Vince Silvia

First of all, thanks for the responses. I wouldn't say that I'm SURE about pursuing stats, but I like what I know of statistics. Admittedly that's not a whole lot, but I like the idea that complex situations or whatnot can be modeled or predicted in a calculable or numeric way, if that makes any sense. For example, one year, I was getting tired of making crappy March Madness picks time after time, so I tried to devise a statistical method to compare the matchups and make my picks. I've tweaked it over the last 4-5 years and just wrote some code to run simulations (of 10000 "games") using a normal probability distribution for a couple of the stats to make my picks. I think it's fair to say it's something I'm pretty interested in overall, even if I don't know a lot of it, but that's kind of the point. I spoke to friend of mine a while ago about this possibility, and she was confused by my motivation. She's pursuing her PhD in a different field because she wants to be able to teach at the University level, and she needs a PhD to do that. I told her that my reasoning for potentially pursuing a PhD is because I want to know more about Statistics and be better at them. What that additional knowledge or understanding brings me isn't as important to me. Maybe it's strange, but I'm just sort of interested in certain things, and I want to know more about them. Statistics happens to be one of them. As to my poor undergraduate grades, I blame my youth. I wasn't terribly motivated as an undergraduate, in all honesty, because it felt like something I was supposed to do as opposed to something I wanted to do. Then, 5 years after graduating, I wanted to get a Master's degree in CMIS for the same reason I'd like to pursue Statistics - because I wanted to be better at various disciplines in it. I've been working full time the whole time I've been in grad school, and I've been able to maintain a 4.0 in a more intensive program than the undergrad, so I don't know that even I trust the accuracy of my undergrad grades. My plan was to start taking Calc II this summer and progressively take more potentially required classes until either A) I've passed them all to my satisfaction (or enough of them to where I can start applying to programs), or Realized that they're beyond me and my goal is unrealistic. I was going to try either way, so I appreciate the input.

I'm about done with a Master's in Computer Management and Information Sciences (same as my Bachelor's) here in the Midwest, and I've been giving some serious consideration to applying to PhD programs in Statistics. My major issue, however, is that my degree is a business degree, and as such, isn't very strong in a math background. I asked the MS Stat program coordinator where I'm lacking specifically, and he suggested I take Calc II, Calc III, Linear Algebra, and a Logic and Reasoning class. Does this sound sufficient, or should I take as much math as I can before applying (i.e. Discrete Math, Differential Equations)? For the record, what I do have in math background is pretty spotty at best, with a C in Calc I and a D in Calc II from the University of Missouri at Rolla (when I was there in 2000-2001, now it's Missouri S&T), and a C in Discrete Math from my current school, SIUE (as an undergrad, though). Additionally, as an undergrad at SIUE, I took an Intro to Statistics class and got an A. So, with all that said, A) What's my best plan to get my maths up to snuff? B ) Are there stat-related programs that I should be focusing on where my impending Master's degree might hold more weight? I've seen some schools that offer Business Statistics, for example, but I don't know what the differences might be besides the obvious. C) I haven't taken the GRE, but I got a 700 on the GMAT (if that offers any sort of comparison), and am currently holding a 4.0 GPA in Grad School to go along with my 3.2 GPA in undergrad. Where should I be looking in terms of programs? Top, middle, bottom? Any specific recommendations? D) Am I crazy for thinking I can pick up relatively higher-level math despite at least 8-9 years away from any knowledge of the subjects (if any, really), or succeed as a PhD candidate in Statistics? Thanks in advance. Vince