njstat

Hi! Applying for a statistics PhD. Interested in applied statistics, particularly in environmental applications but also open to many other applications (not including biostat or business applications). See below:

I am a rising senior in undergrad at TCNJ and looking at grad programs. I would appreciate any advice. 1. I want to study applied statistics as opposed to theoretical, and am particularly interested in environmental applications. I've found studies in remote sensing and spatial analysis that interest me, but they are not out of statistics departments. Does anyone have suggestions for programs (preferably in eastern US) where I can get in, get funded, and do research in applied statistics (not business applications or biostatistics)? So far I have found interesting programs at Penn State and NC State, but I do not know if I can get into NC State and it doesn't seem likely that I will get into Penn State. I'm also looking at applying to Rutgers, but I have yet to find any professors in the Statistics/Biostat department who are studying what I want to study. 2. I would like to get a Masters en route to a PhD, and I need to be fully funded. It makes sense to apply to a PhD program, right? Undergrad: The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Major: Mathematics with a Statistics Specialization Minor: Graphic Design GPA: 3.71 Cumulative, 3.61 in Mathematics/Statistics Student: White female GRE: 160 Verbal / 165 Quant / 4.5 Writing Schools I am considering applying to: NC State, Rutgers New Brunswick, Penn State Courses / Background: Calc A(B+), Calc B(A-), Multivariable Calc(A-), Proof Writing Through Discrete Math(C+), Statistical Inference(A), Linear Algebra(A), Data Management and Analysis(A), Probability(B), Regression Analysis(B+), Sampling and Nonparametric Statistics(A), Datamining and Predictive Modeling(A), Real Analysis(tbd), Mathematical Statistics(tbd) I'm proficient in R and am a certified base programmer for SAS 9. Research Experience: Summer undergrad biostat research program at TCNJ Potential Letters of Recommendation (haven't asked them yet): -Advisor / Research Advisor / Statistics Professor of 2 of my courses -Criminology professor who taught my Data Management and Analysis course and helped me get SAS certified -Boss of an online statistics internship I did Thank you for your time, and I appreciate any advice you can give regarding applied statistics graduate programs.