Stats/Biostats MS -- Application Advice

[bisogno]

Hi all. I am considering applying to various programs this fall. My background does not seem to be very similar to most applicants on this forum, so I do not have a good sense as to how I compare. I am primarily interested applying in MS Biostats programs, but I may also apply to a couple of stats programs. I have also been considering PhD (Biostats) programs, but from my inspection on these forums, it does not appear that my background is mathematical enough for most programs. I am interested in everyone's opinion as to which programs would be suitable for me.

 Undergrad Institution : Top 30 US University

Major(s): Operations Research

GPA: 3.9

Minor(s): N/A

Student Demographics: Domestic White Male

 

Courses Completed: Calc I,II,III (A), Linear Algebra (B+), ODEs (A), Probability (A), Introductory Statistics (A), Introductory Econometrics (A), Supervised Statistical Learning (A), Unsupervised Statistical Learning (A-), Optimization I/II (A), Stochastic Processes (A), Simulation Modeling (A), Introduction to Proofs (A). Some other programming/engineering type courses, nothing lower than B+

 GRE General Test: 

Q: 169
V: 163
W: 4.5

 

Programs Applying: MS Stats and Biostats (primarily Biostats)

Research Experience: Did a senior capstone project on applying statistical learning methods to hospital medical equipment, was awarded best project for this. Have some other research experience from school, but nothing came of it other than an undergraduate poster presentation
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Currently a data analyst at a medical device company. Have been working on various things, but I have done analysis on data generated by devices, which was presented at a medical conference.

Letters of Recommendation: I think I will get letters from two professors and my work supervisor. I think they should be pretty strong.

 

Thanks!

Edited July 7, 2019 by bisogno

[bayessays]

You should get into any MS program.  I'd expect you would probably get into quite a few top 10 biostat PhD programs too (I'd say top 3 are less than probable though).  Obviously real analysis would help a little, but I don't think anyone is going to doubt you can do the math in a Biostatistics program (top school, 3.9 GPA, 169Q is gold for a domestic student).  If I were you, I'd probably apply to the top 10 biostatistics programs, and check the box to be considered for a master's if they don't let you in. Unless you are independently wealthy, there is no reason you should be paying for a master's when you can get it during the first two PhD years, with your profile.

[Geococcyx]

I second bayessays, I did fine in admissions even though I was taking real analysis at the time (and hence, most schools didn't have any idea whether I'd done well in it or not).  If you want a PhD, then you should be able to start on it next year!