Biostats PhD Profile Evaluation

[ysp]

Hi everyone, just trying to get an idea of the sorts of places I should be applying to. I don't really know how this stuff works too well and any advice would be appreciated! I graduated in 2017 and will be applying for fall 2021 programs because I'm going to be a math teacher with the Peace Corps for two years starting this summer. Would really appreciate advice on what sorts of programs I should be looking at/have a chance at getting into.

 

Undergrad Institution: Liberal arts college
Major(s): Math
GPA: 3.74 overall. 4.0 in math (depending on how you calculate it I guess? Got a couple A-s but some A+s to balance those out).

 

Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male
GRE: Got 80th% on the math subject test as a senior but will study and re-take. Haven't taken the general, will before I leave, but not sure how much I'll study.

Programs Applying: PhD in Biostatistics (might also apply to some statistics programs too)

 

Research Experience: Math REU summer after junior year in number theory, two papers published. Senior thesis in number theory. Research data analyst at a university for their global health institute and hopefully will get a publication out of this.

 

Letters of Recommendation: One from research/thesis advisor, two from professors who I've taken courses with (Measure Theoretic Probability and PDE). One from the advisor should be strong, not so sure about the other two but I think they will all be positive at least. Maybe one from current boss instead of one of the professors, especially if we get published.

 

Relevant Course Work: 
Math and Stat Courses: (some of these courses were taken abroad, not sure whether this impacts anything) Intro Stats (A-), Calc 3 (A+), Linear Algebra (A+), Discrete Math (A), Real Analysis (A),  Complex Analysis (A) (abroad), Harmonic Analysis (A), Asymptotic Analysis (A), Measure Theory/Probability (A), PDE (A), Intro Number Theory (A) (abroad), Topology (A) (abroad), Abstract Algebra (A) (abroad), Combinatorics (Audited) (abroad), Differential Geometry (A), Homological Algebra (A-), Algebraic Number Theory (A), Representation Theory (A-), Commutative Algebra (A),

 

Computing Skills: R, Python, SQL, VBA

 

Work Experience: Currently research data analyst in global health at a university, will join the Peace Corps as a math teacher summer 2018.

 

Awards/Honors: Won a department prize in applied math from school's math department as a senior, graduated with honors in math for doing a thesis.

 

Thank you all so much!

Edited March 4, 2018 by ysp

[bayessays]

When you say liberal arts college, does that mean a top one like Williams/Harvey Mudd or some small school outside the top 50? If the former, I think you're almost a shoe-in at any biostatistics program. If the latter, I'd still be shocked if you didn't get into most of the top 5.

[GoPackGo89]

How well known is your LAC? I would have your research supervisor write one of your letters over one of the math profs (four strong letters is always a nice thing to have too though). Biostats wise I think you could apply to any program you want to and it wouldn't be a waste of money. Id guess you probably get into at least one of UNC, Michigan, Minnesota. There are also some good public health/ biomed faculty at pure stats programs that you would be competitive at: NC State, Wisconsin

Edited March 4, 2018 by GoPackGo89

[ysp]

Thank you both for your responses! I did go to a "top" LAC. And thanks for the input @GoPackGo89, I'll definitely plan on having the research supervisor write one of the letters. I'd guess that's going to be my strongest letter anyway.

Honestly, kind of worried about the A- in intro stats, will that hurt me (since it's also the only stat class which I took)?

Edited March 4, 2018 by ysp

[bayessays]

I wouldn't worry about it. It won't help that you haven't had a real math/stat sequence though. But between the measure theoretical probability course and your work experience as a data analyst, I think you should be fine. 

[StatsG0d]

With that profile, I'd be surprised if you didn't get into at least one of the top 3, and would not be surprised if you got into all. 

If you're interested in theory (presumably you are with your math background), you'd probably be happiest at Washington.

Edited March 4, 2018 by footballman2399

[abstract_art]

Echoing what the others said, you have a shot at every biostats program. Also, if you're interested, you also have a shot at every stats program considering your math background and math gre score (80% is really good for stats programs). So apply to wherever you want to go!