causalinf

Paige Williams is currently the Director of Graduate Studies. She will step down soon and Sebastien Haneuse will take over to become the new DGS. 

Undergrad Institution: One of top 10 U.S. private universities 
Major(s): Statistics
Minor(s): Computer Science
GPA: Major GPA 3.81/4.00, Overall GPA 3.78/4.00 Type of Student: International Asian Male

GRE General Test:
Q: 170 
V: 160 
W: 4.0 
GRE Subject Test in Mathematics:
M: Did not take it due to lack of time to prepare

TOEFL Score: NA
  Programs Applying: Statistics/Biostatistics PhD   Research Experience: I worked on missing data research with a senior faculty for my senior thesis. I also worked on causal inference + ML research with two junior faculties. One paper submission to statistical computing journal. 
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduation with distinction in stats and a bunch of award in music
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I worked as a TA for undergrad-level class in mathematical statistics and grad-level class in Bayesian statistics  Letters of Recommendation: Two senior faculties in stats and one junior faculty in CS (I had good working relationship with all of them. They promised they would write good letters for me, so I assumed all letters are strong.) Math/Statistics Grades:   Statistics: Bayesian Stats (A+), Machine Learning (A), Mathematical Stats (A), Regression Analysis (A-), Statistical Consulting (A), Decision Analysis (A-), Causal Inference (A+)
 Mathematics: Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (A), Multivariable Calculus (A-), Probability (A), Real Analysis (A-) 

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: I only took the required math courses for statistics major, and was quite concerned with my lack of math background. As a result, I applied to 20+ schools. The total application fee was outrageous. I was extremely frustrated with SOPHAS application portal. It was the most expensive one and it took a month for them to process my transcript. 

Applying to Where: 
Harvard - Biostat PhD / Admitted
Johns Hopkins - Biostat PhD / Rejected  UW- Biostat PhD / Rejected for PhD Admitted to Master
UNC - Biostat PhD / Admitted  U Michigan - Biostat PhD / Admitted  U of Wisconsin - Biomedical Data Science PhD / Admitted  Stanford - Management Science & Engineering PhD (Computational Social Science Track) / Rejected  NYU - Data Science PhD / Rejected    CMU - Stat PhD / Rejected  Harvard - Stat PhD / Rejected  UC Berkeley - Stat PhD / Rejected  U Michigan - Stat PhD / Rejected  U Penn - Stat PhD / Rejected  U of Washington - Stat PhD / Rejected  Duke - Stat PhD / Rejected  UC Davis - Stat PhD / Rejected Columbia - Stat PhD / Rejected  Texas A&M - Stat PhD / Haven't heard back yet  (assume rejection at this point) Wisconsin - Stat PhD / Haven't heard back yet  (assume rejection at this point) Johns Hopkins - Applied Math and Stat PhD / Admitted UCLA - Stat PhD / Admitted

i think having an A- for analysis is much better than not having analysis on your transcript