2020 Statistics Phd Profile Evaluation

[shuggie]

Undergrad Institution: Around #200 in National Universities

Major: Math 

Minor: Comp Sci

GPA: 3.63 (Upward trend in grades)

GRE General Test: 

Q: 166

V: 157

W: 5.0

GRE Subject: Is it it worth taking for the programs I'm applying to?

Research Experience:

One year long funded research project (~20hrs a week) in conjunction with a local non profit with focus on time series modeling. A summer research project on estimation theory that resulted in a presentation at JSM. Not really research but did an extra credit project for Real Analysis that also resulted in a conference talk at MAA MathFest. I also did another summer research project on convex optimization in ML that fizzled out after 2 or 3 months of no results, and the professor doesn't know me well enough to write a letter so I am not planning on mentioning it in applications.

Awards/Honors/Recognition: Scholarship awarded by statistics faculty. Award from local ASA chapter for student excellence in statistics. Several awards from the math department. I passed the P Exam for actuaries.

Letters of Recommendation: Two from research advisors, one of whom is the Math Dept Chair, and the third from Real Analysis Professor. Likely very strong letters.

Coursework:

Math:

Calc I-III (A, C, B )

Linear Algebra (C)

Proofs (A)

Abstract Algebra (A)

Putnam Problem Solving (A)

Real Analysis I (A)

Real Analysis II (A)

Topology (A)

Probability/Stats:

Probability and Stats (A)

Probability Theory (A)

Statistical Theory (A)

Stochastic Processes (A)

Statistical Methods and Variance (A)

Regressing and Computational Stats (A)

Data Science (A)

Machine Learning (A)

CS:

Data Structures (A)

Data Visualization (A)

R Programming (A)

Computer Vision (A)

Study Abroad:

Complex Analysis (B)

Functional Analysis (B)

Measure Theory (C)

Combinatorics (A)

 

Thinking of Applying To:

MS: Wake Forest, UBC

PhD: Iowa State (Reach), Ohio State(Reach), UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, FSU, Rice, Boston University.

Looking to expand MS list and evaluate PhD list. I made a separate post about my study abroad grades, they are not representative of my math abilities. Thanks, I appreciate any feedback.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2019 by shuggie

[bayessays]

We have pretty similar stories, in that our early math grades are basically identical and some mixed grades in between with your study abroad.   For reference though, I did go to a better school and had a lot more research, but you have more As in math classes than I did - so I'm guessing your results will be probably a little worse than mine and that's what I'm basing this off of.

I was waitlisted at Ohio State.  I'd be surprised if you got in there, but I don't think it's an an insane reach. Same for Iowa State.

I have no data for these specific programs, but nice locations are going to tend to attract more people, so I wouldn't be surprised if the UCs were as competitive as the above programs.  Same for Boston, being in the math department may make their admissions weird compared to normal stats departments.

You have about the average GPA and GRE score for FSU, so I think that and Rice are probably about the level of school you should be targeting as matches. I do think that, like me, your results are going to be somewhat erratic because schools will be scared off by some of the low grades so you should apply to a lot of schools in this 30-60 range. I'd also consider applying to biostat programs outside the top 3.

I don't think you necessarily need to adjust your PhD list if you're happy getting a master's first. Acing a year of classes in a top MS program would do a lot to alleviate any concerns and turn Iowa State/OSU into matches instead of reaches likely.

[shuggie]

Sounds like applying to a good mix of strong MS and mid PhD programs is my best option. Thanks for the advice. If I get a good MS offer I will likely take it and go for somewhat higher ranked PhD programs after.