StatHopeful

Hi Brack5, I'm a student applying for programs this year, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I think you have a decent shot at most of the programs you listed. Indiana is probably a very high chance of getting a slot. I think Michigan especially would be very difficult to crack. Your biggest shortcoming is a lack of upper-level mathematics courses, not statistics. If possible, try and take an advanced calculus (real analysis) class in your next semester, it will help a lot with the coursework you'll see in your first few semesters of graduate school. I'd mention this briefly in a personal statement just to eliminate some doubt in the committee's mind. You may also look into Biostatistics programs. The mathematics background expectation will be a bit lower, and your chemistry background will give some weight to your profile if you have experience in analytical chemistry. There are some top-notch programs at Minnesota and Michigan, if you're looking to stay around Big 10 country. Hope that helps!

You look pretty competitive to me for most masters programs, maybe some with funding. I don't know many that fund, but one that seems to fund quite a few students is Iowa State. I believe Clemson also has funded mathematical statistics options you could look into as well.

I would agree with statfan that the GRE could be a difficulty, but I think if you retake you should be able to overcome. Statistics/Biostatistics admissions are much more competitive for international students than for Americans, so I think retaking is your best option at this point. Many students do not have research experience so this will probably not exclude you, but it may be helpful to look into some research options. I am somewhat familiar with the faculty at UGA, and I think you would have extreme difficulty there. I'm not too familiar with Augusta or Georgia State, but I would assume the chances there (and at most statistics programs I have reviewed in the past, to be honest) would be slim as well. Your GRE score is just too low to be commensurate with your relative success in undergraduate and graduate work. That said, I think if you improve your Q to around a 165+ and verbal to 150+, your chances increase immensely at those latter two schools.

Hello Yiyu, I'm glad that you found this site and were able to post here. However, this site tends to have a strong bias towards statistics/biostatistics, with the occasional applied math thread. As such, I will direct you to this site: http://www.mathematicsgre.com/ which has a lot of information regarding mathematics programs. I think someone there would be better suited to answer your question. Best of luck!

I am applying for this cycle, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Most Ph.D. and M.S. programs in statistics seem to understand that many incoming students will have limited experience with statistical coursework. Many only require a single statistics class for admission, or just 'exposure', even in the top 20 range. If you have taken econometrics this may suffice for 'exposure' at some schools. A B or (especially) below in this course could damage your application to some top programs. You have not commented on your mathematical background, but that will be far more important. Ensure you have strong grades in multivariable calculus and matrix algebra, as well as any other upper level math, and do well on the GRE. Masters programs are becoming increasingly competitive each year, but they are still not extremely challenging to get into, granted you are not aiming for funding. In short, take it if you can do well, but don't take it if you can't nail an A, in my opinion. Also, the sticked post by cyberwulf regarding personal statements may be of use to you:

I'm applying this year as well, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I think you seem like a very strong applicant. Most statistics programs I've contacted want to see maybe one or two formal statistics courses, but are mainly concerned with your ability to handle the theory. You seem to easily jump this hurdle with your A's in graduate analysis and REU's in pure math. Especially with an 80% (around the average for applicants to Stanford's PhD in Statistics) I think you would be in contention at every program in the country, the results from there would be are a bit unpredictable, it seems. If you do score that highly, I don't think any program you would consider going to would not be a waste of your money or time to apply. That said, I do wonder why you want to make the sudden switch to statistics after being 'dead-set' on math. It seems to me that you would be a successful applicant for either type of program, so you should do what makes you happiest. Academic careers in statistics or mathematics hardly ever result in fame and fortune, so you might as well make sure you enjoy what you'll be grinding on for the rest of your life.

@cyberwulf - thank you for your input. Would you recommend applying to Harvard/WashU/Hopkins even though I go to a poorly-ranked institution with no GRE subject? Thank you again!

Undergrad Institution: Low-ranked non-flagship state school Major: Mathematics, CS minor GPA: 3.95 (4.0 in math) Type of Student: DWM Upper Division Courses: Real I/II, Mathematical Statistics, Categorical Data Analysis, Abstract Algebra, DEQ, Set Theory (grad level) GRE: 169V/170Q/5.5W Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Generic math department awards/ high gpa awards Research experience: Past summer at top 15 biostatistics department in clinical trials, two working papers in stat, one r&r in graph theory Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Student teaching assistant in math department Letters of Recommendation: Math department chair, young stat professor from department, leader of data coordinating center from top 15 biostat department Research Interest: Clinical trials, specifically Phase I and Phase II (I want small grant hell for the rest of my life), and structural neuroimaging (Plan) to apply to (PhD Biostatistics Programs): Harvard Johns Hopkins UNC Michigan Emory Minnesota Florida State (hopefully safety) SMU (hopefully safety) Possibly (PhD Statistics): Purdue WashU South Carolina (safety) Random: Notre Dame AMSC (one adviser in particular) I worry I may be aiming too high on the biostats side. I would love anyone's opinion/advice! Thank you all in advance.