Statistics Phd after MS- feasible to switch programs?

[artvanderlay]

Is it that strange to attend a Phd at a different institution after a masters program and does completing a MS program help someone coming from a math background without statistics courses or research experience in statistics?

I didn't take statistics courses in undergrad because I went to a smaller college that lacked a statistics department so I only targeted midrange MS and MAS programs in statistics. Moreover, all three rec letter writers I had this year were mathematicians and while some of them have good connections they lack any with statistics programs. Specifically I applied to the MAS program at PSU and the MS programs at Iowa State, Ohio State, Florida State, and Purdue. Iowa state was the only rejection I received but Florida State was the only program that offered me a stipend so I'm attending there.

I am thinking that I will want to pursue a phd and while the track I applied to would make this fairly straightforward and there are a number of professors in the department that are doing interesting research I do not think I would be happy in Tallahassee for more than two years. I've lived there before and found it depressing. It's geographically isolated, hot and humid, and lacks cultural attractions(closest cities with culture or stuff to do are nola or atl and they are over five hours away). I've heard that location is not a good reason to switch schools but then pretty much every thing I've read about grad school choice emphasizes that you should only attend a phd program in a location you would be happy living in for 4-5 years. Assuming that I do well in my MS program would it be feasible to transfer into one of the phd programs at the schools that I was previously admitted at? Or at a school like UMN?

GRE: 162/168 4 (for the past round of applications it was 161/164 4)

GPA: no gpa as I went to a school with narrative evaluations but I had a 3.8 before transferring there.

Relevant Courses: Advanced Linear Algebra, Algorithms, Python Programming, Real Analysis I/II, Measure Theory, Dynamical Systems, Abstract Algebra I/II, PDE's, Differential Topology, Differential Geometry, Algebraic Topology, Galois Theory, Complex Analysis, Calc I-III, Linear Algebra\

Research Experience: None really outside of thesis on Variational Problems that touched on stochastic processes

Work Experience: About three years of work experience in analytics

 

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by artvanderlay
added info

[cyclooxygenase]

It's definitely not weird to do your Ph.D. somewhere different than your Master's -- in fact, just anecdotally, it seems pretty dang common.  I think you'd have to go through Ph.D. application and admissions rather than transferring, though, which seems contrary to what you suggested.  

I'm about the least knowledgeable person on this forum, but re: moving from a Math background to a Stat background, I'm guessing many professors would be thrilled to have applicants with your background in theoretical math, regardless of whether you have a Master's or not.

[bayessays]

Not weird at all  The coursework will help a little, but the big thing will be if you are able to get strong recs from well-known professors.