Choose from Stat (biostat track) and Biostat PhD programs in the same school?

[moocha]

I am currently a MS student in a stat program and I want to apply for mostly biostatistics PhD programs and some statistics programs.

I noticed that there are a couple of schools that I want to apply have both biostatistics track under statistics programs and a separate biostatistics programs. The biostatistics programs are usually under Public health school. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestion or insights on the difference between such programs? Specifically, Stat and Biostat in Rutgers, and UC Davis?

Also, for other schools like UCLA and Duke, is it easier to get into their biostatistics program or statistics program?

[bayessays]

For schools like Rutgers and Davis, I believe the faculty are the same, and what really matters is your dissertation and advisors, so it doesn't matter a ton.  I'd probably go with statistics if you're unsure that you'd like to do just biostat at these places. 

At UCLA and Duke, these are completely different departments. UCLA has pretty good statistics and Biostatistics programs - I'd say the stats program is better probably, but it isn't a huge difference.  Duke, on the other hand, has a top 10 statistics program but a very new (but respectable) biostatistics department.  Your career options will be much better coming out of the statistics program there. 

[moocha]

6 minutes ago, bayessays said:

For schools like Rutgers and Davis, I believe the faculty are the same, and what really matters is your dissertation and advisors, so it doesn't matter a ton.  I'd probably go with statistics if you're unsure that you'd like to do just biostat at these places. 

At UCLA and Duke, these are completely different departments. UCLA has pretty good statistics and Biostatistics programs - I'd say the stats program is better probably, but it isn't a huge difference.  Duke, on the other hand, has a top 10 statistics program but a very new (but respectable) biostatistics department.  Your career options will be much better coming out of the statistics program there. 

Thank you, bayessays.

Do you by any chance know anything about biostat program in UTHealth Public health and the program under both MD Anderson and UTHealth?

[bayessays]

I'm not familiar with UTHealth. MD Anderson has a very respectable Biostatistics program though.

[moocha]

3 minutes ago, bayessays said:

I'm not familiar with UTHealth. MD Anderson has a very respectable Biostatistics program though.

Thank you!

[BL250604]

I think you'd be better served doing the program under MD Anderson.

[moocha]

On 9/23/2019 at 9:25 AM, BL250604 said:

I think you'd be better served doing the program under MD Anderson.

Thank you for your suggestion. But could you explain a little more why MD Anderson would be better?

 

[bayessays]

27 minutes ago, moocha said:

Thank you for your suggestion. But could you explain a little more why MD Anderson would be better?

 

I think they just meant that MD Anderson is a program that has been around for a while and has an established reputation as being a decent program, whereas I've never heard of a UTHealth program. 

[BL250604]

Exactly my point. MD Anderson is a well known, reputable program. UT Health I'm sure is known by some, but not by all. Certainly if folks on here haven't heard of it (especially bayesessays!), then MD A is probably a better spot to be, imo. 

[moocha]

On 10/6/2019 at 7:08 PM, bayessays said:

I think they just meant that MD Anderson is a program that has been around for a while and has an established reputation as being a decent program, whereas I've never heard of a UTHealth program. 

 

On 10/7/2019 at 10:23 AM, BL250604 said:

Exactly my point. MD Anderson is a well known, reputable program. UT Health I'm sure is known by some, but not by all. Certainly if folks on here haven't heard of it (especially bayesessays!), then MD A is probably a better spot to be, imo. 

Oh I guess that's a good point! Thank you, Bayessays and BL250604.