce, one's potential thesis adviser, and job placement of graduates from the program. I've also looked over rankings produced by US News and amstat for biostat programs. However, from what i've read about biostats, specifically, it seems incoming students to graduate programs generally have little specific research experience in the field, and thus these criteria are less readily applicable. Given a lack of specific research focus prior to admittance, then, would it best to look primarily at the reputation of a faculties' research? For example, the journals in which they publish, and the number of citations in other research which those papers receive? I realize this is all contingent upon the actual programs which i'm able to get in to, and thus the specifics of my application, but i'm curious to gain some more insight into this process. I'm especially interested in what people can say at MUSC's program, as I am fairly local to it, and the medical school has such a good reputation. Thanks,