lost518

Thank you for your reply! In addition to the question above, I have another question. I was Biology major in undergraduate school. My overall GPA (3.6+) is not so good due to the biology courses I took, but I have straight A's in all math courses (three semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra) and math-related courses (such as chemistry and physics). How much the low grade in Biology will affect my application in terms of GPA alone? In addition, My GPA in current statistics program is OK (3.75+). I am wondering how much the admission committee will take my master grades into account. I understand that the application package consists of lots of other important components rather than GPA alone. Since the research experience is not that important in applying for Biostatistics PhD program, I am really worried about my grades. Hope you can answer my concern. Thank you!

I am a Master student in a Statistics program and I am planning to apply to a Biostatistics PhD program in this coming fall. During the process of application, I am wondering how important it is for a student to contact with professors in the Biostatistics programs that he/she is interested. I know for many majors, such as Biology, it is very critical to contact with professors who are doing research you are interested in and may potentially work with the professors after the admission. What is the situation for Biostatistics? I have been reading the posts here and found some people suggesting that people in Biostatistics admission offices generally do not expect much biostatistics related research experience from the prospective students. So what is the deal here? Thank you for any comments.

Thank you for your reply. I am really appreciated it. I am going to take these two course this summer. I think they will help build my resume a lot. There are some information I want to add. I will ask two stats professors from my current program and one biology professor who I have done research with to write me letters. I don't think the letters they write will be terrible. In addition, I am interested in going to industry (such as pharmacy or clinic companies) after finish PhD program (definitely not academia), do you have any suggestions of which schools I should definitely apply? At last, since my GPA in undergraduate school is not high (although I do have good scores for math and math related courses) and I was Biology major, I am wondering how much the admission committee will take my master grades into account. Will getting a master degree help me a lot compared to students who are math majors coming from undergraduate school directly with high GPAs (such as 3.85+)? Thank you in advance!!!

Congratulations to both of you! I am thinking of applying for Biostatistics PhD programs in Fall 2013, and the schools you mentioned above are all in my list. Could you please tell me what kind of background you have, like GPA, GRE, having a master degree or not, so that I can have a better sense of positioning myself when I am applying this year. Sorry I cannot help you make any decisions, but definitely your reply will help me a lot! Thank you!

I had a BS in Biology. My GPA is 3.56 (All A's for Calculus I, II, Intro to statistics, and two semesters of physics. It was the Biology courses that dragged my GPA down.). I was planning to do a PhD in Biology, so I had two summer research experience and a senior research experience. My GRE was 590(Verbal) and 800(Math). Right now I am in a master program for statistics. My first semester GPA was 3.89 and I will try my best to hold or increase my GPA this semester. I have learned various statistical methods and some programming skills (R and SAS). I'm thinking of applying for Biostatistics PhD for Fall 2013 after I get my master degree, but I am not sure how competitive I am and which schoosl I should apply for that I am mostly likely to get into. Ironically, because I did not take linear algebra in college, I am worried about failing to meet the basic requirements listed in Biostatistics programs for most of schools. I am looking for any kinds of suggestions. Thank you!!!