BL250604

So the higher Q score is what matters more? Thanks!

Hi all- Just wanted to see some thoughts on this. I retook the GRE and did worse than expected, as I'm not a great standardized test taker. I came in with a 159 Q/ 152 V, and retook and got a 158 Q / 155V. Do you think that submitting the second test would be a better submission because of the higher V score, and the marginal decrease in the Q section? Also, I expect to have a better essay for this test, as I forgot to write a counter-argument last time. Is it possible to submit both? Thanks!

Exactly! I was at UMich this past weekend for a fall preview weekend with a small group of students. This is what we heard from Assoc. Dean Vorhoogt.

I think Cyberwulf nailed this. University of Michigan is doing the same thing for Statistics Ph.D. applicants (and I assume for most if not all of their programs). It seems that it is a way for them to skirt the issues that are strictly prohibited, and serves as another factor when considering applicants.

Thank you very much everyone! I will sign up today to retake the GRE, and definitely try and bump up my score. It also didn't help I took the exam at 3:30 PM after a group theory exam, but I guess that's the time of the semester. I'll try and schedule it for an upcoming weekend. BL

Hi all- I have spent the majority of my last year and a half bolstering my application for Statistics Ph.D. programs (mainly mid-tier programs, a few highly ranked, a few lower). However, the main part that I find lacking is my GRE Q score. I received a 159. Historically, I am not a great standardized test taker, and always struggle in the pressure filled, timed setting that accompanies the GRE. My V score is lower (152) but my AW is a 5.5. Just wanted to see if you guys think it would be worthwile to retake the test. If so, my hope is to get a 160-162, as I really think I can with some more prep. My fear, however, is that my score may drop. Please do let me know. Thanks! Ben

If you don't have the opportunity to take a real analysis class, and want to find a textbook, my real analysis book was pretty digestable. We used Abbott's Understanding Analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it had a mix of both straightforward and difficult exercises.

I'm taking a graduate linear algebra class for my senior year to try and learn a little more about the application side. The book we are using is called Matrix Analysis and Applied Linear Algebra by Carl D. Meyer. For only a few dollars extra there is a solution manual which my professor recommended as it helps with some of the more complex problems. The author provides some good analogies, and while the book is inherently applied in nature, it does offer some good insight into the theoretical underpinnings. The book assumes a knowledge of linear algebra and multivariable calculus, but does provide some review when introducing new concepts. I personally really like it and find it quite helpful. It is also a quick read, which is nice.

Hi all- Thank you again for your valuable input. I reached out to a professor at FSU (bradley) asking a little more about their spatial statistics program and telling him about some of my research. My hope is that since a lot of undergraduates do not have spatial statistics as a course, or even for research that he would possibly advocate on my behalf during the admissions process. Additionally, I will be taking a full year long bayesian independent study, as well as a full year long research project in bayesian hierarchial models with our spatio temporal model which we are currently developing (/developed thus far). Thanks again, and please let me know if you have any more schools which pop to mind or if any of this information is something which I should emphasize in my personal statement/SoP. Ben

Just a quick update. I got a 5.0 on AW (expected higher but oh well), which is 93% ile, so that should help. All of my GRE scores should increase the second time around, and I will also work with a tutor to nail down my Quant score.

Thank you so much for the help, and the glimpse into FSU. I hadn't considered Missouri, but its not a bad option thinking about it. I think possibly floating an MA application there and seeing what happens, particularly for funding wouldn't be a bad idea. As for FSU, I really appreciate the advice. I really like the campus from what I have seen, and from I have heard, most people seem to really enjoy their experience there. Also, there is a spatial statistician there Dr. J Bradley, who's advisor is arguably the most famous spatial statisticians of this era (Cressie). After reviewing some of his work he seems to be a pretty decent match for my research interests. Do you think it would be worthwhile to reach out to him, or to make a note of my interest in working with him in my application, in my Personal Statement? Thanks!

Thank you, I appreciate all of the feedback. Do you think any of the programs on my list I have a decent shot at given my research experience (since I figure that it gives me a little leg up in that category, especially given that I have multiple projects)? How does a revised list, like this, look? GW Temple South Carolina UConn FSU UNC Charlotte (applied math) UNH PSU (research advisor just graduated a few years ago from there) George Mason UVA UC Riverside The reason I am keeping PSU is because of the connection with my advisor, I dont think that its realistic, but he said it can't hurt for me to apply there. For florida state, it seems that I am in the range for GPA (3.31 is there avg accepted), but am a little low on GRE. I am a little below their typical funded average GPA (3.6) , however. For other schools, there aren't many statistics, so I am a bit weary.

I would prefer to get straight into a Ph.D. track, but if this isn't possible, I can apply to some Master's programs for sure!

Thank you for the feedback! Do you think that one of the programs will offer admission into the master's program, or I would need to apply separately into some master's programs?

Hi everyone, I am looking for some help about my list for Ph.D. programs in statistics. I figured now is as good as ever to post a profile especially because I am starting to work on my personal statement, SOP, and am trying to figure out my life a little more before senior year starts. Any advice is really appreciated as I am pretty different from most of the posters who are on this forum, so I hope my profile will help those who are in a similar boat to me! I apoloigize for the length but my background really isn't the traditional application you would see. Undergrad Institution: Small LAC in PA Major: Mathematics and Finance GPA: 3.45 (overall), 3.3 (Math) Type of Student: Domestic White, also a very well decorated NCAA athlete, if that helps Courses/ Background: Calculus I-III (B+), Linear Algebra (C+) , Mathematical Statistics I&II (B) , Transition to abstract math (proof writing) B+, Combinatorics and Graph Theory (B), Math Analysis (B), Experimental Mathematics (A), Independent study: Statistics; researching rivalries (A), Independent Study: Statistics; predicting voter turnout (A) Next semester I will be in: Math: Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra (Graduate level to show I can do linear algebra because I was dealing with personal issues that semester), Statistical Models, CS: Multimedia in Python (if relevant) GRE: Retaking! 158 Q / 156 V (I'm a terrible standardized test taker, but hope to hope to be around 160-163 Q) Research Experience: 3 total years of research. One paper in statistics on assessing the prevalence of gerrymandering is in review now (done with my advisor and I), we are currently working on another project related to voter turnout (a paper will come out of it by the fall, again by my advisor and I), Previously a research assistant on researching rivalries in baseball (with a very famous mathematician) ,Have an OEIS sequence pending review now for publishing (I constructed a new sieve to find all prime numbers), Finally, Will be a Researcher in algebra in the Spring Letters of Rec: I will have 4: 1 from my advisor, 2 from professors I have done research with, and 1 from the research coordinator. I would say they will be pretty good. I am very close with my major advisor and he is a very good writer, and knows a lot about me. My statistics research advisor graduated from PSU a few years ago, and we have been doing research for 2+ years, onto 3. My other research letter is from the dept head who I did baseball research with. He is very well known in sabermetrics (baseball statistics), and I hope that will help. Finally, my last letter writer is the REU program head, and I have had him in numerous classes. He was one of the directors of DIMACS at Rutgers and he not only knows a lot of people but is also pretty famous. He worked with some of the most famous graph theorists and knows a lot about the process as he has sat on graduate committees for 20+ years, so I hope he knows what to write! Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's List, Outstanding poster award at JMM18 for statistics (given to 3 kids), Presented research at 7 conferences (including JMM), Have research grants over the last 2 years including 2 summer REU's in number theory. Given my academic record is all over the place (I dealt with crippling migraines which I have every day for 2 years, hence my poor performance) I will be applying to a lot of school. However, the two semesters I haven't dealt with migraines, including the last semester, I received a 3.8 so my grades are on the way up, and the trend can be seen in my math GPA as well! Schools: GW Temple South Carolina UConn NCSU (Because of all my spatial statistics research, I know its a reach) FSU UNC Charlotte (applied math) UNH PSU (research advisor just graduated a few years ago from there) VT Rutgers UMich (family friend runs a bio lab there) UMD (best friends dad has a astrophysics lab there) George Mason UVA OSU UC Riverside UNC UGA UF I know the list is very long but that is because I would be happy going to pretty much all of them, I just need to get into one! Thanks so much for any of your help! Ben

Hi all, I wanted to see if anyone had a little more info on UNH’s Statistics Ph.D. I looked on their website, and was able to look up a few professor’s profiles, and research interests, but there was not too much information, otherwise. I also sent an email out to the graduate admissions chair (as I have a LOR writer who got his MS there before going elsewhere for his PhD) just to hear a little more about their program. While I am waiting back, I wanted to hear a little more about their program, and if anyone has any experience with them, or the types of applicants they attract/admit. Thanks! B

Ah, my apologies. Sorry, I didn't know!

What ended up happening here? Did you end up getting into a Ph.D. program that you wanted, or went the masters route? Thanks!

Thank you! And thanks for all of your insight on the forums, your tips, and the survival guide were great. All the best with finishing up your work, and landing at the post-doc you want!

George Washington, from my experience, is very good at keeping their numbers close to the vest. They also have very little funding, which contributes to their relative longer wait list.

Just a question, since we're on this topic. Do you think it would be a benefit for me that my undergraduate research will be a total of 2.5 years, resulting in publications, and presentations. I intentionally made the choice to focus on my spatial statistics topic (rather than undertake multiple different projects), and tried to go as in depth as possible over the 2.5 years working on the project, to show some maturity in my research methods/thinking (if that makes sense).

Agreed! So far so good in that class.

Social science isn’t an end all be all for me whatsoever, so are there any other schools which you think I should consider? Preferably ones which might be on the safer end (even though that’s not that possible for me...) thanks!

Thanks for the advice, and I do recognize the faults in my application and record. As for the research, it was an independent project. I made nearly all of the decisions, however they were under the guidance and suggestion of my advisor, as he is a co-author. As for the publication, I am doin the entire write up, except for some of the theory on our slratial methods. I am working with my advisor to try and learn how to write the deep theory that goes into these journals, to better understand the process for my next publication. The saber metrics research will also result in a publication, and am hoping that will help as well. I am hoping that my research experience helps set me apart, and my LOR/SOP, will be very good, I think. All of the schools on my list are places I would go to, so I’m hoping that I can get into one of them on my list. Maybe I’ll toss in UNH as well, for a lower, less competitive school. I am hoping for GW, as I am getting a very well regarded recommender writing on my behalf. Thanks!

How did your application process go?