Advice for chances for biostat PhD programs with an Epi MS

[dram007]

Hello everyone!

I know this kind of posts might be pretty annoying, and I'm sorry for that in advance. I have an unconventional background: I majored in preventive medicine in undergrad and am now pursuing a MS in Epidemiology. When I look back on my experience in the past few years, I found that as I got to know and use more and more interesting statistical models, I realized that my real area of interests was in research and stats. I have been thinking of doing a biostat PhD for some time. However, the biggest concern is that my weak math background. I wonder whether there is any chance for biostat PhD programs. Thank you in advance for any advice you might have!

Here's my profile:

Institution: One of the top universities in my country (same place for both undergrad and masters)

Undergrad Major(s): Preventive Medicine

Grad Major(s): Epidemiology

GPA: 3.3 for undergrad and 3.6 for MS

Type of Student: International Asian male

GRE: 170Q / 157V / 3.0 AW

Research Experience: Did several studies in Epi and mainly responsible for the data analysis part. Contributed to a first-author paper (applying a statistical model in epi). Masters thesis focused on bioinformatics.

Letters of Recommendation: Two from Epi department: One supervised me for my masters thesis, and the other was involved in grading my masters thesis. Another one from biostat department who gave me ideas for models in my thesis.

Maths Grades: Adcanced Mathematics I (B+) and II (A-) (mainly Calculus I and II, plus some Calculus III and a bit linear algebra, probability and mathematical statistics, and differential equations); Probability and Mathematical Statistics (B+); Biostatistics (A); Multivariate Biostatistics (A); Applied Linear Statistical Models (B).

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: I also took C programming (A) and SAS (A). I think I am proficient in R and Python since I used them a lot in my research.

I know I need to take more math classes for a biostat PhD, so I am taking Vector Calculus from NetMath offered by UIUC. I also planned to take Abstract Linear Algebra (proof-based) and Elementary Real Analysis, but I don’t think I can finish real analysis before application. At least I think my background would look better with Calc III and Linear Algebra, since I found prerequisites for many biostat PhD programs are Calc I-III and Linear Algebra.

So, finally, do you guys think I have any chance for a biostat PhD program? What else can I do to improve myself? Thanks a lot!

[bayessays]

It's good that you're taking the math from a US schools, but as an international student, you're going to have a tough time getting into a PhD program with those GPAs from unknown schools.  Why not get a PhD in epidemiology and do methodological stuff? Are you really sure you know what a stats PhD entails?  You seem to seen passionately of research you've already done that involves statistics, so I'd dig farther into that part of the field you're already in.  Getting another master's, and then a PhD from a non-top 10 department, over the next 10 years, might not be the wisest use of a decade in my opinion without really knowing what you're getting into.

Edited June 11, 2019 by bayessays