Fall 2019 Statistics M.S/PhD Profile Evaluation

[yuizu221]

Undergraduate Institution: Top 3 Public University in U.S.

Majors: Statistics and Applied Mathematics

Cumulative GPA: 3.97 (get two A- only in reading and macroecon)

Major GPA: 4.00

Student Type: International Asian Male

GRE General Test:  Quant:170, Verbal: 164, AW: 4.5

GRE Math Subject: plan to take this month (expectation: 85% - 90%)

Classes: 

   Statistics: Probability (A+), Statistics (A), Time Series (A+), Linear Model (A), Game Theory (A), Statistical Consulting (A), Grad-Level Statistics (in progress)

   Mathematics: Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (A+), Discrete (A+), Multivariable Calculus (A), Real Analysis (A), Linear Algebra (A), Complex Analysis (in progress), Numerical Analysis (A), Abstract Algebra (A+), Optimization (A+), Grad-Level Matrix Computation (A), Grad-Level Numerical Analysis (in progress)

Research Experience: I worked on computational statistics research project with a professor focusing on ecological data analysis. A year-long project, developed my own R packages regarding linked data validation and generation and expanded the coverage of unit test on existing packages. I am currently working on a statistics research project focusing on social science (topic on women and underrepresented minorities in academia) with stats grad depart chair.

Intern Experience: Last summer, I interned at a Wall Street insurance company as an actuarial analyst. I developed a time series prediction model and updated a simulation algorithm to boost the efficiency of actuarial analysis. Also worked on a research project on impact of genetic testing on insurance industry.

Research Interests:  computational statistics, time series analysis, high dimensional data, prediction model, optimization

Teaching Experience: I was a tutor for undergrad level math courses and a grader for upper level stat and math courses for 3 years.

Letters of Recommendation: One from my research supervisor (should be strong). One from Stats Depart Chair whom I took a seminar with. One from my math advisor whom I took a grad-level course and got A.

Schools planning to apply: Stanford (M.S.), Chicago (M.S.), Duke (PhD), Columbia (PhD), Yale (PhD), NCSU (PhD), Washington (PhD), Michigan (PhD), Wisconsin (PhD), UCLA (PhD), UC Davis (PhD), Purdue (PhD)

My Concern: lack of substantial research experience, no publications

 

Any Comments or Recommendations on School List will be appreciated!

Edited October 16, 2018 by yuizu221

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Your profile looks great, and your list of schools looks very good too. If you are concerned about your chances, it may be a good idea to add one or two schools ranked below UCD and UCLA. But I think you have a good shot at the last 4 on your list, possibly even one or two of the ones you listed before that.

Very few applicants to Stat/Biostat PhD programs have publications, so you needn't worry too much about this (a few Biostat PhD applicants who have biology backgrounds might have second or third author pubs in biology journals, but not typically (bio)statistics journals).

[yuizu221]

6 hours ago, Stat PhD Now Postdoc said:

Your profile looks great, and your list of schools looks very good too. If you are concerned about your chances, it may be a good idea to add one or two schools ranked below UCD and UCLA. But I think you have a good shot at the last 4 on your list, possibly even one or two of the ones you listed before that.

Very few applicants to Stat/Biostat PhD programs have publications, so you needn't worry too much about this (a few Biostat PhD applicants who have biology backgrounds might have second or third author pubs in biology journals, but not typically (bio)statistics journals).

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Gauss2017]

I think you stand a good chance at many of the top tier Phd programs especially if you are currently at Cal or UCLA.  I don't think you need to apply to any MS programs

[yuizu221]

6 hours ago, Gauss2017 said:

I think you stand a good chance at many of the top tier Phd programs especially if you are currently at Cal or UCLA.  I don't think you need to apply to any MS programs

Thanks. But I'm still worrying about the fierce competition in those top tier schools