Hi, I'm international student currently studying abroad and I would like to apply to Stat Phd this year. I would like any advices because I am new here, and I'm confused about my direction.
Type: International Asian
Undergrad
Degree: Statistics (Top 3 in my country)
Cumulative GPA: 3.83/4.3
Major GPA: 4.15/4.3
Courses Taken (Grade) : (Math/Stat Courses)
Real Analysis I (grad level : A+)
Numerical Analysis (grad level: A+)
Analysis I (A+)
Topology (A0)
Mathematical Statistics I and II (A0/A+)
Advanced Calculus (A+)
Linear Algebra I and II (A+)
Regression/Survival/Categorical/Bayesian Analysis, etc of roughly about 10~15 courses related to statistics all A+ except for one or two A0
Master
Degree: Master in Statistics (Top 10 in US) First Year
Cumulative GPA: 3.787/4.0
Courses Taken (Grade) : (All Math & Stat PhD courses)
Functional Analysis (B+)
Probability Thoery (A)
Grad-level Mathematical Statistics (A-/A)
Statistical Learning (A)
Applied Classes (all A)
(planning to take this semester)
- Convex Optimization in Math Department
- Measure Theory
- Theoretical Linear Models
the above lists are all Phd level courses except for applied courses.
Research Experience:
- one paper submitted and under revision: but it's more related to applied math than statistics => not to a famous journal though.
- doing research about variable selection with one of profs, but not predicting to turn it into paper before application cycle.
Letters:
Haven't decided yet.
Exam Scores
Toefl : 114 (30/30/27/27)
Gre general: 157/170/4.0
Gre subject Math: 85% (should I submit this? I didn't do that much good)
Schools: (All Stats PhD)
reaches: Texas A&M , NCSU, PSU, UW madison, UMN, etc about 10~20 rankings in US
targets: UFL, UIUC, OSU, ISU, MSU
1. Am I aiming too high for the application? Can you give me any advices of where I should apply to? My undergrad institution sends students to those reach schools + some top schools so admission comittee might know my undergrad institution probably.
2. Is B+ in Functional Analysis going to hurt my application? I did roughly about median in the class with other Math phd students, but my school has harsh grade on core math phd courses (but I should have tried harder though..) for qualifying exam exemption.
3. Any advices of how to boost my chances of application?
Thank you so much.