statsphdapps

Not that I'm an expert on this but from reading articles such as https://www.chronicle.com/article/Inside-the-Graduate-Admissions/235093 it sounds like admissions committees often use GRE scores to thin out the pile before carefully reading essays, transcripts etc. I don't know if it's worth running the risk of being filtered out before getting your application reviewed more carefully.

Update: I wound up scoring and 820 on the Math Subject GRE (82 percentile)! Given my strong GPA and math courses from a well-known undergrad institution, would it help or hurt me to send such a score to schools that do not require the subject GRE but strongly recommend it such as Chicago and Washington (I feel like I'm in a grey area as to whether or not sending the score will be helpful). What about for schools that say the test is optional, and you can report scores but they don't strongly recommend it?)

Thank you so much marmle and lemma for these thoughtful responses and the advice on what to prioritize. It has helped me feel much more confident and eager to dive in and start filling out the applications and getting in touch with my letter writers. Lemma -Classical mechanics was easily my favorite physics class followed by thermodynamics and statistical mechanics! Given that these were also your favorites, it sounds extremely likely we went to the same undergrad. Perhaps we have even been in multiple classes together if you are senior this year too

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 in U.S (private) Major(s): Mathematics (Intensive), Statistics and Data Science GPA: 3.95 Type of Student: domestic white male GRE General Test: Taking it in two weeks. Very confident about the Quant section, but not sure I will have enough time to prepare for the writing and verbal GRE Subject Test in Mathematics: I took it yesterday. I felt tired and unfocused for the last third of the exam and don't think I did well. Research Experience: 1st Summer: worked in a computational medical research lab 2nd Summer: worked in a computational atmospheric science lab 3rd Summer: worked on a project in a climate science lab that was heavy on statistics and time series analysis Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Phi Beta Kappa Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Currently TA'ing introductory Bayesian Statistics Graduate level courses: Functional Analysis (A), Bayesian Statistics (A), Statistical Inference (currently taking) Undergrad level courses: Math: Real Analysis(A), Abstract Algebra (A), Complex Analysis (A), Proof based Vector Calculus/Linear Algebra I and II (A and A) , Discrete Mathematics (A-), Ordinary Differential Equations (A) Statistics/ Data Science: Theory of Statistics(A) Introductory Bayesian Statistics (A), Optimization Techniques (currently taking), Data Mining and Machine Learning(currently taking) Computer Science: Algorithms(A), Data Structures (A) Physics (I don't know how much Stat programs would care, but some of these were challenging courses): Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (A-), Advanced Classical Mechanics(A), Quantum Mechanics(A), Intensive Introductory Physics I (with lab) and II (A and A) Letters of Recommendation: -A computational medical researcher with whom I worked with for 3 summers (including the summer after freshman, and two in high school). He writes very strong and generous letters, but I am not sure if this carries much weight being so long ago, especially when the work was more coding and didn't have much statistics. - Stats teacher who knows me fairly well, I am a TA in his class now and took 2 courses statistics courses with him ( I am worried I did a mediocre job on his research final project in one class, but he knows me from enough settings to highlight my positive work) -Math teacher I didn't get to know all that well, but I took two math courses with him, (one being a grad level course), and aced all 4 of his exams. I found his classes and exams very difficult, but I am worried he won't perceive his classes as all that hard Statistics PhD Programs applying to: Top Schools: Berkeley, Stanford, UW, Harvard, Chicago, Wharton, CMU, MIT (for operations research instead of stats) Other schools: To be determined, but I know I should apply to at least 3 or 4 other schools that are easier to get into. Advice on this would be welcomed Concerns: -Not doing as well as I could have on the Math subject GRE, but I guess it is too late to retake, and I don't necessarily have to send the scores to most at least -Lack of any of my letters being able to highlight the ability strength as a statistical or mathematical researcher (rather than just ability to do well on tests, TA, or code at a high level relative to the med students and undergrads in the medical lab). Also maybe it is a red flag that I am not asking more recent research supervisors for letters, but maybe that's justified because I only worked with them for 2 months each. -No research publications -TIME: This is really where I need advice. I only have a month and a half left to take the regular GRE, write a statement of purpose, pick schools to apply to, communicate all the relevant information to my recommenders etc. I am unsure what to prioritize, the regular GRE? communication with letter writers? SOP? should I shrink my list or grow it? Also curious if I have a reasonable shot at top 10 schools and if it is worth the time applying to all of them or if I should focus on applying to schools where I have a better shot.