econ_to_stats

Official GRE scores in. Verbal: 167, 97% Quant: 167, 96% Analytical Writing: 4.5, 73% Also, why no love? Over 100 views and no comments?

Seeking advice on what schools are appropriate. The Rundown Undergraduate Institution: Medium-size Midwest Public University. Not well known Majors: B.A. Mathematics / Economics GPA: 3.54 Type of student: White Domestic Male Graduate Institution: Large Southern Public University Program: Econ PhD program dropout. MA in Economics. GPA: 3.25 GRE Scores: (Unofficial scores) Q: 167 V: 167 W: unknown Relevant Coursework: Undergrad: Mathematical Statistics (3 quarters): A-, A, A- Statistical Computing: A Linear Algebra: B Matrix Theory: A- Real Analysis / Adv. Calc (2 quarters): A, A Elem. Point. Set Topology: A- Graduate: Econometrics (2 semester): A-, B Limited Dependent Variables: A (In Econ Dept. Transcript shows Incomplete changed to A) Survival Analysis: A (In Stats Dept. Transcript shows Incomplete changed to A) Panel Data: A- (In Econ Dept.) Time Series: D- (In Stats Dept. Undergraduate level course. I messed up here. Didn't do the homework, which turned out to be worth 60%) LORs: Not sure yet. I'm considering one econometrician from grad school, one econometrician from undergrad, and a statistician from undergrad. Not likely to be well known by admission committee. Papers: I have one empirical paper published in a mid-to-low level economics journal that uses a panel regression with one co-author. The Point: Essentially, I dropped the ball in grad school. I was disappointed with my poor econ placements and accepted an offer at a school that was a bad fit because it was the best funding. Didn't have the maturity to deal with a bad situation and walked away leaving a mess. Cleaned up mess later and received my degree. I'd like to go back and get a PhD in Statistics. I like Bayesian statistics and recently have been getting into Statistical Learning. I'm very pessimistic about my chances though. Partly based on how poorly I did applying to Econ PhD programs and partly because I'm switching fields. I know Standford and Carnegie Mellon have great programs in Statistical Learning, and Duke is great for Bayesian Stats, but I have no idea what would be a good fit beyond that and know that all of those schools are out of my reach. So my question is, "What can I do?" Is it possible to go to a less prestigious university, do well, and transfer to a better one? What schools would be willing to accept a student with a transcript as blemished as mine? Help?!