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yosemitesam

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Everything posted by yosemitesam

  1. I think you're talking about the program in Stern, right? I applied to the Center for Data Science.
  2. Thanks! I got an email yesterday morning. They didn't say how many people they emailed, but they asked me to confirm if I would be coming no later than Feb 7, so I imagine they'll email everyone before then.
  3. Hey all, I got an interview offer from NYU's Center for Data Science! Apologies if this isn't the appropriate thread for this, but I just compiled some information about interview preparation from other threads, and I figured I'd share my notes here for anyone else preparing for statistics PhD interviews. Why do you need a PhD? Why now? Story, leading up to why I have to get a PhD The first thing to understand is that if the Professor wants to meet you, then your application must have impressed him and the grad school as a whole. Every single interviewee got picked out of that application pile for a reason. Figure out what your reason is (try asking your recommendation writers if you can't identify yours), and see where it takes you. Go over SOP Think about what your letter-writers may have written about you, etc. Basically, know yourself and know what they know about you Have an answer to "What are your career goals?" that shows both self-awareness and flexibility Talk about my research, kinds of research I'm interested in Go over my paper, things I want to do next Why this department is a good fit Go over SOP Curriculum, details of program Familiarity with faculty If you have already got some offers, they may ask you how you rate this grad school relative to the offers you have got Questions for faculty ("Have an unending supply of questions for the inevitable awkward moments") What I think I need to learn about the department to make a decision Ideally, read some of their recent papers and be ready to ask them questions about their recent research knowledge about the campus and the environment Possible questions for current students ask about qualifying exams get some info on good mentors assess if the stipend is livable Choose outfit dress shirts/Button down shirt or nice sweater and (non-denim) slacks. No need for suit/tie. somewhere around business casual. Pick a professional outfit that is also comfortable. Most of those notes are from these posts, which you may want to check out for their other information:
  4. Thank you! All of my applications were for Stats PhDs except for the ones in my post where I specified otherwise.
  5. Hey FYI I got an acceptance email from UNC on Jan 11. So far I've heard acceptances from UNC and NC State, nothing from the following: Duke MIT's SES PhD program UCLA or Berkeley's masters programs Cal Tech's PhD in Computing + Mathematical Sciences Penn Wharton NYU Center for Data Science Chicago Columbia (although their deadline was 01/12) USC Marshall (their deadline was 01/15)
  6. Hi all, reviving this thread; let me know if it would be better if I start a new one. I took the GRE math subject test last weekend, and unfortunately I kind of blew it. Didn't get great sleep the night before, plus I lost track of time and wasn't able to bubble in guesses for any of the questions I didn't answer. Since there's no penalty for guessing anymore, that cost me at least a few points. Anyway, I have the same question that didn't seem to quite get a definitive answer here--at what percentage level do GRE math subject scores become a liability rather than an asset? (I'm sure there's no definitive answer, but I'd like to get some insight if possible.) Here's my profile: I was hoping to score well on this test to bolster my math credentials since my math background is a little thin for top stats programs. If I managed to squeeze into, say, the 60th percentile, should I include those scores? What about 50th? I don't think any of the programs I'm applying to REQUIRE scores. Any advice and input is appreciated!
  7. Cool, thanks for the feedback and kind words! I realize I'm not a typical candidate, I'm hoping someone will give me a shot. As long as I'm not just wasting application fees and paper, I'm happy to throw my hat into the ring and see what happens.
  8. Thanks, good to know. I'll think more in terms of programs outside the top 10 or so.
  9. Thank you for the input. Are you suggesting that the real analysis class I'm taking this fall won't do much of anything for me? My final grade should be ready before the end of December, which in some cases will be before the application deadline. Otherwise I'll send the grade along as soon as I get it. Also how would you rate my chances at those masters programs? What kind of departments do you think I'd be a good fit for this year?
  10. Undergrad Institution: Top 20 US Major(s): Physics Minor(s): Jazz Studies GPA: 3.85 Type of Student: US White Male GRE General Test: (took June 2017) Q: 170 (97%) V: 170 (99%) W: 6.0 (99%) GRE Math Sub: Taking in October, aiming for 70th percentile Programs Applying: Statistics PhD/MS Research Experience: Working now on an independent project developing a model for a private company, will write a paper and submit with my applications as a writing sample Developed a decently performing model for a challenge, think I'll have my name in a published paper as a result (http://www.fragilefamilieschallenge.org/) Worked in a physics lab as a year for a sophomore (It was pretty good but I realized I didn't have a passion for working in labs, and that was about ten years ago now (!), so pretty sure I can't get a reference letter) Worked as an RA for a humanities professor over a summer (just pretty simple clerical stuff; again, this was about 8 years ago) Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Phi Beta Kappa, graduated with College Honors in Arts and Sciences, Dean's List every semester, National Merit Scholarship recipient Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Developed a simple algorithm for my friend at a large company to make predictions (have to talk to him but I think I'll be able to characterize that as an internship and put it on my CV); 8 years of tutoring math/physics/test prep Courses: Math/Statistics: Honors Calc 3 (took in high school at a top 30 university, A), Matrix Algebra (A), Diff EQ (A), Probability (took this summer at a top 25 university, A+), Mathematical Statistics (took this summer at a top 25 university, A), Real Analysis (taking this fall at a meh state school, was my only option unfortunately) Computer Science: Intro to Computer Programming (A+), Computer Science I (A) Other courses with heavy math component: Intro Microecon (A-), Intermediate Macroecon (took this summer at a top 25 university, A+), many physics classes of course (all A+/A/A- except one B+) Online courses (MOOCs): Econometrics (Coursera), Statistical Learning (Stanford Lagunita, Hastie/Tibshirani), Machine Learning (Coursera, Ng), a few SQL classes, a few classes on R/Python Letters of Recommendation: Undergraduate advisor who I took a math class with and got an A in; mathematical statistics professor who I got an A with; still figuring out third (could be advisor for research project I'm working on now, although I don't get a lot of face time so not sure as of now how strong that letter would be; humanities professor who I worked as a summer RA for who liked me a lot and I tutored her kids for over a year afterward, or possibly one of two graduate students (one who was a TA, one who taught a class) who like me a lot and can speak to my mathematical ability). Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: My research interests are more on the applied side rather than theory Programs considering: PhD: Duke Penn Wharton UNC NC State Columbia UCLA USC Marshall (Data Science and Operations--Statistics) CalTech (Computing and Mathematical Sciences) NYU Northwestern MS: Berkeley Harvard Chicago Concerns: I graduated just about 8 years ago (graduated a semester early). I will turn 30 just before programs start next fall. Not sure how this will affect me? I've taken the GRE, Probability, Mathematical Statistics, and Intermediate Macroecon this year, and will take Real Analysis and the GRE Math Subject test this fall. Plus I've been tutoring all these years. So I'm hoping that will show my readiness to go back to school. I know my math coursework is a little thin. And based on my practice I'm not sure I can count on a math GRE score much past the 70th percentile. I'm hoping that will be enough to be in the running at the programs I'm looking at? I think I'll have two reasonably strong letters, but I'm not sure what to do about the third. Any advice would be appreciated. Any advice on how I can best spend my time between now and when applications are due? I will be taking this Real Analysis class and working on my research project/paper, as well as wrangling rec letters of course. The impression I'm under is that out of the things I can do now that are within my control, the most important things would be maximizing my GRE math subject test score, securing the best rec letters I can, and making this research project/resulting paper as good as possible.
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