Undergrad Institution: Public, large research university Major(s): Economics, Political Science Minor(s): Data Analytics GPA: 3.96
Type of Student: Asian American GRE General Test: (took twice, taking highest of each section)
Q: 164 (87%) V: 169 (99%) W: 6.0 (99%)
Programs Applying: Statistics MS, some PhD programs that are more applied than theoretical
Research Experience:
Worked as an economics research assistant in government agency for two years. Helped with maximum likelihood estimation of truncated distribution, conducted statistical regressions, maintained a time-series model, scraped data, data visualization
Text mining, topic modeling political speeches as undergraduate research assistant
Undergraduate political science thesis included multinomial logistic regressions on predictors of a political phenomenon, received High Honors
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: University Medal Finalist, Undergraduate Researcher of the Year, Best Honors Thesis Award
Courses:
Math/Stat: Mathematical Statistics (graduate level) -- B+; Multivariable Calculus -- A; Linear Algebra -- A, Applied Probability and Statistics -- A, Econometrics I & II -- A+ in both, Calculus I & II (high school) -- 5 on AP exam
Programming: Intro to Java -- A, Python for Data Science -- A, Data Analytics -- A, Database Systems -- A, Economics Computer Methods -- A
Letters of Recommendation: Professor I did text mining research with who was also on my thesis defense committee (very strong letter); current work supervisor for whom I'm an economics research assistant; econometrics professor whose class I was the top student in
Goal: My research interests are more on the applied side rather than theory. Interest in helping evaluate/improve public policy.
Programs considering:
PhD:
Duke
CMU Joint Statistics/Public Policy
Rice
Ohio State (they suggest applying for Ph.D. if undecided between Ph.D./MS)
NC State
MS:
Duke
Purdue
University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities
UNC - Chapel Hill
Northwestern M.S. in Analytics (safety)
Georgetown M.S. in Mathematics & Statistics (safety)
UVA (safety)
Berkeley
Chicago (extreme reach)
Stanford (extreme reach)
Concerns:
I know my math background/GRE is weak, and expect I'd have a better chance at Masters than Ph.D. I'd like to get a better sense of where I might get in, and am happy to be corrected about my expectations. I'm hoping strong rec letters will help (I'm pretty sure I'll have at least 2 strong ones)
Any advice on how to fund a Masters?
Thanks so much!