Seeking advice for MS Statistics

[statsguy123]

Hello guys, 

I am currently attending an MS Stats program from Fall 2018. For some reasons, which are explained below, I am planning on reapplying to another graduate school (MS Statistics).  I have two questions regarding 1) how to explain the reasons why I would like to transfer to another MS Stats program, and 2) how high to aim. 

The following is my brief profile. 

 

Undergraduate Institution: Top 40 Public University in the U.S.

Majors: Statistics

GPA: 3.2-3.3 (major GPA is almost the same as my cumulative GPA. I was not interested in grad school until late-senior year, and I didn't care much about my GPA. FYI, the average GPA of this major at the department was around 3.0)

Classes: 

   Statistics&Probability: Mathematical Stats 1 & 2, Nonparametric Stats, Computational Stats, Intro to Probability, Stochastic Processes 1 & 2

   Mathematics: Linear Algebra & Differential Equations, Vector Calculus,  Calculus 1 & 2 & 3, Real Analysis 1 & 2, Linear Algebra, Applied Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis 1 & 2, Abstract Algebra 1

 

Graduate Institution: Not well-known small public university

Majors: Statistics

GPA: Expecting 4.0

Classes: 

   Statistics: Biostatistical Methods, Mathematical Statistics, Linear Regression Models

 

Relevant Experience: Just some individual Data Science projects (started this only months ago)

Student Type: International Asian Male

Letters of Recommendation: From my Numerical Analysis professor (undergrad, received an A), Real Analysis professor (undergrad, received an A), and Advanced Biostatistical Methods professor (grad, expecting an A)

GRE General Test:  Quant: 168, Verbal: 148, AW: 3.5 (Scores from last year. Will be retaking it soon)

My Concern: lack of relevant experience and low undergrad GPA

 

So the real reasons why I want to transfer to another program are,

• (1) most importantly, the school ranking. The ranking is much lower than that of my undergraduate institution. And the students in this program are not highly motivated to learn this subject earnestly. One of the reasons why I decided to pursue a Masters degree was to make connections with other smart and highly motivated people, but these students are very far from the type of students I wanted to meet.. 
• (2) professors' lack of teaching ability (e.g. language problems and lack of preparation). Since this program is relatively small, the number of faculty in this program is also small. So a lot of statistics classes are taught by the same professors. However, most of them are seriously incompetent when it comes to teaching, and naturally, the pass rate on comprehension exam is very low. Even the professor I am taking with this semester is blaming their teaching abilities. The professor even brought up that issue during the committee meeting, but apparently nothing has changed. As an international student, I am spending a lot of money on tuition, but I am learning nothing in class. Ironically I have to learn by myself. 
• (3) lack of opportunities. As this is a small regional school, there are a very limited number of opportunities to gain experience and get a job. For instance, I've noticed that not many companies are coming to the career fair to hire students. And when I asked my professors if they needed any help for their research center/statistical consulting center, all they said was "Since this center is currently not very active, there is nothing to do here now." 

 

1) Of course the adcoms will want to know why I want to transfer to another program and I have to explain the reasons in my SOP well. But I was wondering if it would be okay to list the reasons in my SOP, because I am kind of worried that they will not consider them as legitimate reasons and see me as a negative person, and evaluate my application negatively. I would like to get your opinions on this problem. 

 

2) And I would like to know how high I should aim. Since I have no relevant work/research experience and my undergraduate GPA is low, but will have a 4.0 graduate GPA (I know it's only 3 classes...), I have no idea where to apply. For Fall 2018 cycle, I applied to Texas A&M, UC's (UCLA, UCD, UCI, UCSD, UCSB) and, as a safety, this small university I am currently attending. And I only got accepted to this school. If I improve my GRE scores (at least 153+ in V) and explain the reasons why I would like to transfer well enough, at which tier/school do you think I have a shot?

 

Thank you very much for any feedback!

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by statsguy123

[theduckster]

I can't honestly say where you'll get in because I am clueless myself, but I am almost certain that some Top 100 school that is much more well-known than your current school has a cash cow program that accepts many applicants. As long as you are willing to spend the $$$ there, you will likely receive a decent education and have much improved networking opportunities to say the very least.

Edited October 20, 2018 by theduckster

[statsguy123]

On 10/19/2018 at 9:37 PM, theduckster said:

I can't honestly say where you'll get in because I am clueless myself, but I am almost certain that some Top 100 school that is much more well-known than your current school has a cash cow program that accepts many applicants. As long as you are willing to spend the $$$ there, you will likely receive a decent education and have much improved networking opportunities to say the very least.

Thank you very much for your input. Actually the school I am currently attending is already Top 90 but it has this sort of serious problems I listed above. So I thought the program ranking should be at least Top 50 or something to not have such issues.

Would it be hard for me to crack the Top 40-50 schools especially in California such as UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara? (As I mentioned earlier, I got rejected from the both programs for the Fall 2018 cycle. Last year, I had only a bad undergrad GPA, GRE scores, and not good SOP. But I will definitely improve my GRE scores, quality of my SOP, and have decent graduate GPA which I hope can offset my bad undergrad GPA at least a bit)