suncertainty

Hi, I recently got into one of my dream programs and worried about if my admission would be revoked. In my application, I submitted a transcript that says I'm a double major in Math and Data Science. However, once the semester hit, I had to drop my major in data science to a minor (due to financial issues, i did an underload which allowed me to pay tuition per credit hour). I'm also only two courses away from getting that major. Hence, my official transcript will report a major in math and minor in data science. Also, the course that I planned to take in Spring 2025 and currently taking are slightly different (just one course dropped) because during the application season it was still in add/drop and the schedule was subject to change. Am I at risk of getting my admission revoked? Should I contact the admissions regarding this issue...

@bayessays Thank you very much!

Hi @bayessays Would you say I still get the letter from research person if they're new faculty (taught for 1~2 years now)? Also, I just had my GRE unofficial score of 167Q/158V. Do you think it's worth retaking for the sake of quant or just sticking with it. Thank you so much for the advice!!

Hello, I've previously posted a similar thread in December 2023. With my junior year finished, and looking to apply this fall, I want to get a final review of my profile and my school list. Undergrad Institution: USNews Top 50 Major(s): Mathematics Minor(s): Data Science GPA: 3.98/4.00 (Major GPA 4.0) Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male GRE General Test: Taking it soon GRE Subject Test: No plan to take it TOEFL Score: N/A Grad Institution: None Current Research Interests: All past works have been ML related, but I'm also interested in methodological and theoretical aspects of statistics/biostatistics. Research Experience: Funded summer research experience at my home institution (worked with a stats professor on building regression model for aerospace engineering problem, no pubs) Funded year-long research in interdisciplinary conservation ecology project (building object detection network) Likely result in second-author paper in non-statistics journal, but not sure if it will be done prior application deadlines Recently joined another research project that will likely last for a semester Other Activities or Jobs: Undergraduate TA for the following courses: two semesters of Intro to Data Science, one semester of Probability (proof-based) Undergraduate TA for mathematical statistics Math/Statistics Grades: (T - transfer credit (AP Exam), P - pass/fail) Math/Statistics: Elementary Statistics (T) Calc I (T) Calc II (T) Multivariable Calculus (A) Linear Algebra (A) Foundations of Math (P) -> pass/fail during covid, i hope i can remedy this with my real analysis grade Probability and Statistics for Scientists (A) Regression Analysis (A) Probability Theory (A) Mathematical Statistics (A) Survival Analysis (A) Real Analysis I (A) - epsilon-delta stuff Real Analysis II (A) - intro. to measure theory (covered up to dominated convergence theorem) Data Science: Intro Data Science (A) Intro CS (A) Databases (A) Data Visualization (A) Applied Machine Learning (A) Applied Data Analytics in R (A) Plan to take: Complex Analysis Abstract Algebra or Advanced Linear Algebra Statistical Learning Bioinformatics Programs Applying: Primarily biostatistics PhDs. My dream is to get into one of the top 10 schools in usnews, but I'm applying also those outside of top 10. Letters of Recommendation: - One from an assistant professor who mentored me for the first two research experience listed above -> can speak about research ability - One from another assistant professor who mentored me for the third research experience and survival analysis -> can speak about research ability + some biostatistics - One from a pure math professor (tenured) who taught measure theory and will be teaching complex analysis -> can speak about mathematical maturity - One from a statistics professor (tenured) who taught probability theory and mathematical statistics -> can speak about ability to do probability/statistics Here are my potential lists, and I have some worries. My plan is to apply to many reach schools and hope to get in at least one. If not, I will first pursue a masters degree (hopefully some PhD programs I apply will consider me for masters). Biostatistics PhD: Harvard University Johns Hopkins University UNC Chapel Hill Brown University Yale University University of Washington University of Michigan Columbia University Duke University University of Pennsylvania UC Berkeley University of Minnesota — Twin Cities Vanderbilt University Emory University Statistics PhD: University of Michigan NC State Masters: Stanford University (MS Statistics) University of Pennsylvania (MSE in Data Science) Harvard University (MS Biostatistics) University of Chicago (MS Statistics) + Some PhD schools listed above that might consider me for masters. Here are some of my questions: Q: I know most schools require 3 letters, and I'm having a hard to between choosing from the four. Any advice on how to choose rec writers? Q: I know there are lots of schools up there, and I wish to cut few out if possible. Am I reaching too high, or is this reasonable. Any recommended schools to add/remove? Q: I have the choice to take either a second course in linear algebra or first course of abstract algebra. Would taking the second linear algebra course make my transcript look nicer? Q: I'm mostly concerned that my researches and background may not suit biostatistics programs (besides I've taken survival analysis and will be taking bioinformatics soon). Would I be better off applying to traditional stats programs? Thank you so much in advance and any advice/comments will be appreciated!

Hi @Stat Assistant Professor! Thanks for the comment. I chose schools specifically that does not accept GRE or have it as optional. Would it still be beneficial to take GRE and submit it for schools that have it optional? Thank you!

Hello, I've previously posted a similar thread in December 2023. With my junior year finished, and looking to apply this fall, I want to get a final review of my profile and my school list. Undergrad Institution: USNews Top 50 (one of public ivys) Major(s): Mathematics Minor(s): Data Science GPA: 3.98/4.00 (Major GPA 4.0) Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male GRE General Test: No plan to take it GRE Subject Test: No plan to take it TOEFL Score: N/A Grad Institution: None Current Research Interests: All past works have been ML related, but I'm also interested in methodological and theoretical aspects of statistics/biostatistics. Research Experience: Funded summer research experience at my home institution (worked with a stats professor on building regression model for aerospace engineering problem, no pubs) Funded year-long research in interdisciplinary conservation ecology project (building object detection network for wildlife monitoring and uncertainty quantification) Likely result in second-author paper in non-statistics journal, but not sure if it will be done prior application deadline Coding Skills: Python, R, SQL Other Activities or Jobs: Undergraduate TA for the following courses: two semesters of Intro to Data Science, one semester of Probability (proof-based) Undergraduate TA for mathematical statistics next semester Math/Statistics Grades: (T - transfer credit (AP Exam), P - pass/fail) Math/Statistics: Elementary Statistics (T) Calc I (T) Calc II (T) Multivariable Calculus (A) Linear Algebra (A) Foundations of Math (P) -> pass/fail during covid, i hope i can remedy this with my real analysis grade Probability and Statistics for Scientists (A) Regression Analysis (A) Probability Theory (A) Mathematical Statistics (A) Survival Analysis (A) Real Analysis I (A) - epsilon-delta stuff Real Analysis II (A) - intro. to measure theory (covered up to dominated convergence theorem) Data Science: Intro Data Science (A) Intro CS (A) Databases (A) Data Visualization (A) Applied Machine Learning (A) Applied Data Analytics in R (A) Plan to take: Complex Analysis Abstract Algebra Statistical Learning Bioinformatics Programs Applying: Primarily statistics and biostatistics PhDs. My dream is to get into one of the top 5~15 schools in usnews, but I will be applying to mixtures of schools. Letters of Recommendation: - One from a research mentor for both research experience listed above - One from a pure math professor who taught measure theory - One from a tenured statistics professor who taught probability theory and mathematical statistics Here are my potential lists, and I have some worries. My plan is to apply to many reach schools and hope to get in at least one. If not, I will first pursue a masters degree (hopefully some PhD programs I apply will consider me for masters). Am i being too ambitious on the list below for PhD? If so, which schools would go along the list? Biostatistics PhD: Harvard University Johns Hopkins University University of Washington University of Michigan Columbia University Duke University University of Pennsylvania UC Berkeley University of Minnesota — Twin Cities Statistics PhD: Columbia University University of Michigan NC State University of Wisconsin — Madison UNC Chapel Hill Yale University Masters: Stanford University (MS Statistics) University of Pennsylvania (MSE in Data Science) Harvard University (MS Biostatistics) Thank you so much in advance and any advice/comments will be appreciated!

Hi, I'm an undergraduate student considering to apply for PhD programs in the next cycle. I have taken a graduate survival analysis (time-to-event analysis) course here, and really enjoyed both the theoretical and application aspect of the topic. I would assume a lot of these researches would be done in a biostatistics programs, but I want to know if there are any specific programs that you recommend. I would also love to know if some schools focus more on the theoretical research or just applications. Thank you in advance!

Hey @bayessays, Thank you again for the response! I chose Duke biostats because they didn't require GRE whereas Duke stats requires. The same reasoning was for Yale (their stats didn't require GRE). Apparently Emory requires GRE, so I probably won't be applying to their program. Would you say I have a decent shot at getting into one of those biostats programs (now that Emory is out of list)? Also, despite being a citizen, would being east asian male put me in a disadvantageous in stats/biostats programs, just out of curiosity. In all, thank you so much again for your honest feedback. I feel a bit relieved after having stressed about for a while.

Hey @bayessays! Thank you so much for the kind reply. I really appreciate your feedback. I would love to could get a brief feedback on my potential lists of schools. Biostatistics PhD: Harvard University Johns Hopkins University University of Washington University of Michigan Columbia University Duke University University of Pennsylvania UC Berkeley Emory University Brown University Statistics PhD: NC State UNC Chapel Hill Cornell University of Minnesota — Twin Cities Yale University University of Wisconsin — Madison Iowa State UCLA Northwestern University Texas A&M UIUC Purdue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I know there are lots (hopefully will be able to cut them down) and much more reaches, but I want to get a general feedback of the list. Also, I might not take the general GRE, so I chose schools that have them optional. I also put a lot of reach schools to biostatistics assuming I will have a better shot as opposed to statistics. Would there be any schools you would get rid of / add onto the list, and schools that you recommend switching programs (either way)? I also have in mind doing a MS-degree first, if I don't get into one of these above. Again, thank you so much and I appreciate any words!

Hello, I'm currently a junior in college planning to apply to stats/biostats PhD programs in the next cycle (starting Fall 2025). I just wanted to get a blunt assessment of my profile and some advices on what courses to take and what initiatives I should take beforehand. Undergrad Institution: USNews Top 50 (one of public ivys) Major(s): Applied Mathematics Minor(s): Data Science GPA: 3.97/4.00 (Major GPA 4.0) Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male GRE General Test: Haven't taken yet GRE Subject Test: No plan to take it TOEFL Score: N/A Grad Institution: None Current Research Interests: Past experiences are all data sciency works like building neural nets and ML models. But I'm also interested in more theory side of statistics. Research Experience: Funded summer research experience at my home institution (worked with a stats professor on building regression model for aerospace engineering problem, no pubs) Secured a year-long research position (starting next semester) in conservation field (most likely will be building CNN model for object counting) Will probably work on an undergraduate honors thesis on the topic above Coding Skills: Python, R, SQL Other Activities or Jobs: Undergraduate TA for the two following courses: Intro to Data Science, two sections of Probability (proof-based) Math/Statistics Grades: (T - transfer credit (AP Exam), P - pass/fail) Elementary Statistics (T) Calc I (T) Calc II (T) Calc III (A) Linear Algebra (A) Foundations of Math (P) -> pass/fail during covid, i hope i can remedy this with my real analysis grade Probability and Statistics for Scientists (A) Probability (proof-based probability theory) (A) Regression Analysis (A) Real Analysis I (A) Intro Data Science (A) Intro CS (A) Databases (A) Data Visualization (A) Applied Machine Learning (A) Plan to take (courses that will have grades by the time i apply): Mathematical Statistics Survival Analysis Real Analysis II (basically intro to measure theory, will discuss about measures and integration theory) Plan to take (wont have grades in, senior 1st sem): Advanced Linear Algebra Complex Analysis Operations Research Statistical Learning Programs Applying: Primarily statistics and biostatistics PhDs. My dream is to get into one of the top 5~15 schools in usnews, but I will be applying to mixtures of schools. Letters of Recommendation: I expect to have one from my research advisor (stats prof), one from a professor who taught me probability and math stats (also stats prof), and one from a professor in pure math who will teach me measure theory. General Questions: 1. I heard that stats and biostats programs are essentially equivalent, except that stats are more competitive and theory-heavy in courseworks. I'm wondering how huge the gap is in terms of admissions difficulty. Also, based on my profile would you recommend applying to more biostats or stats program? 2. What do you think about contacting professors at the programs I'm interested in to ask about whether he/she will have spots during that cycle? I heard that in the field of statistics, this is a bad idea but just wanted some thoughts. 3. I'm afraid I havent taken enough math classes to be competitive (such as ODE, PDE, second-semester linear algebra, etc). Would there be any way to remedy this? Thank you so much in advance, and any feedback will be appreciated.