Hi, everyone.
I'm applying for statistics PhD programs for 2021 fall, and would greatly appreciate any advice!
Research Interests (currently a little broad):
- Methology and applications on social science data; especially economical and political data
- Financial mathematics (from a stats related view; volatility and uncertainty)
Undergraduate Institution: Best stats program in Korea
Major: Statistics + Mathematics (A minor in Financial Economics)
GPA: 4.01/4.3 (converted to approximately 3.85/4)
Type of Student: International Asian Male
Relevant Classes: Statistics Courses
- Theory : Intro Probability (A0), Mathematical Statistics I/II (A0/A0), Grad Probability I (A-), Grad Theory of Statistics I (A+)
- Application : Computational Statistics (A0), Regression Analysis (A+), Multivariate Statistics (A-), Time Series Analysis (B+), Grad Linear Models (A+)
Math Courses
- Basic : Calculus I/II (A+/A+)
- Analysis : Intro Analysis 1 (A+), ODE (A+), Financial Mathematics I (A+), Undergrad Real Analysis (B+?), Grad Real Analysis (A+?), Grad PDE I (A+)
- Algebra : Linear Algebra (A+), Intro Abstract Algebra I/II (A+/A0)
- Others : Intro Topology (B+), Topological Combinatorics (A-), Intro Differential Geometry I (A+), Discrete Math (A+)
Econ
- Microeconomics (A+), Macroeconomics (A-), Stocks, Bonds, Derivatives (A+), Econometrics (A+)
Test Scores :
GRE general : V 164 / Q 170 / A 4.0
GRE subject math : 970 (99%)
TOEFL : 112 (R30/L30/S26/W26)
Research Experience: Due to the virus situation, I have just started research this summer. (planing to continue until application season)
I am on a project analyzing political time series data through a dynamic linear model via MCMC.
Miscalleous : I have been interested in mathematics problem solving, and I have some prizes from undergrad math contests. (Gold prize from a Korea-wide one, and n th place (n<10) from a Asia-Pacific wide one)
Also, I am planning to take more courses on financial math and econometrics this fall.
LOR : One from the stats professor I am researching with, one from my financial math professor. Haven't decided on whom to ask the last letter.
Applying to :
Reachable? : UChicago, Columbia, NYU, UWashington, CMU
Target? : UNC, NCSU, Wisconsin-Madison, Texas A&M
Hopefully satefy : Iowa state, BU
I know that my list looks quite top-heavy, and would appreciate any feedback about my current profile and schools.
Also, my research interests don't seem to be in the mainstream of statistics (such as biostats, machine learning) and I wonder if this could have negative effects in admissions.
I am interested in schools that have close connections with social science departments (and professors specializing on econometrics or political data analysis), and that have faculty researching financial math & stochastic processes.
Thanks in advance.