confusedbear

Undergrad Institution: Berkeley Major(s): Data Science Minor(s): Computer Science GPA: 3.9 at time of application, 3.87 including fall semester Type of Student: domestic asian women I didn't really submit my GRE scores except where they were required, but here they are anyway: GRE General Test: Q: 166 V: 164 W: 4.5 GRE Subject Test in Mathematics: didn't take Programs Applying: Statistics PhD, a couple of computational applied math in there Research Experience: No publications, but I had a couple of applied research projects I did in undergrad. I was also in the process of doing an applied project of my own this year. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: uhh I don't think so Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutored/TA'd probability and statistics. I also interned as a SWE at one of the big tech companies for 2 summers back when I thought I was gonna be a SWE. probably not too relevant but idk Letters of Recommendation: One was a prof I took several classes with and taught for. One was a prof I had in fall semester that I really liked and we got along. The other was a professor in business school I had done a research project with. I think the first two are pretty well known professors in stats, but one of them is known more for teaching than research nowadays. Math/Statistics Grades: calculus sequence: A's mathematical statistics: A probability: A real analysis: B+ linear algebra (upper and lower div): A, A+ I also had a bunch of other CS classes, both coding and theory and ML, which I had A's/A-'s in Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: took a grad class in CS theory, not really sure if this helped at all but I think it did help with showing my proof-writing ability since I got B+ in analysis Applying to Where: Berkeley - Statistics PhD / Rejected 2/5 Harvard - Statistics PhD / Rejected 2/23 Chicago - CAM PhD / Rejected 3/17 Caltech - CMS PhD / Rejected 3/26 CMU - Statistics PhD / Rejected 3/4 Washington - Statistics PhD / Rejected 3/9 NYU - Data Science PhD / Rejected 3/17 Michigan - Statistics PhD / Accepted 2/8 NC State - Statistics PhD / Accepted 2/11 Minnesota - Statistics PhD / Accepted 2/4 UC Davis - Statistics PhD / ghosted (it's 4/15 now so this is a rejection) UCLA - Statistics PhD / I can't tell if I've been ghosted or if I'm still on the waitlist but basically I didn't get in UT Austin - Statistics PhD / Accepted 2/11 *Edit to add: all admits came with financial offers, Michigan was like 2700/month and the other three offered roughly 21k/9 months. all for TA I was really happy with these results! I didn't break into the really top tier of schools, but I mostly got into big public schools. Oddly enough when I was applying I really wanted to go to Michigan but in the end I'm committing to UT Austin, which I thought was my safety due to its current ranking (but it turns out isn't that much of a safety?) and I ended up really liking. I am a little disappointed that I didn't get into a single California school since I'm a native Californian (they didn't even have the decency to reject me - they just ghosted me?? how rude) but I guess it's time for something new for me

How do you ask for an extension like that? Do you have to tell them why? I imagine they wouldn't be too happy if you tell them it's because you're waiting for another school, but maybe this happens more often than I think?

I emailed UCLA coordinator and she said that if they make any more offers it will be after 4/15. I'm very confused by this - what happens if you accepted another offer before that date? Are you allowed to renege and take an offer that was extended after 4/15?

Perhaps take this with a grain of salt since I went to Berkeley for undergrad and I never applied to masters program. Berkeley has some of the most amazing statisticians that have ever existed. I think it was really amazing to be taught by and work alongside people who have contributed so much to the field. In terms of academic reputation I think Berkeley is the clear winner, but it's also valid if you have other priorities other than just the ranking / reputation. However, I can't say much specifically about the masters degree curriculum. Also, the location is really great for finding data science jobs in the tech industry if that's something you're into!

Is there any news from UCLA? I saw the 3 acceptances in February but since then haven't seen or heard of any rejections of waitlists. Also, when do waitlist results usually come out?

I would say that's a good sign for you because I just got a rejection email!

How is the Stats PhD program at UT Austin? I've seen discussion that it's ranked 50th because it's a new and small program, and that its alumni have done well. Some pros would be that it's a small department, and students have the chance to work with some famous people. And they're really good in Bayesian statistics. Also, Austin sounds nice to live in. However I'm worried that their research focus is too narrow and I would be stuck if I decided I didn't like it, and that the program isn't well established yet. I'm interested in doing computational statistics, high dimensional problems (which it seems UT has), and though I'm open to Bayesian, I'm not 100% sure that's really exactly what I want to do. (Side note: HOW are people supposed to know whether they want to do Bayesian or not since most undergrads don't have relevant statistics research..?) I don't have super specific goals after finishing my PhD (since a lot can change in 5 years and it also depends on how well I do in grad school), but as of now I would be interested in going into academia. My other options are UMich and NC State, which have the benefit of being big well-established universities that have broad research areas. Is it foolish to consider UT Austin at all compared to these programs?

Did anyone else hear from UCLA? I sent an email to the coordinator and she said that all acceptances and rejections went out today, so if you don't hear back, you were likely waitlisted. But I see only one acceptance and zero rejections on the listing.

Is it okay to drop a technical class (optimization) that I was enrolled in this semester that I listed on my applications for spring courses? It won't interfere with my graduation requirements since I just took it for general knowledge but I found myself a bit busier than expected. I'll check in with admissions committees just to be sure, but have other people done stuff like this before?

Are Washington and Chicago finished sending interviews/offers now, or will there be more? Also I haven't seen any CMU - they haven't started, right?

I didn't know that they had sent out some rejections. Thanks for sharing. I hope you get into a program you want to go to!

Yeah, I guess that's true. I was thinking of NC State as well, since in the past it seems like they had released even rejections by now.

Yeah, statistics programs only. Is it just me or it's taking longer this year than in the past..?

has anyone else not gotten any news yet? ? feeling a bit discouraged

was this minnesota stats or biostats? ?

here: https://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/ you can type in "statistics" to filter for stats you can also click "results" at the top left under gradcafe logo

"Cautiously optimistic" and now extremely stressed is exactly how I feel too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In any case, congrats on anyone who was just admitted

I saw some admit/reject to NC State. Do they usually do in waves? I didn't hear back

Do schools typically ask for fall grades if you take real analysis? Ended up with a B+ and kinda hoping that they won't...

Hi all, Normally, I would like to send thank-you notes maybe with a little gift to all my professors. However, since all our classes are virtual now and campus buildings are locked, I don't believe that if I send a note to my professor's mailbox in the department building they will receive it. Does anyone have ideas about how to thank your letter writers, then? I was already thinking of 1. writing a detailed email about specific things I appreciate about what they did, 2. waiting until quarantine has officially ended to send another real thank you note. But I'd appreciate any other suggestions, since email just doesn't feel as nice.

Is this really true? It says on their website that math applications have been suspended (https://gsas.columbia.edu/degree-programs/phd-programs/mathematics) but it does not say the same thing for statistics (https://gsas.columbia.edu/degree-programs/phd-programs/statistics).

Thank you for the advice and evaluation @Stat Postdoc Soon Faculty and @StatsG0d! I will keep your advice in mind and take the math courses you recommended instead.

I'm finishing up my junior year as an undergrad and starting to think about what schools I should be applying to if I would like to do a PhD in statistics. I will also be asking my advisor for senior thesis as well once school starts back up again but I'd like to know honestly what you guys think. I'm planning on taking a gap year after undergrad to apply but I do want to start thinking about this now. Undergrad Institution: Berkeley (domestic) Undergrad Major: BA in Computer Science and Data Science GPA (Undergrad): 3.90, overall and major Relevant Courses: Calc 2/3 (A+, B+), Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (A+), Linear Algebra upper div (A), Discrete Math (A), Applied Probability Theory (A), Various algorithms/cs theory courses (all As), Machine Learning (A-), Various computer science courses (all A's), Data Science courses (A+, A-), Statistics (A). Will take real analysis, numerical analysis, optimization in senior year. (edited after feedback ) Research: I've done some work as an undergrad RA for some grad students here, but no papers or independent work yet Will write a senior thesis in applied statistics/data science I have not taken the GRE yet but have been studying and from my practice exams I'm expecting 165+ quantitative score and 160+ verbal. I have been TA-ing an undergrad math class. During my summers I have been doing software at a big tech company. I know my profile is not super competitive in terms of research which is the most important, but I'm beginning to realize that that is what I want to do rather than computer science-related things. I'm hoping my thesis will help prove that I like and can do independent research. That being said, knowing I have this weakness in my profile but otherwise good academics, I'd like to know honestly what range of schools I should consider applying to. Thanks!