Bayesic

1) Given your background, I think you could get into and do fine at some of the larger, third tier programs. Some schools that I believe could be in your sweet spot include places like Ohio State, Penn State, UF, Pittsburgh, Iowa, or UCLA. Reach schools include NC State, Michigan, Texas A&M, or Minnesota. The tough thing is there aren't many safety schools here...unless you want to consider programs that might not be able to offer you funding. 2) Your quantitative score isn't bad, but it's at the lower end of the spectrum for PhD applicants, so I can't imagine your score will help you. If you don't mind blowing 150 bucks to take it again, I would recommend retaking it to try to get the Q up. A decrease in your verbal score won't matter; programs generally care only about the quant. I think the only time verbal really comes into consideration is when it is at the extremes. Your personal statement will let admissions committees know that you are an articulate human being 3) If you know this is what you want to do, apply as soon as you can. However, if you are hesitant as to whether you want to pursue a PhD in statistics, it might make sense to take a year off to make sure that this is really what you want to do.

I think your background sets you up very well to get into one of those graduate programs. Even though you didn't major in math or statistics, you still got an excellent grade in Real Analysis, which is the class that admissions committees look for when they are trying to determine whether your math background is suitable for a PhD program. IMO, a second semester of real analysis would be the most helpful for your application if you were going to take another math course. In my opinion, unless you got a very good score on the GRE math subject test (75-80%+), don't bother submitting your score to schools that merely recommend it. I think most schools realize that a multiple choice test on subjects ranging from number theory to topology is not the most predictive when it comes to statistics PhD outcomes. However, it can serve as a proxy for general mathematical knowledge, which is why some schools like to have it. Many of the schools that you listed are relatively small programs, which makes them harder to get into and narrows the range of research topics available in the department. May I ask why you chose those specific programs?