Stats/Biostats Applicant 2019

[stevy]

Undergrad/grad Institution:  State school ranked between 100 and 200 
Major: Statistics 
GPA: 3.63

Major GPA: 3.75

Type of Student: Domestic White Male

Undergrad Courses: 

Calc I-III (A), Linear Algebra (B-), Real Analysis (B+), Abstract Algebra (A+), Vector Analysis (A), Mathematical Statistics (A+), Probability (A-), Stochastic Processes (A+), Data Analysis I and II (A+), PDE (A),  Independent Study in Measure Theory (will be talked about in one of my rec letters)

 

GRE: 

Q: 165
V: 162
W: 4.5

 

Programs Applying: 

Biostatistics/Statistics PhD (Possibly some masters programs)

Research Experience: 

Applied research project at a top 5 biostats/stats department (paper submitted for publication), applied research project at my university (paper submitted for publication and first author), statistical methods project at my university (published)

Recommendation Letter: 

Research advisors (one is very well known)

Coding Experience:

R, Python

Concerns:

• I am worried that schools will think I can't handle theoretical math, because of my low grades in linear algebra and real analysis. I am hoping my independent study in measure theory and A+ in abstract algebra alleviate a bit of those concerns. 

 

Applying to:

 

Biostats Phd:

• UNC
• UC Berkeley 
• Vanderbilt
• Boston University
• University of Iowa

Statistics Phd:

• University of Florida
• Ohio State 
• UC Santa Cruz

Do you guys think I am reaching too high with UNC and Berkeley or even University of Florida? From what my colleagues have told me, the competition for biostats and stats programs have gone up significantly the past few years so I am not really sure at which schools I should apply to.  

Also, with my profile, would I be able to get into a top stats or biostats masters program such as Harvard or UW biostats and UC Berkeley or CMU Stats? 

 

 

 

 

[jswizzle48]

No, my advice is to cast a wide net and see what you can catch. You have to believe in yourself, no one else will. I think you have a profile that fits PhD/Master's programs, but the admission criteria is a different for both. I can see you easily getting into a top 10 or a top 25 master's program.

[Bayesian1701]

Your list for stats PhD programs is good, but I think you are aiming too high (maybe?) for biostats.  I don't know much about biostat programs, so someone better experienced would need to comment on that.  What do you think your rec letters from research advisors will look like?  

Your ability to handle coursework may be a minor concern, unless there are some more  Bs in math/stats courses you didn't list.  You did get a B+ in real analysis, but I think that adcoms would know that grades almost have a margin of error since they are a single observation  from an unknown distribution.   Your quant GRE score is on the low side for top programs, but about average.  

You need to sell your research experience. If you really have a first author statistics publication  in the works with a rec letter that says you are a great independent researcher, then you are way ahead of the pack (at least among domestic students). I think independent research experience and defined research interests can help compensate for a mediocre undergraduate institution and average GRE and GPA.  

I want to leave a word of caution about doing a top masters program.   Yes, masters programs are great stepping stones that can improve your chances of getting into a top Ph.D. program.  But, you will spend a lot of money (you probably not get any funding) and time.  You will probably not get to all of your credits when you transfer to a Ph.D. program.  And you are really only going to have the first three semesters before you apply again if you go straight through.  On the other hand, if you get into a Ph.D. program, you won't have to pay (if they don't fund you as a domestic student they don't really want you) and it would be more efficient to stay in one program.  

 

[GoPackGo89]

I think your biostats list has a nice spread of schools. I also think you would get into a top masters program but if your goal is to get a PhD and you are happy at any of the schools you listed, why bother with a masters? 

[bayessays]

I think Iowa and Boston might be realistic, and the rest are probably a stretch (some, like Berkeley, are unrealistic).  On the other hand, if you did substantial work with the professor from a top department and he puts in a very good rec, that's sort of a wild card that could get you in places that would otherwise be reaches.  It's really hard to say without knowing that relationship and how substantial your publication was.  I had a similar profile, with a better GRE score and worse grades, and got into most the schools on your list based on the strength of the research.

[Goodwillhunting2]

I am applying this cycle too, so my opinion should not be as heavily weighted as the other comments, but I think you look like a a qualified candidate for the schools you listed. I think your solid research experience will mitigate the other weaknesses on your application, but I guess I’m surprised to see other people say that you’d be a reach at some of these schools (also just makes me really nervous for my application)

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

For biostatistics, I think your spread of schools is okay, but It needs to be large with a few more mid-tiers and safety schools. UNC and Berkeley are definitely reaches, but I don't think applying to a couple reaches is a bad thing. With that said, I wouldn't add any more reaches to your list. As for top MS programs, you may have some luck at top places like Harvard or UW, but I ultimately don't think it's a good move if you get accepted even to a mid-tier PhD program. You'd likely accrue quite a bit of debt for the MS and increase the timeline to the start of your career by a couple years. Getting a PhD from a top place is really most valuable if your dream is a faculty position at a top place soon out of grad school... but this will still be difficult regardless. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't get a faculty position out of grad school graduating from a mid-tier department, because that is not true at all, you absolutely can. 

[stevy]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I will use the money that I was going to use on master applications for more PhD programs. 

I am looking to work in industry (consulting, pharmaceutical or tech company) after my PhD, how much does the ranking of the school I go to come into play when getting a job in industry? 

[bayessays]

6 hours ago, stevy said:

Thank you for the advice everyone! I will use the money that I was going to use on master applications for more PhD programs. 

I am looking to work in industry (consulting, pharmaceutical or tech company) after my PhD, how much does the ranking of the school I go to come into play when getting a job in industry? 

Consulting might prefer big name schools. For pharma, it doesn't matter much I hear. Good tech companies won't really care, but you'll find some smaller pretentious startups that only care about the name brand - that's a red flag you don't want to work for those type of people anyways.