Dr-H
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Posts posted by Dr-H
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Although I haven`t read them, the best choice seems to be the first one. It is always best to send something from your master`s degree.
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On 8/16/2022 at 4:03 PM, Nhyiraba said:
Hi all,
I am applying for PhD Biostatistics for 2023-2024.
I don’t have a masters in MPH but I pursued Bsc. Actuarial Science with a GPA of 3.69 by the WES standard.Please can someone help me with the writing of the SOP for phd, I have one which I used to apply for Ms. Biostatistics.
Can someone please help me out
The SOP that you will have to send for the PhD will have to be different than the one you used to master's programs. It requires a different approach altogether. Where are you applying and what are you career goals post graduation?
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7 hours ago, fulldarklowtar said:
Student Type :- International Asian Male
Undergrad Institute:- Top 20 engineering colleges in India (Non-IIT)
Degree:- 4 Year Bachelor's in Engineering ( Graduation year 2015)
Major:- Electrical Engineering
Major Percentage:- 75.7/100 ( GPA 8.07/10)
Some Math Courses - Most math courses in my curriculum were numbered as Math 1, Math 2 etc. The topics covered are as follows :
Math 1 (Grade A) - Functions of a single variable: Rolle’s Theorem, Mean value theorem, Taylor’s Theorem. Maclaurin’s series, indeterminate forms, maxima and minima. Functions of several variables, limit and continuity, Partial derivatives, differentials, partial derivatives of a composite function, implicit functions. Taylors Theorem, Maxima and minima. Lagranges method. Rienemam Integration. Definition and properties, Fundamental theory of integral calculus, improper integrals, gamma and beta functions. Multiple integrals, definition of double and triple integrals, properties and applications.
Math 2 (Grade A) - Sequence, Infinite series, Comparison test, D’Alembert’s test, Cauchy’s root test. Vector Algebra: Addition and subtraction of vectors, Different types of products of vectors.Solid Geometry: Cartesian coordinates in three dimension, direction cosines, Equations of straight lines, planes and spheres.Marices: Addition and multiplication of matrices, Determinant of a square matrix and its properties, Transpose and inverse, Solutions of system of linear equations. Symmetric, Skew-symmetric and Hermitian matrices. Ranks of a matrix, Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Characteristic polynomial. Caley-Hamilton theorem and applications.
Ordinary Differential equation: 1st order exact equations, first order linear equations. Second order linear equation with constant co-efficients. Euler Cauchy equation, method of variation of parameters.Math 3 (Grade A) - Differential equation of second order with variable coefficients. Ordinary point and regular singularity of second order linear differential equations, series solutions. Bessel functions, Legendre polynomials and their orthogonal properties. Fourier series: Periodic functions, Trigonometric series of sine and cosines. Euler formulae, Derichlets’ conditions, even and odd functions, half range sine and cosine series, Fourier series in intervals, multiple Fourier series, Discrete time fourier series.Partial differential equations: Solution of one dimensional wave and diffusion equations and Laplace’s equations of two dimension by method of separation of variables.
Integral transforms: Laplace’s and Fourier transforms, Properties and applications of differential equations. Discrete Fourier transform, Z-Transform, applications to differential equations.Math 4 (Grade D) - Complex analysis: Functions of a complex variable, limits, continuity and differentiability. Cauchy-Riemann equations complex integration, Cauchy’s fundamental theorem, Cauchy’s; integral formulae, Taylor’s Theorem, Laurent’s theorem, Singularity, Residue Theorem, Contour Integral.
Vector calculus: Scalar and vector fields, Concepts of gradient, divergence and curl and their expression in Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinates, Laplacian in these coordinates, Gauss, Stokes’ and Green’s theorem.
Probability Theory: Definition, Law of probability, conditional probability Baydes’ theorem, random variables, Probability distribution, exponential binomial, Poisson and normal distributions, estimation of parameters.
Work Experience :- Have approximately 6 years of experience in Data Science and Analytics field in India ( Close to 3 years of experience in a FAANG Company). Have good programming experience in R, Python and Scala. Have delivered end to end projects on statistical analysis for fortune 500 companies.
Grad Institute :- Big 10 Public University in US ( Ranked in top 25 for Statistics according to US News)
Degree:- Master of Statistics ( Entered Fall 2021 , Graduating Fall 2023)
Concentration:- General Track
Overall Percentage:-4/4 ( Till Spring 2022)
Courses Taken :- Mathematical Statistics (A) , Unsupervised Learning( A+) , Statistical Modelling (A+) , Time Series Analysis (A+), Advanced Mathematical Statistics (A) , Advanced Statistical Learning (A)
Courses Currently Taking : Bayesian Statistics , Advanced Deep Learning
Courses Planning to take (Next Spring) : Real Analysis , Computational Statistics, Advanced Regression
Research Experience :-
1. Did a 2 month statistical analysis project for educational psychology professor. Paper under review
2. Currently working on an NSF funded project where I need to perform statistical analysis for improving engineering education
3. Working with my time series professor on an independent study ( Change point detection)
Research Interests : Time Series analysis and applications, Bayesian Inference, STEM Education
GRE:- 323 :- 167Q, 156 V, 4 AWA
LORs:- Expecting good LoRs from my research project advisors
Programs Aiming-
STAT PhD
My Alma Mater , NCSU, UT Austin , TAMU
STAT PhD offered by Business School
Chicago Booth (UChicago) , Fox Business School ( Temple University) , Marshal School of Business ( USC) , McCombs School of Business ( IROM Statistics Program in UT Austin)
Biostat PhD
UNC Chapel Hill, Yale University, UC Davis , UC San Diego
Questions for GradCafe Patrons :
1. Since I don't have real analysis explicitly in my transcript, can I even think of applying for a PhD in statistics program for Fall 2023 ?
2. Some courses on linear algebra and analysis are covered by my undergrad math courses but I had completed them way back in 2011 and 2012. Would this gap have a negative impact on my application? Additionally, my transcript doesn't have any math course name explicitly written. How do I let the admission committee know the math topics I have learnt in my undergrad?
3. Since I have been in the industry for quite a while, I was hoping to apply to some of the PhD in Statistics programs offered by business schools. Any idea how they fare as compared to regular Phd in Statistics?
4. Most important question : Does the list of programs above even attainable for someone with my profile? Or should I completely forget about a PhD in Statistics? I understand that a PhD involves a lot of pre-requisite theoretical background, so I was looking for some applied PhD programs ( Like Biostat etc.) .
I have spent countless hours researching about different programs where someone like me can apply. Was hoping to get some guidance in this forum about programs I can safely target this fall. Any help is appreciated !
You say nothing about your career goals? Why the PhD? This seems like a lot to do for you at first glance. Applying to different fields will very likely require for you to change your approach for each program. Also keep in mind that PhD in stat run by business schools tend to be very small (which makes them extremely competitive).
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3 hours ago, zh_awk said:
I may be a little behind on this, but I'm preparing to contact the professors at programs I'm interested in to confirm whether or not they'll be taking on incoming grad students (2023-24) to advise. What's a good way to approach laying these emails out? I imagine making them personalized (ie - speaking to their specific field/work/research topics), but is there anything I should definitely make sure I mention or incorporate?
Thanks in advance!
Unless it is required by the department, it is not necessary to write professors to ask if they are taking students for a few reasons:
1. In most programs, you are teamed with your advisor at the dissertation proposal stage, which is at least 2 years down the line. Unless the professor is not taking students for the next 3 years, it's pointless to ask them prior to applying. They will not be "advising" you in your first few semesters, that comes later.
2. At least half of PhD students take a slightly different direction from the project they write about in the SOP or take on a brand new topic as they progress through the program. So why ask a professor you might not even end up working with? Profs all know that you might work on something entirely different as you go through the program, so asking them for some commitment is always a bit odd.
3. Professors would rather connect with specific students once they have taken a wholistic look at the application: grade, CV, LORs, SOP, etc. So, unless you have a completed SOP in hand, sending them an email with a cv doesn`t really achieve much.
4. Some professors are not the best at communication or would rather only interact with students once they have been accepted in a program, so if you don`t hear back from them, it should not be a reason to not apply.
In other words, you can always write a short email to network a bit with professors but it is not at all necessary, AND you should definitely apply even if you don`t get the answer you want from the initial contact.
Hope this helps!
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13 hours ago, Beek2023 said:
Thank you so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Do you have any tips on how to have an outstanding SOP? I've started drafting mine and I feel a little at a loss, like there's some secret to writing it that I just don't know about.
You`re welcome! There is no real recipe for an excellent SOP. It should be as objective as possible and focus entirely on research: past research and what type of research you would like to do. I also suggest adopting a tone that will be scholarly (objective). The admissions committee will evaluate mostly your ability to use the conventions of academic writing. It should be rigorous, precise, and well organized. Hope this helps!
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13 hours ago, Beek2023 said:
People say the SOP is one of THE most important parts of my application, and I already have recommenders asking me to send mine. I feel like there is some key to writing them that I'm just not getting... Right now I'm following these guidelines:
Please upload a statement of 500-1,000 words explaining why you are applying to [school] for graduate study. Describe your research interests and preparation for your intended field(s) of study, including prior research and other relevant experiences. Explain how the faculty, research, and resources at [school] would contribute to your future goals.
How do I not make this sound like a boring ass cover letter? I'm so nervous about writing it "wrong" or writing a boring SOP that makes the committee's eyes glaze over. Any help at all, or any current PhD students willing to privately share their SOP with me, would be SO appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!
Contrary to popular belief, your SOP shouldn`t be "exciting" or be built as a "sales pitch" about your skills or "intelligence". You certainly don`t need to reinvent the wheel either. An excellent statement of purpose should be about research (the research you did in the past and the research you want to do) and it also should adopt the conventions of scholarly writing. It should be as objective as possible (and possibly boring). Every SOP is different and it is rather pointless to ask other students to share theirs with you. It will very likely confuse you. Every one will have a different opinion and, between you and me, most grad students don`t have a clue why they were accepted or not into a program. The admissions process follows specific rules and many factors influence decisions...It is all a question of fit. I suggest making sure that you will be applying to RIGHT programs and that you have the outstanding LORs. You can send the best SOP possible, but if you send it to the wrong program and have lukewarm LORs you might not get accepted. Hope this helps!
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This would fit more into the category of research statements. What the admissions committee will evaluate is your ability to define a clear, relevant, and realistic potential research project, how rigorously your ideas are presented, and your ability to demonstrate your familiarity with existing research on the topic. This requires a bit more work than your run-of-the-mill statement of purpose.
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On 8/5/2022 at 10:38 PM, Dov3 said:
Hi, hey, hello. Stress abound.
Im intending to apply for the Fall 2023 cycle. I terribly frightened by all the other posts where others have detailed their stats and which programs they are going to; stats I wouldn't even believe another undergrad has, stats the poster somehow laments over. Have I overestimated my chances of being accepted into any phd programs?
My stats:
UG School: UConn
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology, minor in molecular cell biology
Type of student: Mixed race (black and asian) trans student from a single parent (unemployed, disabled) household from low income area, though currently homeless :/ (tbh, not banking on my diversity really helping me out here)
GPA: 3.25 (idk how to or if i even should explain how i went from the Deans List to here. I feel like explaining my situation would be a bit futile as others have overcome greater adversity)
GRE: not currently taken
Research XP: Working in a neuroscience lab since fall of 2018 (im graduating a year late as I had to take a medical leave of absence). In this lab I've received funding from the NIH and presented my data at the 63rd annual Drosophila Conference. I've created assays with other researchers from different universities. Will be writing my honors thesis in this lab as well. I've presented my work at local conferences, and will do so again this spring. no publications : /
Related Research Awards etc: LSAMP, McNair Scholars Program, NIH-MARC fellowship, SURF award, + leadership scholarship
Extra: President of a Queer Outreach program at the university for 2 years, held other officer positions, lots of mentoring positions
Applying to, in no specific order: (i have a lot bc i met a grad student that applied to 17 and only got into 1) George Mason, Carnegie Mellon, Tulane, Princeton, Pennsylvania State University, Brandeis, American University, Boston University, University of Chicago, UC San Francisco, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis
Additionally, if you think there are other programs that you think would be a better fit for me, please let me know. Next week I will meet with my PI and ask her if I should consider doing a postbacc to compensate for my GPA. What im most stressed about is my GPA, lack of publications, and the fact that a lot of these programs don't even want you to send the GRE (it could help me potentially).
Please be honest with me, I would prefer to not get false hope : ))
Sorry if that was a lot to read. TDLR; low GPA, lots of research exp, scared i wont be accepted anywhere haha
I wouldn`t worry too much about your GPA. It is not bad (3.2-3.3 is usually the minimum required for grad school). I definitely would move forward with applications. The big question regarding outcomes will depend on the connection between your research interests and the offerings of each program. Without clearly knowing what you would like to work on, it is always hard to determine if you will be a good fit or not. I also suggest being strategic with your school choices. You should apply to 1 or 2 that are stretches in terms of acceptance (one never knows what might happen), but you should also consider programs where you have optimal chances of getting in. It is also not a bad idea to have "backup" programs. Hope this helps!
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This looks good to me. The next step would be to select schools that are going to be the right fit for you. Fit is everything. In addition to a rigorously written SOP and strong LORS, admissibility to the program will depend on the alignment between the research you would like to conduct and the research focus of the program. You can have the best application ever, but if the fit is not there, you might not get admitted. Faculty research should serve as a guideline instead of school rankings.
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15 hours ago, Kaz_KV said:
Hi all - thanks for the help in advance.
I can keep this pretty short. I am a second year MS in Data Science student but I am now looking to apply to Biostats PhDs this fall. My background is pretty atypical, so I wanted to see what others thought about how I should approach this. My undergrad is in Public Policy, with a minor in Math (and History lol). I've taken the necessary prerequisites (Calc 1-3, Diff EQs, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Discrete, Math Stats, etc.) as well as a lot of 'applied' stats and ML that isn't explicitly rigorous, but has been good prep in R/Python/SAS. I've TA'd some stats classes and worked as a Research Assistant for some social science profs helping clean their data, but no experience doing stats research.
All A's in my math and stats courses so far (both undergraduate and graduate level). That all being said, I don't have nearly the math background as a Math or Stats major, and I'm not totally sure admin committees will buy that I'm sufficiently prepared/interested in Biostats.
So like I said, I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts on how I should approach applications. Should I dedicate a chunk of my SOP to convincing admin committees that I have sufficient math prep? Or, should I take a year and do a predoc/take more math classes? Happy to hear any thoughts and appreciate the feedback.
Thanks everyone!
If you meet all the requirement stated on the program`s website and your quant scores are good -and the quant score of your GRE is high (if needed)- there is no need to take additional courses or an extra year. No need for a predoc. And you should not dedicate any part of your SOP to math prep. This is not the place for that. Make sure that your SOP is outstanding and that your LORs are strong and relevant. Hope this helps!
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On 4/7/2022 at 7:20 PM, Beek2023 said:
Not sure where to post this so I posted it here and Q&A (please let me know if that's not allowed!)
I graduated with a B.A. in History (Art history minor) in 2020, and am interested in going right to a PhD in 2023. The long-term goal is a museum curatorial career.
For a little background info, I went to an Ivy League undergrad and my GPA was 3.93. In terms of research experience, I did original archival research in early American history from sophomore fall to when I graduated as part of an independent research group; I published a paper on 20th century nationalism in an undergraduate history journal; and I wrote an honors thesis in History on modern art and national identity. After I graduated, I completed a fellowship at a museum that resulted in a research paper and a talk at the museum. I have spoken casually at a few conferences on my early American research, and besides the undergrad journal I will soon have an exhibition catalogue to put on my C.V. from my fellowship (I secured the image rights). Now, I'm working at an entry-level Communications position at a small museum. I also won a few prizes for my research/writing in undergrad and was part of a small undergraduate research forum.
That all being said, what do you think are my chances of getting into a top-ranked Art History PhD program with just a B.A. (and a B.A. in History to boot)? I'm looking mostly at Ivy Leagues so far (Yale is a top choice). While I'm also interested in state schools, all the ones I've looked at say a Master's is required for admission.
Any advice is super appreciated. I don't really have anyone in my life who's gotten a PhD (besides old, busy college professors) so I'm a little lost. Thank you so much in advance!
Your profile is great. I don`t see any reason why you wouldn`t have strong changes of getting admitted to a top program, provided that the program is a good fit for you. I suggest having an outstanding SOP (this is the first thing they read and a sloppy one might stop them from looking at any other elements of your profile), a strong CV, and excellent recommendations. But first and foremost, it is important for you to make sure that you are the right fit for the program. You might have all the achievements in the world, but if your goals don`t align with the program`s offering you might be wasting your time. Hope this helps!
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6 hours ago, Arren said:
Hi everyone!
I am planning on applying for Phd programs in PoliSci next or next next year. I am aiming at Top 10 PhD programs in the fields of political science, especially in party and voting behavior studies (universities like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.). I have several questions about what improvement I can make on my current academic backgrounds to increase the chance of getting in a top program, or are they simply good enough? I understand this is not a question that can be clearly answered and I do not expect anyone to accurately predict the outcome of my applications. However, I would still want to get some opinions/suggestions on my current progress to know on which part I can make better.
Undergraduate university: National Taiwan University (rank 66 in QS)
Overall GPA: 3.9/4.0
Standardized tests:
GRE: 337/340 (V167 Q170 AW4.0)
Toefl: 112/120 (R30 L30 S26 W26)Research experience:
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research assistant for a professor at my uni: 1y3m (ongoing)
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research assistant for a professor at a Top academic institution of Taiwan (Academia Sinica): 1y3m (ongoing)
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a research program funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, ROC Taiwan
Publications: none
Awards: many, including one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC Taiwan
All kinds of suggestions are welcome. I'd really appreciate them!
This looks good in terms of profile, but the admissions committee`s decision will heavily rely on school "fit" and the quality of your applications. At the PhD level, the ranking of the school of program where you got your PhD doesn`t carry as much weight as people think. I suggest making sure that your target school are in alignment with your professional and research goals. Hope this helps!
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12 hours ago, welcometouniqlo said:
Hi Dr-H, I get what you mean and I fully agree that I should be looking more at fit and supervision instead of school-ranking. I should have explained this better, but essentially my MA funding is contingent on the funding provider's evaluation of the school's general reputation. Thus, even if I might be interested in Ohio State University, it is highly unlikely that it will be approved by the providers and I wouldn't be allowed to apply in the first place. In that sense, the consideration of school-ranking is not necessarily a limitation I would like to have, but practically speaking it remains a consideration.
I'm generally interested in social and cultural networks around that time period, but you're right that my interests are still quite broad and maybe even unfocused. Depending on which program I go to, I could potentially see myself doing modules on the literature and culture of Edo Japan (print and visual culture) or on the histories of clothing (material culture is fascinating as well) and even religion. In that manner, I would say I'm more interested in exploring urban-rural trade/cultural networks that may not be immediately obvious, but provide a new lens of looking at existing artefacts/sources, and I would be delighted to work with professors that are similarly interested in that approach.
If that is the case, I highly suggest to make sure that your SOP will clearly align with the research that is conducted at each department. You should make sure that what you present the admissions committees aligns with the research of some of the professors (for example, it would be pointless to apply to work on the XVIIth century if there are no XVIIth century specialist in the program). Keep in mind that what you will be presenting as your research interests in your SOP is no way binding. You will have the opportunity to take another direction as you take courses, etc. Admissions committees are aware that your interests might change.
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On 7/11/2022 at 3:45 AM, welcometouniqlo said:
Hi everyone, I'm reasonably new here so apologies in advance if I'm violating posting rules and please let me know if I am doing so!
Background:
- International student
- BA in History from top international institution (GPA 4.44/5, Major GPA 4.79/5)
- Currently finishing up my second BA from a Japanese university (under double degree)
- Thesis in premodern Japanese history + history of science/medicine based on primary sources in Japanese, as well as secondary sources in Chinese
- Language: Chinese - Native (Simplified), Fluent (Traditional); English - Native; Japanese - Elementary (N4, still taking classes)
- No publications
- Haven't taken GREs (will do by September)
- Will receive funding for 1 year MA provided it's a reputable program; if I can't get into one then no Masters, straight to work (government sector)
Goal:
- Reputable 1 year East Asian Studies MA in the US
- Prospective Fields/Research Interests: Premodern/modern Japanese history (late Tokugawa-early Meiji) + cultural flows with China around that time period (I guess that qualifies as intellectual and cultural history)
Question:
I have identified a few programs that I'm interested in but given my lack of RA/publication experience, Harvard/Stanford would probably be quite a reach. Additionally, I am unlikely to move into academia properly after my MA as I need to work off my scholarship commitments for at least 4 years, and I am concerned that would further weaken my application prospects. As such, I'm crowdsourcing suggestions for safety schools that I could apply to! Thus far my list of schools is as follows:
- Harvard RSEA (current top choice due to access to Harvard History and Divinity School)
- Stanford EAS
- UCLA EAS (not sure if I will qualify to finish in 1 year and academic advisor cannot confirm that third year proficiency = JLPT N2)
- Columbia EALAC (confirming if it is possible to finish in 1 year instead of 2)
I've been asked to consider Yale, JHU and Columbia MARSEA as well but based on what I've seen so far these programs are more contemporary-focused (again, please correct me if I'm wrong).Thank you for reading this far and good luck for your own applications/grad school/work!
If you are considering to complete a research-based master's degree, you should focus less on school-ranking and more on the alignment of your research interests with what is being done at each department. Admissions committees will make a decision based on the quality and relevance of your SOP, the quality of your letters of recommendation, and if your research interests aligns with what the program offers (curriculum, faculty research, etc.) Premodern/modern Japanese history is quite broad in terms of interests so it's hard to tell...
Philosophy Conversion Course
in Philosophy
Posted
It really depends on your academic profile, but if you already have a bachelor`s degree in any field you could definitely apply to MA-PhD programs in philosophy. It would also depend on your career goals, target programs, and interests.