biostat43

Undergrad Institution: Canadian (fairly well known) Major(s): Mathematics Minor(s): GPA: 4.00 Type of Student: US Citizen GRE General Test: Q: 165 (89%) V: 163 (93%) W: 4.5 (82%) GRE Subject Test in Mathematics: M: NA Programs Applying: Biostatistics and Statistics PhD Research Experience: Worked for a couple of years on projects in statistics/biostatistics during undergrad. A few methods papers submitted / in progress at the time of application. 5-10 presentations at conferences/seminars/etc. Won a reasonably well-regarded data science competition (as part of a team). About a half-year working in research in numerical analysis. Letters of Recommendation: Two from research supervisors and one from an advanced math course Math/Statistics Grades: Math courses: Calculus 2 and 3, Advanced Calculus, ODEs, Linear Algebra, Analysis 1 and 2, Abstract Algebra 1 and 2, Number Theory, Discrete Structures, Complex Variables, Numerical Analysis, Matrix Numerical Analysis Statistics courses: Probability, Statistics, Regression and ANOVA, Research Project (in biostat methods), Bayesian Statistics (PhD level) Plus a handful of computer sciences courses Results: Biostatistics PhD Harvard University - Accepted 2/13 Johns Hopkins University - Accepted 3/02 University of Washington - Rejected 1/26University of Minnesota - Accepted 12/21 Statistics PhD Duke University - Accepted 2/05 UC Berkeley - Rejected 2/15 University of Washington - Rejected 2/08

I'll be sure to make a detailed post using the standard template when I finish hearing back from the rest of the schools on my list. For now though, my GRE was 163 V, 165 Q, and 4.5 W, and I've had a few years of research experience in my undergrad (no publications yet). Probably the main difference is GPA (I have a 4.0). Anyways, I just recommend to not immediately rule yourself out for Duke and consider applying if you are very interested

If you are really interested in Duke, I would encourage you to still apply. It seems that you have impressive research experience, which Duke certainly looks for. I am an applicant myself this season, but I have been admitted to Duke's PhD Statistical Science program with a profile that is fairly similar to yours. Best of luck!

Thank you @twilightgalaxy and @cyberwulf for your responses. In that case, I take it that it is not necessary to contact professors or identify them in one's application. Additionally, I am debating on retaking the GRE and I wanted some advice. Is it true that an applicant for Biostatistics PhD and MS programs must get above a certain GRE score or range of scores to be seriously considered, but scoring much higher than that will not necessarily help one's application much? I recently took it and got a 163V and 165Q. I am wondering if the 165Q would put me at a disadvantage for competitive Biostatistics PhD programs, particularly at Harvard / U Washington / Hopkins. I have a strong math background (4.0 GPA at top 25 school, math major with some grad statistics/biostatistics courses), but just not a particularly strong GRE quant score.

Hi, I'll be applying to Biostatistics programs this fall. I'm finishing my last year of undergrad and my long term goal is to do a PhD in Biostatistics. However, I have no idea what research topic I would like to go into for what would be my dissertation. My research projects so far have been fairly narrow and only on one topic in Biostatistics. Do you recommend that I do a masters first to get an overview of the field and a clear idea of what topic I would like to pursue? It also seems that a large part of the interviews for PhD programs are based on potential research topics, which I would be blank on. Any thoughts?