Undergrad Institution: Top 10 Public University (USNews) Major(s): Doubling in Statistics and Math Minor(s): GPA: 3.85
Type of Student: DWM GRE General Test: From ETS Practice Test, Taking in August Q: 166 V: 161 W: N/A
Research Experience: Did research in statistical theory (REU type program) this summer (2021), did not result in paper, but have a presentation on it and am continuing to work with my mentor, might result in a senior thesis. Did an internship with local community that taught middle schoolers to code robots for a competition, here I created some pre/post evaluation metrics to see if the program enhanced the kids' attitudes and self esteem, not really pure stats related.
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters from lecturer/professor of classes (one is a lecturer I took 3 stats theory classes with, the other is an assoc. prof. I took one theory class with and knows me), and one (hopefully really strong) letter from my research mentor (assistant professor at well known big public university, top 40 in stats) from this summer's program.
Math/Statistics Grades: A's in: Calc 1-3, Linear Algebra, DiffEq, Programming 1 (java), Probability Theory, Survival Analysis, Regression Analysis, Categorical Data Analysis, Design of Experiments. A- in Probability 2/Stochastics. B's in Sets and Logic (intro to proofs type class), Abstract Algebra, Stats Theory
In progress: Number Theory
Taking in Fall: Real analysis, nonparametric statistical methods, numerical analysis, others TBD
Teaching experience: TA'ing for Calc 1 in fall
Note: I only decided I wanted to pursue statistics at the beginning of my junior summer, so I was a tad limited on courses since I was halfway done, but I've been taking as many math and stat courses as I can to supplement.
Applying:
This is where I need help with. I have no idea how competitive I am, and I'm working to get my quant score up. Any feedback would be really appreciated. I'd pretty much like to go anywhere in the US but the far west, preferring the southeast, northeast, and midwest. I'd also be interested in biostats, but I'd prefer pure stats if I had the choice. Right now I'm looking at UF, FSU, UIUC, Yale, in that area of the USNews Rankings. UChicago is the highest reach on my list that I don't expect to get into but I'm fortunate enough to afford an application just to see. Should I stay around that tier, or increase or decrease? Any other suggestions? I am all ears (or eyes I suppose). Thank you so much for taking the time to read.