dmacfour

I saw that CMU dropped it for their traditional stats PhD (the joint ones still require it).

For what it's worth, I have at least 7 W's on my transcript and I didn't stop me from being admitted to grad school for psychology or for statistics. In my opinion, there's a lot more room for justifying a W than there is for a grade less than a C. 

One thing that influenced my decision:
 
Even though statistics and data science are the hot thing right now, do I really want to wait 5+ years to enter the field? I've already experienced starting school when a field was hot and graduating (with no work experience) after it was saturated. I'm not willing to go through that again so I'm going to work for a few years after getting my masters and then evaluate where I am at. 

One of the bigger considerations is if it's applied or not. Applied statistics programs replace a lot of the theory with programming, consulting, and projects.  This is good if you want to go straight into industry, but doesn't help you much if you want to get a PhD. I chose an applied program because it fit in with my career goals. 
Pay attention to the prereqs if you're looking at applied stats programs. Some have the same requirements as regular stats programs, and others require very little math (a single semester of calc). The applied program I'm in is using multivariable calc and linear algebra from day one, so I'm skeptical of what the programs with fewer requirements are teaching students.

Agreed, it sounds like you should be in good shape for a wide variety of stats careers with that.

It seems kinda of interesting that you want to get an advanced degree in an area you really haven't done anything in, do you collect degrees?  I don't know how to say that any nicer, but it seems like you want to avoid doing the actual engineering education and focus on the research in an area again you really have no knowledge of...I think it's rather perverse that you are trying to get into grad school for engineering.

@dmacfour I knew a woman in the Mechanical Engineering department who actually used to be a high-school english teacher and decided to switch. She got her MS and was one of the best students in the class, but I don't know more information about her background so I'm not sure what kind of pre-requisites she was required to complete. It was at UT Arlington.

You seem to have a stick up your rear about my plans, for whatever reason.  If you don't have anything constructive to say, don't bother responding.
 
Do you think I'm just planning on applying with no background whatsoever? I'm following guidelines published by graduate schools willing to accept non-engineers. Why would I take statics, dynamics, thermo, fluids, materials, and a dozen other courses if I was trying to avoid the "actual engineering education"? Believe me, if I could start over and get a bachelors in mechanical engineering before doing this I would. But that's the reality of my situation, and it doesn't make sense to complete a second bachelors if it's not actually necessary. At least as far as my goals are concerned.

You seem to have a stick up your rear about my plans, for whatever reason.  If you don't have anything constructive to say, don't bother responding.
 
Do you think I'm just planning on applying with no background whatsoever? I'm following guidelines published by graduate schools willing to accept non-engineers. Why would I take statics, dynamics, thermo, fluids, materials, and a dozen other courses if I was trying to avoid the "actual engineering education"? Believe me, if I could start over and get a bachelors in mechanical engineering before doing this I would. But that's the reality of my situation, and it doesn't make sense to complete a second bachelors if it's not actually necessary. At least as far as my goals are concerned.