Where to apply?

[DJ3Sigma]

Hello world,

I would like some help in determining where I should be applying to for PhD programs? Although I applied this year, many of the schools that I applied to I know now were "reaches." So if worst comes to worst and I do not get accepted into any of my schools or do not receive enough funding to attend any of those schools I would like to know what my options are and where I should be looking for next application cycle? I have put some of my stats below.

Undergrad Institution: Large public university
Majors: Statistics (B.S.) and Physics (B.S.) 
Minors: Actuarial Science 
GPA: 3.30 cumulative, 3.30 major

Graduate Institution: Large public university

Major: Statistics (M.S.)

GPA: 3.74

Type of Student: Male, Hispanic, Domestic
GRE General Test: 156V, 161Q, 4.0AW

 

Programs Applying: PhD in Statistics (will apply), PhD in Biostatistics (may apply)

 

Interests: Machine Learning, AI, Big Data Analysis

 

Research Experience: 1.5 years in Physics lab programming equipment (undergraduate volunteer). 1 year in Statistics group programming in C++, and R with research into causality in a Bayesian world (graduate assistant). I may have a publication by the end of the semester.

Employment: Have worked as GA during my graduate studies in a center that focuses on biostatistics and performs statistical consultations for the entire university. Consulted on many projects.

 

Skills: R, C++

 

[Bayesian1701]

Where did you apply this year and what have been your results so far?

[DJ3Sigma]

@Bayesian1701 Thanks for asking the following is a list of where I applied and the results:

Rejected: CMU, Duke, UW, UC Berkeley, U Michigan

Still Waiting/Possible Rejections: U Toronto, U Florida

[Bayesian1701]

Florida should still be a possibility.  There have been a few admits but you are a good candidate and they probably don't have all their spots filled yet.  Maybe you are unofficially waitlisted?  It's not that you aren't a competitive applicant it is because your list was a little too reachy.   If you apply again and assuming you want to do Bayesian statistics try Baylor,  U Florida again,  UConn, TAMU (reach but if the application is free it's worth a shot),  Missouri, Michigan again, and maybe some of the big departments like NC State.  

[bayessays]

I think Bayesian's list is even too high. Especially if you don't improve you GRE score, you should be looking at programs ranked below 40 on the US News list. 

[DJ3Sigma]

@Bayesian1701, and @bayessays thanks for the input I will look into more programs in the ranges that you both are suggesting. Though I have only taken the GRE once, I am not sure I want to take it again. 

[DJ3Sigma]

Should I include in my applications that I got a 9/10 on the Society of Actuaries Exam P? I did not this time around because I did not think it would matter to the graduate schools.

[Bayesian1701]

I don’t know if it would help but you could put it on your CV.  Also defer to @bayessays opinion they are more experienced then me.  I knew your GRE was really low but I thought your masters would make up for it.  How long ago did you take it and how much did you study?

[DJ3Sigma]

6 minutes ago, Bayesian1701 said:

I don’t know if it would help but you could put it on your CV.  Also defer to @bayessays opinion they are more experienced then me.  I knew your GRE was really low but I thought your masters would make up for it.  How long ago did you take it and how much did you study?

I took it roughly two years ago and I studied a week prior to the exam.

[bayessays]

11 minutes ago, Bayesian1701 said:

I don’t know if it would help but you could put it on your CV.  Also defer to @bayessays opinion they are more experienced then me.  I knew your GRE was really low but I thought your masters would make up for it.  How long ago did you take it and how much did you study?

The problem is that if it's not a top MS program, it probably doesn't help much unless you have a near 4.0. A 3.74 in an MS program isn't any better than a 3.3 in undergrad because of grad school grade inflation. We also would need more information on DJ's math background. As a stats major, did you take real analysis and how did you do? Most top programs won't seriously consider you without that math background. 

[DJ3Sigma]

12 minutes ago, bayessays said:

The problem is that if it's not a top MS program, it probably doesn't help much unless you have a near 4.0. A 3.74 in an MS program isn't any better than a 3.3 in undergrad because of grad school grade inflation. We also would need more information on DJ's math background. As a stats major, did you take real analysis and how did you do? Most top programs won't seriously consider you without that math background. 

I did not take real analysis. I took Fourier Analysis(B+), Linear Algebra (B-), and Advanced Calculus (A). Thanks for the help by the way.

[bayessays]

Advanced calculus is similar and it looks good that you got an A in it. Your best bet might be to focus on biostat programs outside of the top 6 or so - they might be more forgiving since you have some good biostat experience and won't care as much that you haven't aced all your math classes. 

[DJ3Sigma]

Hello again, 

I just wanted to know if anyone here knows of any good stats/biostats programs outside of the US that would be worth looking into as well?